About Mid Hudson Energy Transition

Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) is a nonprofit advancing energy justice through programs that make clean energy affordable, accessible, and community-owned. We partner with households, local governments, and community organizations to accelerate an equitable transition away from fossil fuels.

Our mission is to empower communities to own and share renewable energy, create healthier buildings, and join in community wealth-building to strengthen the resilience of the Hudson Valley in the face of climate change.

We engage and build on the active involvement of communities, with particular emphasis on low-income communities and communities of color that are being harmed first and worst by climate change.

About the role

The Director of Energy Justice Programs is a senior leader responsible for ensuring MHET’s core programs — Home Upgrade Grants (HUG), Energy Innovation, and the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) & HELP Fund — are executed effectively and aligned with MHET’s mission.

The Director will manage senior staff who in turn oversee multiple program teams, ensuring strong leadership across the organization. This role combines strong people management with technical expertise in energy project development, building decarbonization, and energy justice. The Director ensures staff are supported and accountable, programs move forward with urgency, and major strategic decisions are elevated to the Executive Director.

Reporting Structure

• Direct Reports
• • HUG Program Director (manages 3 HUG Coordinators)
  • HELP Fund Director (manages HELP Program Manager)
  • Program Manager, Community Energy 
• Reports To
• • Executive Director

Job Responsibilities

Staff Leadership & Management — 50%

• Supervise 2 program directors and 1 program manager, providing coaching, accountability, and guidance.
• Support HUG and HELP Fund directors in managing their teams (coordinators, program managers).
• Lead weekly check-ins, ensure clarity on priorities, and remove obstacles to execution.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and mission-aligned team culture.

Program Direction & Technical Guidance — 30%

• Provide technical leadership in energy project development, building decarbonization, and energy justice principles.
• Support staff in troubleshooting complex programmatic issues, including project design, technical implementation, and strategy alignment.
• Ensure programs integrate equity, accessibility, and community ownership in all project decisions.
• Maintain connections with external technical advisors, partners, and networks to strengthen internal expertise.
• Oversee program performance, metrics, and evaluation.

Strategic Alignment & ED Partnership — 15%

• Serve as a thought partner to the Executive Director, analyzing challenges and proposing solutions.
• Filter and escalate major strategic decisions while empowering staff to make day-to-day operational decisions.
• Ensure alignment across programs, with clear communication of organizational goals and priorities.

External Representation — 5%

• Occasionally represent MHET with funders, technical coalitions, or community partners.
• Build relationships with technical experts, contractors, and partners to strengthen MHET’s capacity.

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years’ experience in energy project development, building decarbonization, or energy justice-focused programs (with the ability to learn financing and community lending models on the job).
• Proven success managing senior staff (directors or managers) in a nonprofit or complex program environment.
• Strong project management skills and ability to drive multiple programs with efficiency, urgency, and follow-through.
• Excellent communicator and collaborator, capable of guiding staff and facilitating cross-team alignment.
• Deep commitment to equity, community-centered program design, and energy justice principles.
• Key qualities: strategic and visionary thinker, proactive driver of progress, adaptive problem solver, steady under pressure, values-driven, with plenty of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.

Preferred

• Familiarity with low-income lending, community finance, or energy efficiency programs (can be learned internally).
• Experience working with building contractors and government agencies.
• Experience representing programs externally in panels, coalitions, or with funders.
• Knowledge of New York State energy, climate, or building policy
• Spanish or other language fluency.

Location & Schedule

MHET is based in Kingston, NY. Standard work hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. This hybrid role does not require a fixed in-office schedule, but regular in-person collaboration in Kingston is expected. Occasional evenings or weekends may be needed for meetings or community events.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $95,000–$110,000
• 100% employer-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 4% retirement plan match to help you build for the future
• Generous time off: unlimited PTO, 11 paid holidays, and your birthday off
• Ongoing professional development opportunities

Equal Opportunity Notice

MHET is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups — including women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals — to apply. We are dedicated to creating a workplace that respects and values differences and fostering an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive.

If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know and we will do our best to meet your needs.

To Apply

Submit your resume and a brief cover letter explaining why you’re excited about this role at www.mid-hudson.energy/careers.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The final deadline to apply is October 17, 2025. Interviews will not begin until after the application period closes. 

Please note: we may only be able to contact those selected for interviews. Even if we don’t connect this time, we’re grateful for your interest in MHET’s mission and the energy justice movement.