Director, Strategic Partnerships

About the Organization

Momentum is an award-winning clean-tech consultancy responsible for developing more than $10 billion in funded projects. Based in the heart of beautiful downtown Sacramento, Momentum has a global reach, delivering strategic planning, fund development, project management, and commercialization services for cleantech companies.

Our Vision

We envision a world where clean energy, water, and transportation are abundant, affordable, and available to all.

Job Summary

The Director of Strategic Partnerships will have a deep working knowledge in a particular field and will use this expertise to enhance Momentum’s clients’ business efforts and increase our staff’s understanding of the specialty. First and foremost, the Director of Strategic Partnerships should see her- or himself as a resource for internal Momentum staff and Momentum clients.

The Director of Strategic Partnerships will manage and nurture major partnerships with key agencies, including the California Energy Commission, California Air Resources Board, NYSERDA, Washington Department of Commerce, and the Department of Energy, among others. They will oversee all channel partnerships, maintaining relationships with stakeholders, engineering firms, and potential partners. The primary objective is to develop and sustain relationships with decision-makers to drive new business opportunities that expand Momentum’s presence beyond its core business model. The Director will also create innovative collaboration strategies and contracting methodologies to position Momentum at the center of the ecosystem.

The Director of Strategic Partnerships plays a leading role in offering strategic guidance to further innovations in sustainability and support project implementation in her/his field of expertise. The Director of Strategic Partnerships is expected to understand how to relate her/his subject matter expertise across a variety of Momentum’s work products, including the development and execution of campaigns, grant proposal development, grant-funded project execution, strategic communications to clients, agencies and commercialization partners, and more. Most of a Director’s work will be focused on their primary area of expertise, but the Director will also be expected to work with clients and staff outside their primary industry as needed.

The Director will interface directly with clients, Client Managers, Project Managers, Strategists, consultants, and subject matter experts to integrate appropriate Momentum resources and best practices into Momentum’s work product with a high degree of ownership and integrity. The Director will be relied upon for leadership and will be given the authority to make strategic decisions. The Director is expected to be able to provide clear and concise communications externally to clients, prospective clients, partners, and agencies and internally to staff, contractors, and consultants.

Directors must have a high capacity for managing multiple initiatives, projects, project teams, and clients with varying needs, often with significant time pressure. The Director is relied upon to critically evaluate challenges and creatively find solutions. The Director will need to be able to read, analyze and interpret correspondence, marketing material, and complex Federal and state Requests for Proposals and, based upon their assignments, be able to extract actionable items and coordinate their completion. Successful applicants must also be able to write concise and professional business letters, emails, and memos.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serving as Momentum’s go-to industry resource supporting new business approaches, such as programmatic design and service as a technical assistance provider.
• Researching and understanding agency strategic plans, recent and upcoming legislation, and funding opportunities and working with Momentum staff to communicate this information to relevant clients.
• Leading project teams on high-profile projects and client relationships with support from additional staff and contracted resources.
• Using industry network connections to build new partnerships for clients and Momentum.
• Training Momentum staff about key industry issues and opportunities relevant to Momentum’s clients and internal objectives.
• Collaborating with client managers, project managers, and strategists to understand the strategic goals of clients and guide how to best work towards those goals through Momentum written, visual, and quantitative content.
• Identifying avenues for strategic communication with current clients and nurturing relationships with these clients.
• Developing and executing long-term strategic campaign plans for Momentum’s clients and partners.
• Working with client managers and funding specialists to identify and evaluate incentive program opportunities for alignment with Momentum’s strategic objectives to be a lead solutions provider.
• Working on RFPs and grant applications that advance Momentum’s industry position.
• Managing project teams to ensure clear communication and quality performance.
• Supporting commercialization activities, including the development of project and technology information geared toward key ecosystem actors.
• Coordinating and attending meetings and presentations with key stakeholders.
• Establishing long-term relationships with relevant clients with emphasis on identifying and developing further business opportunities with existing clients and cultivating new clients.
• Business development efforts should be closely aligned with appropriate Client Manager activities to amplify their ability for long-term success.
• The Director role is not in competition with the Client Management team but should be seen as a key strategic asset to the Client Managers.
• Supporting the recruiting process by identifying gaps in Momentum’s capabilities, both with employees and contractors.
• Participating in interviews with prospective employees.
• Evaluating and vetting new contractors.

