Managing Director - Central

Position Description

Advanced Energy United seeks a solutions-oriented, innovative, and politically savvy Managing Director to join United’s policy team. The Managing Director will oversee a team of advocates and shape policy advocacy strategies in the Central U.S. region, lead member engagement in the region, and work collaboratively with program directors to develop and implement multi-year strategies and campaigns designed to achieve policy successes that will accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy and electrified transportation while expanding markets for the advanced energy industry.  

This is a unique opportunity to join a high-functioning team and organization, and lead strategy and execution in key states. The ideal candidate will be a highly energetic and self-starting professional who brings a background in issue advocacy at the state or federal level and experience with clean energy. The Managing Director will work collaboratively with United’s other Managing Directors, and will lead strategy development and execution, with project teams on both internal and external projects to advance United’s policy agenda in priority states including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin. Candidates should be creative and flexible, with the ability to develop and execute strategies, working in multiple venues with diverse stakeholders. The successful candidate will have excellent organizational, managerial and mentoring skills, the ability to find common ground both with corporate membership and external stakeholders, and a successful track record generating revenue. Candidates will need to travel frequently to meet with United members, coalition allies and stakeholders, public officials, and internal team members. 

Responsibilities 

•  Lead development of political and policy strategies for accelerating the transition to 100% clean energy and electrified transportation, as well as identify future venues for policy and political success in targeted states.
• Manage a geographically dispersed advocacy team and lobbyists on the ground. 
• Work collaboratively across United’s policy team on developing and implementing strategies to meet short and long-term policy objectives in key states as part of United’s core portfolio. This will include legislative, regulatory, and administrative (e.g. governor’s office) engagement. 
• Work with United members to develop and reach consensus on policy positions in key states and on key issues. Facilitate member calls and lead policy discussions to coalesce member input and prioritize areas of interest and engagement. 
• Work with team members to ensure high-quality member engagement opportunities are conducted in targeted states through direct decision maker engagement, including lobby days and candidate education, earned media, and expert testimony; and participate in legislative, rulemaking, and administrative processes, as needed. 
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with coalition partners, philanthropy, allies, and key legislative, regulatory and administrative staff.
• Represent United effectively in front of funders and member prospects and help raise funds to support strategies and engagement in key states.  
• Ability to master the politics of the region through development of relationships with key players and decision makers, as well as a general understanding of the levers of power in these states and how to leverage the advanced energy industry to affect policy change. 
• Travel on an as needed basis (up to 30%) to targeted states for advocacy days, conferences, meetings with key allies and stakeholders, staff development, and other efforts on behalf of United. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and/or Advanced degree, Political Science, Public Policy, or Economics preferred, or applicable comparable experience 
• Minimum of ten years of professional experience in public policy, with a portion of that engagement in the clean energy or transportation sector 
• Experience managing a team in a remote environment  
• Viewed as a subject matter expert in a specific focus area 
• Political campaign or organizing experience, preferably in the clean energy advocacy space
• Entrepreneurial approach, flexible attitude, and ability to operate independently, making decisions consistent with United’s mission/vision
• Ability to engage members, customers, and funders, and sell United and its value proposition to those audiences
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop an internal team and work collaboratively across project teams with colleagues
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, both written and verbal 
• Intellectual curiosity, inquisitive nature, and excellent listening and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to manage a project budget and financials
• Performance-oriented individual with a strong work ethic, demonstrated initiative and commitment to achieving goals

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The employee is regularly required to use hands and talk or hear. The employee is required to sit for long periods of time; reach with hands and arms; may need to balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, walk up and down stairs.

Job type: Full-time; regular

Location: Remote. Strong preference for residence in the Midwest, or Central Plains States.

Salary: $160,000

Start Date: October 2026

Advanced Energy United Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families

• Medical premiums covered for employees at 100%

• Flexible spending plans for health care and dependent care

• Profit sharing opportunities, and annual merit-based compensation increases

• $75/month personal wellness reimbursement

• $50/month phone stipend

• Up to $200 reimbursement for home office set-up

• Paid Time Off including accrual, 11 Federal Holidays, and an annual end-of-year closure

• Parental Leave

• Professional development reimbursement

• 401(k) plan (with matching incentives

• WMATA Transit SmartBenefits (for DC, MD, VA employees only

Advanced Energy United is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the job application, interview process, and/ or to perform essential job functions please contact the Talent Acquisition team at careers@advancedenergyunited.org. We are committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice across our organization (“DEIJ”). We also incorporate these values into our mission of making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. We know that varied perspectives and a commitment to social justice are needed to succeed in making the United States an advanced energy economy. We commit to building and supporting an inclusive workforce that represents different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints.