Rocky Mountain Institute is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit think-and-do tank that drives the efficient and restorative use of resources. RMI is focused on accelerating the U.S. transition from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. Co-founded in 1982 by Amory Lovins, RMI began as a small group of colleagues focused on energy solutions. It has since grown into a broad-based Institute with approximately 90 full-time staff, an annual budget of $12 million, and a global reach.
RMI is engaged in research and collaborative implementation (mainly with the private sector) that addresses pragmatic designs, practices, and policies, not social theories or laboratory experiments. We work on all parts of the solution process—idea, strategy, and implementation—in the four energy-intensive sectors: buildings, transportation, industry, and electricity. Our main modes of action are to transform design, bust barriers, and spread solutions.
RMI has two locations — in Boulder and Snowmass, Colorado.
RMI offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- 403b Retirement Options (5% match after the first year)
- Life, AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability
- Commuter and Wellness Benefits
- Casual Work Environment
- Appreciation of Work-Life Balance
Additionally, RMI is not hiring for general analysts at this time, but we do anticipate hiring an additional analyst towards the end of summer/beginning of fall, please check back at that time.
Current Openings
Rocky Mountain Institute is seeking a candidate for a Principal role with a strong interest and experience in the electricity system of the United States. Our electricity program is focused on catalyzing a vast reduction in the use of fossil fuels while at the same time increasing the security and robustness of the system. This job involves working with senior colleagues to co-lead RMI efforts in this area, most of them within an initiative we call NGU – Next Generation Utility.
NGU is focusing on developing solutions to overcome key barriers to the transformation of the electricity sector to efficiency and renewables. Key target areas include the regulatory construct and utility business models, market design, the role of demand-side resources in providing system flexibility and approaches to increasing adoption and use of those resources, and utility resource planning and strategy.
While there will be an immediate emphasis on developing and leading client projects and research for the electricity program, there will also be opportunities to develop and guide projects in a range of related areas including industrial and buildings efficiency and corporate energy transformation.
RMI has offices in Snowmass and Boulder, Colorado; this position can be located in either one.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and guide both research and collaborative projects in their areas of focus
- Lead the development of more junior members of the Research and Collaboration (R&C) team and work to continually improve the effectiveness of our resources
- Work with the other Principals to strengthen the cross-connectivity of our programs and work closely with R&C’s Program Directors to develop new programs
Qualifications
First and foremost, the successful candidate will demonstrate the following qualities:
- Intense curiosity and creativity
- Willingness to plunge into unfamiliar disciplines
- Willingness to take risks by exploring and testing new ideas
- Excellent quantitative analysis and modeling skills
- Excellent writing skills and presentation preparation capability
- Strong verbal communication skills, from one-on-ones to speeches
- Interest in and solid track record of people development
- Skills and desire to change client’s and decision-maker’s minds on intensely important issues
- A passion for making the world better
A successful candidate for this position will have experience in the electricity sector and have a demonstrated track record of working with business leaders. He or she should also have experience with developing and executing practical research geared towards furthering a mission. Knowledge and experience in many (but not necessarily all) of the following areas are likely to be beneficial:
- Experience working with/as a regulator for the electric utility industry
- Experience within or as a consultant to the electric utility industry
- Experience as a consultant in traditional and/or high tech manufacturing or service business environments
- Experience working with a supplier to the electric utility industry
- Detailed knowledge in T&D, efficiency, and conventional power generation, utility economics and finance, operations, resource planning and strategy
- Familiarity with technologies and utility strategies including solar PV, wind, demand response electric vehicles, and smart grid, as well as grid integration of these technologies
- Graduate degree or equivalent in engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, energy), economics, computer science, mathematics, or physical sciences, or proven ability to work in and add value to the technical and decision-making context of the electricity system
How to Apply
To apply, please email a cover letter and resume with “Principal - Electricity Focus” in the subject line to: jobs@rmi.org. No calls, please.
RMI is an equal opportunity employer.
Rocky Mountain Institute is seeking a candidate for a Principal role with a strong interest and experience in the industrial system of the United States. Our industrial program centers on innovative, integrative design of facilities and processes and, in some cases, products (such as cars and appliances). This role involves providing active leadership for much of our industrial projects work, and helping Program Directors shape and direct it.
