Program Director, Transportation Electrification

Los Angeles, CA
Full Time
Experienced

  About LACI 

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is creating an inclusive green economy for the people of Los Angeles by unlocking innovation by working with startups to accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies, transforming markets through partnerships with policymakers, innovators, and market leaders in transportation, energy, and sustainable cities, and enhancing communities through workforce development, pilots, and other programs. Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), LACI is recognized as one of the most innovative business incubators in the world by UBI Global. In the past ten years, LACI has helped 340 portfolio companies raise $697 million in funding, generated $323 million in revenue, and created 2,565 jobs throughout the Los Angeles region, with a projected 5-year economic impact of more than $573 million. Learn more at laci.org

About the Transportation Electrification Partnership

The Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) is an unprecedented multi-year public-private partnership of more than 25 members committed to accelerating transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement throughout the Los Angeles region in advance of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games by pursuing bold targets, pilots, initiatives, and policies that are equity-driven, create quality jobs, and grow the economy.

The Partnership was established by LACI in May 2018 with a principal goal of reducing GHGs and air pollution by an additional 25 percent beyond existing commitments set for 2028. To achieve this goal, the partnership has identified a clear pathway of concrete targets:

  • 30% of all the light-duty passenger vehicles on the road across the County to be EVs (and 80% of all cars sold);
  • 20% of trips by public or active transit, moving people out of single occupancy vehicles;
  • 60% of medium-duty & 40% of heavy-duty short-haul and drayage trucks to be zero emissions.

We set bold targets that were seen as crazy in 2018, yet they were key to demonstrating bold commitments to reduce our pollution in a region that is known for cars, dirty air, and being an entry point for 40% of the nation's goods. Since then, the Partnership has been a model for going further faster together. Given that Los Angeles is California and the country’s largest auto market, our targets serve as a glide path to achieving  the state’s 100% EV sales goal by 2035 and President Biden’s 50% EV sales goal by 2030.  

While we celebrate the significant progress that has been made, we know we have much further to go to accelerate equitable climate action before the world arrives in the Los Angeles region for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games–and the next two years will be critical to securing funding, deploying innovative projects, and passing policies to support transformative action in line with TEP’s goals.. 

Position Summary:

The Director, Transportation Electrification is responsible day-to-day for managing TEP to ensure steady progress towards the goals and targets set forth in the Zero Emission 2028 Roadmap. This includes, but is not limited to: leading  strategic goal setting for the partnership, securing new corporate and public sector partners, leading grant-writing to advance TEP initiatives, planning and executing regular meetings and convenings of the Partnership, engaging partners in a variety of initiatives, and crafting and shaping related policies. The Director of Transportation Electrification  reports to the SVP Market Transformation and coordinates closely with the CEO on TEP strategy; the Director  participates in LACI’s Management Team.

What You’ll Do:

  • Manage the Transportation Electrification Partnership: The Director  manages the day-to-day of LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) to advance the ambitious regional goals set by its members. The Director ensures that the 25+ partners in TEP are coming together to achieve steady progress towards the ambitious goals the partnership established in the  Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap. This will entail:
    • Working closely with the SVP of Market Transformation and CEO to determine annual goals for TEP, plan the strategies and actions needed to achieve those goals, and oversee day-to-day implementation and evaluation of those actions. 
    • Engaging existing TEP members to stay active  (e.g., identifying opportunities for each partner to contribute thought leadership to advancing TEP’s goals).
    • Recruit new corporate and public sector partners for TEP to ensure financial stability of the Partnership and new insights and energy for the Partnership.
    • Planning and executing meetings of TEP members and  key stakeholders—and engaging thought and policy leaders in conversations to inform current and future priorities, including annual events (TEP Retreat, TEP Summit), quarterly partnership meetings, monthly member working group meetings, and regular Leadership Group meetings. 
    • Leading TEP’s 2024 International Study Trip to meet with transportation electrification leaders–public and private sector–in key European cities.
    • Crafting and shaping related policies at the local, state and federal levels with LACI leadership and TEP members.
  • Oversee Implementation of Specific Research Grants/Projects: Oversee the implementation of relevant state and federal grants secured for research and implementation projects to advance TEP goals and targets.
  • Budgeting and Grant Writing/Management: Work with the SVP of Market Transformation  to create the annual transportation budget. Lead relevant grant writing opportunities, coordinating with the Development Team. 
  • Staff and Consultant Management: Manage staff (currently 2) to ensure that they are actively engaged in and supporting TEP as appropriate with the JD for their roles, and to actively cultivate  growth and career pathing opportunities, as appropriate.  Additionally, hire and manage interns and consultants, as needed.
  • Subject Matter Expertise and Startup Engagement:  Help source, vet, recruit, select early stage clean transportation company applicants to LACI’s programs. Support LACI startups by facilitating connections to TEP events and partners, where appropriate.
  • Represent LACI and TEP externally:  Engage regularly with policymakers, industry leaders, startups, NGO and CBO communities and speak at related conferences on behalf of LACI and TEP. Oversee the publication of LACI’s zero emission transportation newsletter and provide strategic guidance for the development of TEP related MarCom materials.