Supervisory Responsibilities

·       This position will report to the Vice President.

Reporting Relationship

• None.

Location

This is a remote eligible position but may require occasional travel to Sacramento and various project sites throughout California, and the U.S. Training and onboarding are carried out in person at our Sacramento office.

Application Period

June 12, 2024 through June 19, 2024

Requirements

Desired Skills and Abilities

• Deep subject matter expertise in a particular field that aligns with Momentum’s mission.
• Successful record of writing and reviewing grant proposals.
• Impeccable written and verbal communication, tailored appropriately to numerous key stakeholders both inside and outside of the organization.

• The ability to read, understand, analyze, and interpret highly complex materials and to extract and coordinate relevant information for proposals, reports, etc.
• A high capacity for managing multiple initiatives, projects, and clients simultaneously, often under considerable time pressure.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills supporting the development and roll-out of unique, new services offered by the company.
• A passion for renewable energy, alternative transportation, and clean tech.
• An unparalleled sense of individual ownership and pride in all work products.

Desired Education and Experience

• 4+ years of professional working experience in sustainability/clean tech.
• Subject matter expertise in one or more of our primary areas of consulting.
• Work experience in a consultancy.

Benefits

Momentum offers a competitive package of benefits that includes:

• Competitive base salary.
• Annual target bonuses.
• 100% employer paid health premium options available for all full-time staff.
• Simple IRA with matching contributions.
• Paid-time-off (PTO) of 120 hours/year.
• Paid sick leave of 56 hours per year.
• 12 company holidays.
• Employer paid life insurance policy.
• $50 Cell phone stipend.
• $2,000 annual professional development stipend.

Salary Range

$170,000 - $220,000 + Bonus.  At Momentum, it is typical for an individual to be hired at the lower end of the range for their role, however candidates with highly relevant experience, education, and skill level may be considered for higher compensation.

Our Core Values

• Equity First: We strive to embed social justice, belonging, and inclusion in every aspect of our work.
• Expect Candor: We believe transparent, authentic communication produces meaningful results.
• Excellence Through Collaboration: We set high standards and together we exceed them. We strive to create a space where everyone can do the best work of their lives.
• Empower Problem Solving: The challenges of our time will be solved through ground-breaking innovation. We mobilize teams to craft future-shaping solutions for the planet.
• Empathy-Driven Service: We step into the shoes of our clients and teammates to fully understand their unique challenges, hopes, dreams, and goals.

This is the job for you, if you want; a fast-paced, fun work environment with dedicated, hard-working co-workers; a challenging and interesting job, working with clients who are involved in valuable and important projects; a work environment where we take our corporate values and culture seriously; and above all, a job that helps make the world a better place.

If you share our enthusiasm, commitment, and passion for growing great ideas, we enthusiastically invite you to apply for an open position with our expanding team. Momentum offers a competitive salary package and benefits. We also offer significant opportunities for professional growth and quick advancement in a flexible and human-centered workplace.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Momentum does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

More About Momentum

Momentum designs and develops innovation campaigns for forward-thinking organizations working to deploy transformative energy, transportation, and manufacturing technologies. Founded in 2005, the company has grown to be among the most sought-after technology and commercialization partners in North America.

Momentum’s growing team consists of scientists and engineers, finance and fund development professionals, innovation and commercialization experts, and project managers and deployment specialists. Together, we are committed to clarity of thought, data-driven analysis, and excellence in presentation. We conduct rigorous research, thoughtful analysis, and strategic engagement to dramatically increase the ability of our clients to access and manage public and private investment, demonstrate and commercialize advanced technologies, and attract new customers and strategic partners.

Our process generates results: together with more than 1,000 clients and partners, we’ve designed and developed more than $6 billion in technology deployments—globally significant innovations in partnership with dozens of Fortune 1000 companies like Amazon, Volvo, General Motors, Schneider Electric, Waste Management and Cummins Engine, as well as demonstration partners at hundreds of campuses, air- and sea-ports, public- and investor-owned utilities, and manufacturing and distribution facilities.  And along the way, we’ve assisted hundreds of early-stage and pre-commercial cleantech startups in plotting a course to successful funding and commercialization.

In 2021, Momentum was acknowledged by Sacramento Business Journal as one of the best places to work in Sacramento.