RMI has a long and successful history of collaboration with a wide range of industrial players. While perhaps best know for our work on transformative vehicle concepts, we play or have played active roles in refining, silicon fabs, mining, beer brewing, cement, data centers, scaling up solar equipment, and a range of other industrial processes over our 30 year history. While we are very selective about what we do – our criteria center around working with companies that are already industry leaders in sustainability--we are committed to continuing this tradition, and are looking to refresh our leadership team for this program.
While there will be an immediate emphasis on developing and leading client projects and research for RMI’s industrial program, there will also be opportunities to collaborate with our active programs in buildings and the US electrical system and whole system design, and to shape additional transportation-related ideas beyond products like cars, trucks and buses.
RMI has offices in Snowmass and Boulder, Colorado. We plan for this position to be based in Snowmass, but will consider Boulder-based options as well.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and guide both research and collaborative projects in their areas of focus
- Lead the development of more junior members of the Research and Collaboration (R&C) team and work to continually improve the effectiveness of our resources
- Work with the other Principals to strengthen the cross-connectivity of our programs and work closely with R&C’s Program Directors to develop new programs
Qualifications
Fundamentally, the successful candidate will demonstrate the following qualities:
- Intense curiosity and creativity
- Willingness to plunge into unfamiliar disciplines
- Willingness to take risks by exploring and testing new ideas
- Excellent quantitative analysis and modeling skills
- Excellent writing skills and presentation preparation capability
- Strong verbal communication skills, from one-on-ones to speeches
- Skills and desire to change client’s and decisionmaker’s minds on intensely important issues
- A passion for making the world better
The successful candidate will have experience working in multiple industries and have a demonstrated track record of working with business leaders. He or she should also have experience with developing and executing practical research geared towards furthering a mission. Knowledge and experience in many or all of the following areas are beneficial:
- Experience as a consultant to traditional manufacturing environments, preferably including process industries like metals or chemicals or refining
- Experience as a consultant to the high tech manufacturing industry or telecoms or cable industry
- Experience working with vehicle or appliance makers
- Graduate degree or equivalent in engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, energy), economics, computer science, mathematics, or physical sciences – or, proven ability to add value in technology-centric businesses
- Experience and comfort with design processes and tools, on either the product design or process/facilities side
- Broad operational experience in industrial topics including skill in strategy and industry evolution, lean manufacturing, supply chain optimization and network configurations.
- Familiarity with efficiency and distributed electrical supply technologies and utility strategies including motor control, solar PV, Wind, Demand Response and SmartGrid, as well as integration of these technologies.
- Experience and/or strong interest in design and design processes
How to Apply
To apply, please email a cover letter and resume with “Principal - Industrial Focus” in the subject line to: jobs@rmi.org. No calls, please.
RMI is an equal opportunity employer.
Rocky Mountain Institute is seeking a candidate for an Analyst or Consultant position with a focus on Mechanical Engineering (HVAC) and Building Energy Modeling. We have one position available and it will be filled at an Analyst or Consultant level commensurate with skills and experience demonstrated by the successful candidate. We expect the primary focus of this role to be on commercial and institutional buildings, within our Buildings Practice, but our Engineers often spend part of their time working in other fields such as Solar and Industrial Efficiency and Efficient Product Design.
Our Buildings Practice largely focuses on two key areas. The first is an initiative called Super Efficient Housing, which leverages Building Science, Engineering and Manufacturing and Construction Management insights to research, demonstrate and advocate for far more efficient new housing, built at the same cost as conventional homes. The second is an initiative called RetroFit, which is driving a new capability for both practitioners and owners of Commercial (nonresidential) buildings – the capability to target and execute deep energy retrofits that fundamentally change the way those existing buildings work, and in doing so cut their energy use in half or more. From time to time we also do special projects, especially in Colorado, outside these two initiatives.
This role involves intense involvement in many projects, some of them at or “beyond” state of the art. Key activities will include advanced energy modeling, life cycle cost analysis and general engineering and data analysis. In addition, RMI is a nonprofit with a majority of the budget coming from donors and there is a heavy emphasis on communicating our results to industry and donor audiences.