 Why You’re Right for the Job:

  • You’re  a natural leader: With superior supervising, management, and interpersonal skills, you have the ability to connect with people and connect people to each other, enabling you to build strategic partnerships and lead mutually beneficial collaborations across groups with seemingly different interests. 
  • You’re politically savvy: You have the ability to digest political and market signals, and incorporate those insights into strategic decision-making. 
  • You have exceptional project management and leadership expertise: You’ve mastered project management frameworks & methodologies, with the ability to break the big picture down into manageable plans and  to help others understand the best way to track and communicate project goals, decisions, obstacles, and deliverables.
  • You are adaptable, strategic and agile: You naturally anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into the organizational plan, and when things (inevitably) don't go according to plan -- you know how to roll with the punches.
  • You have experience in transportation electrification and understand the needs of the sector: You have worked in transportation electrification related policy, OEMs, mobility, and/or goods movement, and see scaling electric vehicle technology as critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as to advancing equity through improved air quality, green jobs and access to mobility.
  • Public speaking doesn’t scare you at all: In fact, you have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with and between a variety of stakeholder groups and project teams. You know how to synthesize and translate complex information for a broad spectrum of audiences, from technologists to policymakers to community leaders.

Requirements:

Basically, we want to know you can get the job done. This means you have:

  • BA/BS degree in relevant field, preferred 
  • 6+  years related experience, preferred
  • Experience in deploying innovation as a city staff member and/or with local governments as well as with subject matter experts to scale equitable climate action
  • Strong project management skills including ability to assess dependencies, manage details, adhere to deadlines, and follow up on action items without micromanagement
  • Passionate about helping cities to innovate to creatively and effectively deploy climate solutions
  • Approaches opportunities and challenges with an empowered, resourceful mindset
  • Ability to be flexible in approach and pivot when necessary to achieve project objectives
  • Demonstrates LACI’s core values: catalytic, systemic, inclusive and impact-oriented
  • Strong interpersonal skills as LACI is a fast-paced matrixed organization in which cross collaboration across other internal teams and programs is essential for success
  • Strong oral, written and presentation skills;  ability to communicate clearly and effectively with and between stakeholder groups, project teams, and internal staff
  • Ability to manage up, consciously establishing a good working relationship with your supervisor to ensure mutual success
  • Proven ability to manage project budgets with multiple funding sources

Work Requirements

  • Must work onsite from LA office two to three days/week, some travel may be required

Position Details:

This is a full-time position, starting immediately. LACI operates out of the La Kretz Innovation Campus, in the bustling Downtown LA Arts District. Since we are rapidly growing, you will be getting in on the ground floor at LACI, with the opportunity to evolve with us and shape your future here. 

Salary Range: Director Range $88-109k commensurate with experience, education, skills, etc and total compensation package including health benefits, 401k match, professional development, commuter benefits and more.

In addition to working on a campus with other innovators, we offer industry competitive benefits including: paid holidays, vacation/sick time, health benefits, 401(k) plan with match, and paid parking (with EV charge stations). We also support alternative transportation with a metro pass and bikeshare for every employee.   

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