Program/Role: Program Associate
Location: WFH Flexible, Minneapolis, MN. GPI’s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN.
Reports to: Program Manager
Type of Position: Full-time position
Ideal start date: September 15, 2026
Compensation: Salary range: $52k-$62K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend.
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment. Increased demand for GPI’s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI’s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 70 professionals and is supported by some of the nation’s most respected philanthropies.
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, pragmatic, and transformative:
Trusted. We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.
Inclusive. We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
Equitable. We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.
Pragmatic. We take a clear-eyed view of the world as it is, even as we seek to improve it.
Transformative. We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.
THIS POSITION:
GPI seeks a bright, organized, and highly motivated individual to support climate and energy planning work. The associate will provide support primarily for projects that help local governments meet climate mitigation and adaptation goals; they may also support work on renewable energy co-benefits and energy resilience. Though this position will be housed on the Renewable Energy team, the work will overlap with the Communities team, and there may be opportunities to work on other subject areas, like climate resilience or clean transportation, as the associate expresses interest. To succeed in this role, you need to be self-motivated, community-driven, enthusiastic, and a team player. The ideal candidate will:
-
ask questions
-
take initiative
-
seek opportunities to learn and grow
-
display strong writing skills
-
feel comfortable engaging all types of people
-
be able to balance multiple priorities
-
utilize effective methods for time management and organization
-
and have a passion for mitigating and adapting to climate change for the benefit of the most impacted.
GPI’s Renewable Energy (RE) Team works on a wide variety of projects, working with communities, regional governments, states, and federal agencies to accelerate deployment of renewable energy. The RE team works to remove barriers to accelerated deployment for both distributed and large-scale wind and solar and emerging clean technologies such as hydrogen. We provide technical assistance and capacity to local and state entities, lead research on co-benefits of solar and wind development, and help create new equitable systems for energy services.
GPI’s Communities Program ensures that equitable and inclusive action on clean energy, resilience, and climate solutions is accelerated and becomes the norm for communities across our footprint. The team’s work includes a variety of projects, including coordinating local government and technical assistance provider networks and local government cohorts, facilitating community input processes, developing and implementing climate and energy plans, and providing technical assistance and capacity to local entities to develop clean energy projects including building efficiency, renewable energy, vehicle electrification, and multi-modal transportation.
Hours may be flexible and are typically Monday through Friday during the business day; occasional nights and weekends may be required. Some work can be remote, but this position will require two to three days a week in GPI’s Minneapolis office.
JOB DUTIES:
The Program Associate will work closely with program managers on projects related to helping local governments undertake climate and clean energy planning, providing technical assistance for plan implementation, conducting equitable engagement, developing related resources, and researching/documenting clean energy co-benefits.
Program Assistance (70%): The Program Associate will have primary responsibility for administrative and support tasks, working closely with program staff on a variety of projects including stakeholder engagement, research, plan development, and technical assistance. Program associates:
-
Assist with administrative tasks related to grants and other funding sources. This includes supporting both proposal development and grant reporting.
-
Coordinate with internal staff and external project partners to ensure timelines, deliverables, milestones, and goals are met.
-
Support the development of tools and resources for external stakeholders in coordination with project partners and staff, including production of documents and presentations, laying out reports, developing PowerPoints or other presentation materials.
- Provide research and analytical support. This may include data collection, analysis, and synthesis, surveys, phone or in-person interviews, and web research.
-
Gather, organize, and analyze data in coordination with program staff, working with spreadsheets, geographic information systems, databases, and models.
- Compile research results in useful forms (e.g., case studies or blogs, short written reports, databases).
- Coordinate aspects of external communications such as writing case studies or blog drafts, keeping a calendar of project communications deadlines, and updating websites.
- Provide other programmatic assistance as requested by the Program Managers, Senior Fellow, or Vice President of Renewable Energy.
Meeting Coordination (30%): Program Associates take the lead in planning project meetings and events, under the direction of the Project Manager. GPI meetings can range from half- or one-hour affairs to full-day events. Specific tasks include:
-
Coordinate meetings with internal and external partners, including scheduling, agenda development (in coordination with program leads), taking and organizing meeting notes, and ensuring timely follow-ups. Conduct outreach as needed to ensure diverse and inclusive participation by communities and stakeholders.
-
Meet with GPI program staff and external partners to understand their meeting objectives and requirements.
-
Manage live webinars, including real-time surveys, small group break-outs, and recording both video and audio portions.
-
If applicable, take care of other event logistics including venue identification, event registration, meeting sponsorship, travel and lodging for participants and speakers, food and catering, meeting notes, meeting handouts and packets, name tags, on-site signage, etc.
-
Serve as the point of contact for speakers & participants’ logistical needs.
- Conduct post-event evaluations to determine how to improve future events.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
-
Education and Experience: 1-3 years of paid or volunteer experience working with local or state governments, community organizations, renewable energy development, sustainability, or climate. Experience with both local governments and sustainability or climate is a plus. Bachelor’s degree with environmental studies, sustainability, energy, or environmental justice is a plus.
-
Technical Skills: Competency in Microsoft Office programs (especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and design or desktop publishing tools such as InDesign, Illustrator, Canva, or other design tools is required. Ability to manage Zoom or Teams small group breakouts, instantaneous surveys, and similar meeting management is also essential. Experience with GIS tools, programming languages, or other analytical tools or models is a plus.
- Research and Writing: Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills are necessary.
-
Problem Solving: Ability to identify solutions to challenges by communicating clearly, taking initiative, and thinking creatively.
-
Time Management: Ability to work for many different people, juggle multiple tasks in an organized way and “manage up” to ensure you are effective in your role. Excellent time and deadline management, project management, and team relationship skills.
-
Values: Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute, passionate about equitably solving the climate challenge and about the potential for aggressive deployment of renewable energy and clean energy systems.
EQUIPMENT USED:
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, calculator, printer, and telephone.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:
This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.
HOW TO APPLY:
Required application materials include a one-page resume, a one-page cover letter, and a one-page writing sample. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
We do not use AI tools to review and screen applications, because of this, we make take longer to complete screenings and hiring processes.
BACKGROUND ON GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE:
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It’s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.