Key Responsibilities:
- Providing content expertise on mechanical system issues
- Advising mechanical design professionals on innovative energy efficient HVAC system design and controls
- Participating in energy audits on existing buildings
- Performing energy modeling and LCCA to help make a business case for deep energy savings
- Assisting with the development of training and education materials around energy and financial analysis
- Contributing to research efforts and publications on the topics of efficient HVAC systems and energy modeling and building science
Qualifications:
First and foremost, the successful candidate will demonstrate the following qualities:
- Intense curiosity and creativity
- Willingness to plunge into unfamiliar disciplines
- Willingness to take risks by exploring and testing new ideas
- Excellent quantitative analysis and modeling skills
- Excellent writing skills and presentation preparation capability
- Strong verbal communication skills, from one-on-ones to speeches
- Highly collaborative, strong team player
- Skills and desire to change client’s and decision-maker’s minds on intensely important issues
- A passion for making the world better
A successful candidate for this position will have experience in the HVAC sector and have a demonstrated ability to work effectively with other team members. He or she should also have experience using and building tools and processes to improve mechanical engineering systems, in either academic, research or business settings. Knowledge and experience in many (but not necessarily all) of the following areas are likely to be beneficial:
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or similar
- 2 years experience in HVAC design/controls
- Experience with whole building energy simulation tools (i.e. DOE-2, EnergyPlus)
- Knowledge of life cycle costs analysis
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and ability to construct analytic models
- Excellent writing and presentation skills
- Experience with LEED rating system and relevant ASHRAE standards
- Well versed in word processing and design software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCad)
- Published contributions to the fields of HVAC and energy efficiency
- Personal network within the MEP community/ASHRAE
- Programming skills
- LEED accredited professional
- Commissioning, M&V, or energy auditing experience
- Master’s degree in relevant field
How To Apply
To apply, please email a cover letter and resume with “Mechanical Engineering Analyst/Consultant” in the subject line to: randcjobs@rmi.org, along with links to or copies of writing sample(s). Shortlisted candidates will also be asked to provide references.
RMI has offices in Snowmass and Boulder, Colorado; this position can be located in either one.
RMI is an equal opportunity employer.
We are seeking an exceptional person to be a full-time Argosy fellow for six months. Ideally, the successful candidate will begin in May or June. This position will focus on projects relating to the electricity system, green building, or clean transportation and will be assigned projects within the broader initiatives, which include but are not limited to: research and coalition-building that addresses pragmatic designs, practices, and policies, not social theories or laboratory experiments. We work on all parts of the solution process—idea, strategy, and implementation—in the high impact areas of energy, mobility and vehicle efficiency, energy resource use, security, and the built environment. Fellows are expected to learn about all parts of the solution process and actively work on key areas identified by project managers. Only students or recent graduates from Colorado schools are eligible to apply.
Objectives
During their tenure in a technical position, it is expected that the selected fellow will have completed one major piece of analysis that will have successfully impacted decision-makers. The fellow will have gained technical knowledge in one aspect of the clean energy field, and will have presented the results of their work to their manager/mentor, RMI staff and Argosy Foundation Representative.
Mandatory Qualifications
Applicants should at minimum have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, civil, energy), architecture, economics, computer science, mathematics, physical sciences, communications, or marketing. Where applicable, the applicant should be comfortable working with, or reporting on, numerical analysis and spreadsheet modeling, research and reporting.
Desired Qualifications
For our research-based internships, a Masters Degree in engineering and basic knowledge of one or more of the teams’ focus areas—energy efficiency, renewable energy, demand-side management, building energy modeling, trucking, efficient and low carbon light duty cars and truck design, transportation logistics—is highly desirable.
In addition to skills and expertise, we value and seek the following qualities in our candidate: intense curiosity, self-motivated and able to work independently, willingness to plunge into unfamiliar disciplines, creativity and willingness to take risks by exploring and testing new ideas, and a passion for making the world better.
Location
Boulder or Snowmass, Colorado
How To Apply
If you are a recent graduate from a Colorado school and you feel you meet the qualifications, email a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to randcjobs@rmi.org. It is preferred the writing sample be a piece of work completed exclusively by the candidate.
Please read the internship opportunities below and specify your preference of initiative in the subject line by using the following template: Argosy Fellow – Initiative (PGR, NGE, OR BuiltEnv)
Full consideration will be given to complete applications received by January 31, 2012. If RMI staff sees that a successful candidate will be more effective in a different initiative than was identified in the application, this will be communicated prior to the interview process. No calls please.
This is a full-time position and fellows are paid a stipend of $1,700 per month. Housing options are available in our Snowmass location.
