Research Fellow, Rural Energy Academy

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is a mission-driven national association focused on strengthening America’s county governments in the pursuit of public service excellence. The Association is uniquely distinguished by our membership of general-purpose county governments, led by nearly 39,000 publicly elected officials and supported by a dedicated professional county government workforce of more than 3.6 million public servants. America’s county governments currently budget and invest more than $750 billion each year.  

The Association plays a vital leadership role within the intergovernmental framework of the United States. Our nation’s unique federalism-based system emphasizes the balance, division, and sharing of power and responsibilities among federal, state, local and tribal government officials.  

Founded in 1935, the Association brings county officials together to: (1) Advocate county priorities in federal policy making (2) Promote exemplary county policies and practices (3) Enhance leadership skills and expand knowledge networks (4) Optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings, and (5) Enrich the public’s understanding of county government.

The Research Fellow, Rural Energy Academy is a one-year position with the goal of building NACo’s portfolio of research and insights available to rural counties nationwide regarding renewable energy trends and opportunities. This role will sit on NACo’s Research, Policy and Governance Studies team and be responsible for a specific set of deliverables described below. This position requires a deep understanding of renewable energy solutions, public policy and rural issues.

As the push for scaling renewable energy solutions accelerates, rural county leaders are faced with complex decisions — choices that directly impact their communities, including concerns about the environment, local infrastructure, water quality, connectivity, and overall well-being of residents, pets and wildlife. Rural communities are asking for access to cohesive resources and assistance that can help them make informed decisions when faced with energy development projects and their associated challenges. NACo’s newly formed Rural Energy Academy (Academy) will address these needs by offering research, peer learning and technical assistance to rural decision-makers nationwide. Rural leaders need reliable resources from trusted information brokers who understand their interests and authority, along with firsthand insights from peers to assess the value of large-scale installations before making local investments. The Academy will equip these leaders with educational resources and training provided in a peer learning environment, enabling them to make well-informed choices about energy development projects that best align with their community’s needs.

1. Build NACo’s Research Agenda on Rural Energy Policy
   1. Under the leadership of the Director of Research, support the development of NACo’s annual research agenda and dissemination strategy that aligns with other NACo products and member priorities.
   2. Foster collaborative relationships with various groups, including community stakeholders, policymakers, and technical experts, to align research objectives with real-world needs.
   3. Publish research and related thought pieces on state trends in preemption of county authority for land use related to energy production.
   4. Share insights on the fiscal impacts to counties related to energy and land use issues.
2. Expand NACo’s Portfolio of Data and Resources on Energy and Land Use
   1. Develop, update and expand upon NACo research products that tell the county story, including NACo’s County Landscape Project.
   2. Building on the success of NACo’s County Economies profiles, develop new county energy profiles (energy needs, current energy generation, energy generation potential, energy relevant revenue, etc.) for all 3,069 counties utilizing NACo’s County Explorer platform.
   3. Update and expand NACo’s county governance state profiles with energy-relevant land use data.
   4. Produce case examples of how and why rural communities are utilizing various energy types.
3. Communicate Insights to County Leaders:
   1. Communicate complex research findings in a clear and accessible manner, tailored to diverse audiences such as rural county leaders and non-technical staff.
   2. Contribute to multimedia content on different types of energy production and land use considerations.
   3. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in environmental science, social science, political science or a related field.
   4. Advanced degree or equivalent level experience is preferred, particularly in the fields of land use and/or tax policy.
   5. Proven ability to execute relevant research projects from start to finish, including project scoping, data collection, analysis, writing and presentation of key findings.
   6. Minimum 5 years of research and writing experience related to environmental science and/or public policy.
   7. Excellent communication, collaboration and presentation skills.
   8. Strategic thinker with a passion for advancing public service and local government.
   9. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
   10. Proficiency in leveraging digital tools and platforms for communications and engagement.
   11. Solid network of contacts across federal, state and local levels.
   12. Strong understanding of the functions and needs of counties and local governments
   13. Location: This position is based in Washington, D.C., with opportunities for travel to conferences, meetings and partner engagements. The Association currently offers hybrid workplace options, based on job function and performance, with an emphasis on leadership and teammate engagement and performance.

$90,000 – $100,000.