Senior Industry Specialist, Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management The Senior Industry Specialist supports the Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management Program by advancing the policy, market, utility, financing, and stakeholder conditions necessary to accelerate industrial innovation and decarbonization across the Midwest and beyond. The position leads policy and regulatory analysis, develops strategic resources and recommendations, and manages complex project workstreams that support industrial transformation. Working collaboratively with GPI staff and external partners, the Senior Industry Specialist serves as a subject matter expert on industrial decarbonization, industrial energy affordability, utility innovation, and technology adoption. The role translates complex technical, economic, regulatory, and policy issues into practical strategies and actionable guidance for policymakers, utilities, industry leaders, researchers, and other stakeholders. The Senior Industry Specialist will play a key role in identifying barriers, developing solutions, and supporting the implementation of strategies that help emerging technologies and industrial transformation efforts move from concept and demonstration to widespread deployment. The Senior Specialist will monitor legislative, regulatory, utility, market, and technology developments; identify opportunities for new initiatives and partnerships; and represent GPI through meetings, workshops, conferences, webinars, and other public engagements. The Senior Industry Specialist will be expected to work both independently and with colleagues on projects. The successful candidate will be able to complete various work elements from conception to completion in a timely manner and follow direction that may be detailed or minimal. The ideal candidate will have the ability to work collaboratively and constructively with project participants from diverse backgrounds, interests, and points of view; exercise good judgment in a variety of situations; maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities; utilize effective methods for time management and prioritization of tasks; and possess the ability to identify and address urgent and important needs in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Hours may be flexible and are typically Monday through Friday during the business day; some nights and weekends may be required. Some travel will also be required.
Position responsibilities include:- Leading analysis of legislative, regulatory, utility, financing, and market issues affecting industrial innovation, industrial energy affordability, and technology adoption.
- Monitoring emerging state, regional, and federal policy developments and assessing implications for industrial stakeholders and GPI initiatives.
- Identifying market, regulatory, infrastructure, and institutional barriers to the deployment of innovative industrial technologies and developing strategies to address them.
- Evaluating opportunities for policy innovation and stakeholder partnerships that can accelerate industrial transformation.
- Developing reports, roadmaps, policy briefs, fact sheets, case studies, presentations, and other resources that communicate complex technical and policy topics to diverse audiences.
- Translating findings from technical studies, pilot projects, and stakeholder engagement activities into actionable recommendations and scalable market strategies.
- Synthesizing lessons from industry, utilities, government agencies, and research organizations to support practical industrial decarbonization solutions.
- Supporting proposal development and strategic planning through research, analysis, and identification of emerging opportunities.
- Leading assigned project workstreams from planning through completion, including research design, work plans, timelines, stakeholder coordination, and deliverable development.
- Collaborating with project managers and teams to ensure projects reflect current policy, market, regulatory, and industry conditions.
- Supporting implementation of industrial decarbonization strategies by helping to develop policy, utility, financing, and market frameworks.
- Contributing to the development of new projects and initiatives that advance GPI's industrial innovation and carbon management objectives.
- Building and maintaining relationships with state agencies, utilities, industry representatives, nonprofit organizations, Tribal Nations, academic institutions, regional organizations, and other key partners.
- Designing and supporting stakeholder engagement activities, including workshops, roundtables, interviews, advisory groups, and collaborative planning processes.
- Facilitating discussions among diverse stakeholders to identify common challenges, opportunities, and pathways for industrial transformation.
- Fostering collaboration across sectors to advance technology deployment, infrastructure development, workforce readiness, and policy implementation.
- Serving as a recognized resource on industrial innovation, utility innovation, and related policy issues.
- Representing GPI at conferences, webinars, working groups, stakeholder meetings, and other public forums.
- Communicating emerging trends, market developments, and policy insights to internal and external audiences.
- Helping strengthen GPI's leadership role in advancing industrial innovation through strategic engagement, knowledge sharing, and partnership development.
- Coordinating cross-program collaboration within GPI to identify opportunities for shared learning and integrated project development across GPI's broader industry portfolio.
- Tracking and communicating emerging developments affecting industrial innovation.
- Participating in Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management team meetings and other programmatic activities.
- Performing additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Vice President of Industrial Innovation and Carbon Management.
- Desired qualifications and skills include:
- Five or more years of experience in public policy, energy, climate, environmental policy, or related field.
- Ability to translate and communicate complex scientific, technological, economic, and policy issues to diverse lay audiences.
- Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
- High attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
- Excellent time and deadline management, project management, and team relationship skills.
- Knowledge of, or prior experience with, climate, energy, and/or environmental issues is a plus.
- Demonstrated willingness and ability to work collaboratively and effectively with very diverse individuals and institutions, including those with different backgrounds and political perspectives, with which you may personally disagree.
- Demonstrated experience contributing to and leading complex policy research, project workstreams, or multi-stakeholder initiatives.
- Ability to build and maintain productive relationships with policymakers, industry, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and other external stakeholders.
- Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute and its Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management Program.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Experience with additional research, visualization, or design platforms (e.g., ArcGIS, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar tools) is preferred but not required.
- The Industrial Innovation & Carbon Management team is committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
- This position involves the use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, a copier, a fax machine, a calculator, a printer, and a telephone.
- This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods, extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), and use of a telephone/headset.
- Apply online. Required application materials include a resume and a one-page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for identifying what needs to be done and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It's a working environment where performance is judged more by results than by time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.