Fellowship Opportunities
Electricity/Transportation Internship
RMI is currently seeking a team member for Project Get Ready (PGR). PGR is a nationwide initiative helping cities prepare for electric vehicles. As a team member on PGR, interns will be involved with:
- Interacting with leading automakers, charging station providers, and national labs to understand the latest developments in electric vehicle technology
- Working with utilities to understand the challenges and opportunities that EVs pose to their systems and operations and disseminating that information across the PGR network
- Helping to update analysis and news on the PGR website
- Working with city leaders to understand their progress and any challenges they face in developing and executing their readiness plans for EVs
- Becoming an expert on EV related policy, standards, or incentives and sharing key developments with the PGR network
In order to fulfill these roles an ideal candidate should be:
- Interested in RMI's mission and specifically the deployment of electric vehicles
- A self-starter that enjoys thinking about and dissecting big ambiguous problems
- An excellent communicator via phone and email
- Able to maintain and analyze an Excel database and ideally have skills with additional data packages and analysis techniques
- Excited about quickly absorbing and sharing new information
- While there is no particular degree or background preferred, candidate should be comfortable thinking and talking about both technical and nontechnical (adoption, policies, regulations, management) issues that from the backdrop of EV infrastructure challenges
Daily activities will include reaching out to PGR partners to understand new developments, entering progress into database and website, and preparing and potentially delivering presentations for webinars and conferences.
Next Generation Electricity Initiative Internship
RMI’s Next Generation Electricity (NGE) Initiative is working to accelerate the transformation of the U.S. electricity system to one that is efficient, renewable, distributed, and customer-centric. Using our recent book Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for a New Energy Era as a launching point, we will focus our work in 2012 on developing practical solutions to key technical, economic, business, and regulatory barriers, and working with leading utilities and regulators to implement solutions.
Project Description: During 2012, our NGE Initiative team will be working on three main areas of work, outlined below. Interns will work on a discrete piece(s) of this work with clear deliverables, selected based on current status and needs of our work as well as on the intern’s particular interests and abilities.
- Targeted consulting with individual utilities and regulatory agencies. RMI works directly with utilities, regulators, and other industry businesses to test and refine solutions. These fast-paced projects frequently involve travel to client sites, analysis of real-world data, and economic and technical evaluation of proposed strategies. Current examples include a project for a leading utility that will draw together experts from around the country to develop new ideas about how the utility can adapt its business model to a high efficiency, high distributed resource future; a multi-year project to advise the State of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; and a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot program to study utility business models to facilitate high penetration solar photovoltaics.
- Collaborative learning and innovation involving multiple stakeholders. The Electricity Innovation Lab (a working name) is an effort to bring together a group of innovative utilities, technology companies, customers and regulators to work together in finding solutions to overcome the obstacles to achieving a cleaner and more reliable electricity future. We envision this as an ongoing effort that will support learning and information exchange, and also conceive, fund, and execute innovation projects. RMI will develop and facilitate the Lab, and will provide research and analytical support on a variety of topics, ranging from best practices from Europe to the real technical and economic impacts of distributed resources on the distribution system.
- Outreach to engage key institutions in tackling obstacles to change. Finally, the NGE Initiative has a focused approach to extending the sector specific messages encapsulated in Reinventing Fire through a series of solutions-oriented case studies to be communicated through reports, blogs, videos and other media. These will highlight new, powerful and scaleable practices within the industry. The first example will be a study of the University of California San Diego’s microgrid, which has become an island of stability in the disaster-prone Southern California region.
Built Environment Internship – RetroFit and Affordable Housing
RMI’s initiative to transform the energy efficiency of existing commercial buildings is called RetroFit. The RetroFit initiative is aimed at stimulating the “deep” retrofit of the U.S. commercial building stock by 2050. A “deep” retrofit is one that achieves at least 50 percent reduction in energy use with positive financial returns. This is typically achieved via integrative, whole-building solutions that recognize how efficiency gains in one system can impact other building systems and attributes. Deep retrofits markedly improve the economics of energy efficiency, achieving bigger energy savings (and other important benefits) at equal or lower capital cost.
RMI’s initiative to transform the energy efficiency of Affordable Housing is called Super-efficient Housing Initiative (SHI). SHI is aimed at encouraging and educating constituents that are involved with affordable housing by driving their goals, projects and processes toward integrative design, using whole-building solutions that recognize how efficiency gains in one system can impact other building systems and attributes.
