About the Organization

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​The Institute for Western Energy (IWE) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization that convenes trusted Western energy leaders to build relationships, exchange perspectives, and develop solutions to the region’s most pressing energy challenges. IWE’s two flagship programs—Western Power Players (WPP), an annual stakeholder convening, and the Western Energy Caucus (Caucus), a bipartisan group of energy-educated state legislators—are designed to translate insights into actionable policy.​

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IWE is entering a new phase of institutional growth, transitioning from a founder-led model to a professionally staffed organization with dedicated executive leadership. The Executive Director (ED) will join at a pivotal moment to lead this transition and strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact.

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Position Overview

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​Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED is IWE’s chief executive and primary external representative. The ED provides strategic vision and leadership, advances the convening mission, cultivates funder and stakeholder relationships, and leads the IWE team to execute programming and build a sustainable institution. Given IWE’s currently lean organizational model, the ED is expected to be a hands-on leader who both sets direction and executes effectively.

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Key Responsibilities​

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Strategic Leadership & Vision

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• Provide strategic direction for IWE’s programs, ensuring alignment with the organizational mission and evolving regional energy priorities

• Lead the development and implementation of multi-year strategic plans

• Position IWE as a thought leader and trusted convener in Western energy discussions

• Build and maintain IWE’s reputation for nonpartisan, solutions-oriented approaches​​

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Program Development & Management

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• Lead program design and execution for WPP and the Caucus, ensuring clear purposes, meeting participant standards, and delivering defined outcomes for each program

• Manage WPP topic selection, participant curation, facilitation approach, and post-event follow-up

• Drive Caucus membership growth and ensure legislators receive actionable insights from WPP and Caucus convenings

• Implement and strengthen the integrated WPP–Caucus model, where practitioner and academic insights inform legislative priorities and vice versa

• Ensure every convening produces documented outputs and a follow-up approach that demonstrates real-world impact

• Identify emerging energy issues and opportunities for IWE engagement

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Fundraising & External Relations

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• Lead cultivation and stewardship of major donors, foundation leaders, and corporate partners; serve as IWE’s primary fundraising closer

• Work with the Director of Partnerships to pursue new funders and diversify the revenue base

• Serve as principal spokesperson for IWE; represent the organization with Caucus legislators, federal officials, utilities, and regulators

• Maintain active, year-round engagement with IWE’s network, including proactive outreach to stakeholders between convenings

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Governance & Organizational Leadership

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• Partner with the board to implement committee structures, decision-making authorities, and governance norms

• Set board agendas in coordination with the Board Chair; ensure members have context needed to govern effectively

• Manage staff, contractors, and consultants; build an organizational culture aligned with IWE’s values 

• Ensure sound financial management and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

• Create financial documents, including budgets, cash flow, balance statements, and breakdowns by event as necessary

• Establish processes, performance expectations, and operational disciplines appropriate for a nonprofit organization

 

Desired Qualifications​

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• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; advanced degree preferred

• Deep expertise in Western energy issues, including strong understanding of state and regional energy policy processes

• Established relationships with key energy sector stakeholders across the Western United States

• Reputation as an honest-broker, trusted by individuals from across sectors to lead fair, non-partisan dialogues

• Proven track record closing six-figure grants and major gifts—not just cultivating relationships, but asking and closing

• Demonstrated ability to build trust across competing interests and facilitate productive dialogue across industry, government, advocates, and legislators from both sides of the aisle

• Direct experience working with state legislators or regulatory bodies

• Stage presence and communication skills that resonate with senior leaders and across the political spectrum

• Experience with nonprofit governance, board development and management, and organizational capacity building

• Proven leader, listener, and decision maker

• Understanding of event management/operations, brand management, and stakeholder communications

• Resides within the Western U.S.

 

Compensation & Benefits

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Salary: Annual salary range between $160K-$185K and commensurate with experience.​

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The Executive Director position includes a competitive benefits package:​​

• Health insurance stipend

• Generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave, and family/medical leave)

• Professional development allowance

• Remote work arrangement with technology support

• Reimbursement for work-related travel