Project Description: RetroFit and SHI are focused on several strategic, targeted interventions that will catalyze change in the industry and, with time and sustained effort, will ensure greater energy efficiency in buildings.
- Increase the number and effectiveness of skilled service providers. Increase the ability of service providers to guide and implement deep energy efficiency processes by ensuring they acquire the skills and business models needed, via targeted communications, software tools, strategic partnerships and education outreach.
- Drive demand by building owners and decision makers for building energy efficiency by executing deep retrofits and super-efficient new builds and providing verified business-cases through collaborative project engagements across key building types. For each building type, a well-documented deep retrofit or new build example is developed to demonstrate the potential for energy savings, while keeping costs within competitive range.
- Address issues related to perceived financial risk of deep building energy efficiency that are currently creating barriers to capital.
The following qualifications for a RetroFit or SHI Intern are desired however, not mandatory:
- A four or five-year professional degree in architecture, engineering and/or urban design with a focus on sustainability
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Familiarity with word processing and design software (Word, Photoshop, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCad, Sketch-Up)
- Independent and self-directed work style
RMI is seeking a person with exceptional organizational and communication skills to provide administrative and operational support to RMI’s CEO and COO. This position serves as the liaison between these executives and RMI’s Leadership team as well as with external contacts including business partners and donors.
Key Responsibilities
- Professional Service and Support. Provides comprehensive administrative service to the CEO and COO; manages files, schedules appointments; understands priorities and commitments of the executives and is able to make adjustments as seamlessly as possible, often with little advance notice; manages expense reporting and documentation; screens and manages phone traffic as well as postal mail. Handles email requests and follows up as needed. May also be called upon to provide occasional administrative support to other members of RMI’s Senior Leadership team.
- Travel Schedule and Support. Makes and manages all logistical and booking details related to travel; provides solutions to unanticipated changes to travel schedule; ensures travel, lodging, scheduling and related work is virtually error-free. Travel support will be primarily focused on the CEO and COO, however may extend to other members of the RMI leadership team as required.
- Technical and Tools Knowledge. Maintains a high level of knowledge of and facility with office tools and software including Google Mail, Calendar functions, Google Documents, Excel, Word, and Macintosh. Actively pursues improvement in skill levels. Understands the basic functioning and troubleshooting of iPhones, printers, fax equipment and other such devices. Will be responsible to schedule and establish video and teleconferences and operate related equipment without undue technical support.
- Relationship Management. This individual will be responsible for assisting the CEO and COO in managing and maintaining relationships with high level donors and other critical business contacts including trustees and other business leaders.
- Dependability. Can be counted on to assist with projects outside areas of primary responsibility.
- Flexibility. Is able to handle unanticipated changes to schedules, plans and workloads; approaches difficult situations with a positive attitude.
- Presentation. Exhibits a high level of professionalism in interaction with others. Communicates clearly and effectively verbally and in writing and has superior listening skills. Interacts with others in a professional manner. Represents RMI to the outside world, often by engaging with people at the highest levels in corporations, foundations, government, and academic institutions.
Qualifications
- Minimum ten years’ experience as an executive assistant in a professional environment.
- Maintain a mature and professional presence and demeanor and can effectively serve as the face and voice of the institute in lieu of the CEO and other executives
- Strong team and interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently. Must be well organized, flexible and enjoy the administrative challenges of supporting executive level individuals
- Ability to interact with staff at all levels, often under pressure, remaining positive, flexible, proactive, resourceful, efficient, and managing multiple demands
- Able to manage logistics for guests speaking at both large and informal events. Can modify, coordinate and archive electronic presentation materials
- Able to manage several responsibilities at a time while ensuring accuracy and attention to detail
- Ability to maintain professionalism and strict confidentiality at all times
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Good judgment and strong decision making ability
- Proficiency in Google Mail, Calendar functions, Google Docs, Excel, Powerpoint, Word and typical contact database software. Must be comfortable with technology and able to master new technologies and technical functionalities required to support the executives.
- Experience planning domestic and international travel
Location
Boulder, Colorado
How to Apply
To apply, please email your cover letter, salary requirements and resume with “Executive Assistant” in the subject line to: jobs@rmi.org. No calls, please.
RMI is an equal opportunity employer.