Length of Fellowship
June 2026 - November 2026 (6 months)
Building Power Resource Center
Building Power Resource Center (BPRC) is a high-touch strategy and technical assistance provider that supports collaboration between community organizations, unions, and local governments to implement and scale model decarbonization policies that deliver tangible benefits for working people.
To win ambitious climate action that lasts, BPRC believes policymaking must balance securing bold commitments for long-term goals with building immediate signature projects. Central to this approach is an “inside-outside” strategy, where grassroots coalitions create the political conditions to win popular programs and support government champions in designing and executing them. Importantly, community and government leaders also share the responsibility for ensuring that projects are a success and that the win is felt by the broader community. Through campaigning and implementation that focuses on building the political conditions from the “outside” and collaborating deeply on the "inside," BPRC and their partners are building a clean energy economy while strengthening the muscles of democracy.
BPRC equips their statewide and local partners in the Building Power Network (BPN) with policy research, data, relationships, fundraising support, and ongoing strategic coaching to implement policy models一such as public school decarbonization and neighborhood-scale decarbonization一that simultaneously build community power, grow public sector capacity, lower energy bills, reduce climate pollution, improve public health outcomes, and create good union jobs.
Partners have shared that BPRC’s deep understanding of basebuilding, ability to synthesize the complex political and financial resource landscape, and relationships with technical experts make them an invaluable resource. With federal funding rollbacks and political chaos, community-labor coalitions and government leaders at the subnational levels rely on trusted allies like BPRC to support them in leading the equitable green energy transition. Please read more about the BPRC here.
The Position
A BPRC Fellow is a recent masters graduate and directly supports one of BPRC’s partners on a concrete and consequential project.
We are looking for kind and competent organizing-minded policy geeks and project managers. The ideal candidate has experience organizing campaigns from outside government and/or implementing policy programs from the inside; they can balance the ambition of the principled just transition we need with the pragmatism necessary for successful governance. We are looking for go-getters who are motivated by genuine curiosity, detail obsessed, rigorously mission-focused, enthusiastic about climate and economic policy, and outcomes-driven!
This is a great opportunity for those who want to work with Community Based Organizations or in local government. Fellows will work with the best organizers across the country and with ambitious government officials to model effective climate and jobs programs that could be replicated across the country. BPRC seeks to build a pipeline of policy professionals with inside-outside organizing experience. Fellows will report to a Senior Program Director, and work closely with the broader BPRC team.
Responsibilities
BPRC will decide “placement” opportunities for fellows, and will thoughtfully consider fellows’ expertise, skills, and interests in making these placements. Fellows will likely be providing in-depth support for 1 or 3 of BPRC’s partners. Responsibilities can include:
- Develop and maintain collaborative and rewarding relationships with our partners (leaders of community organizations, government staff, allies in national-network groups, and other technical assistance providers). Depending on needs and skills, fellows may serve as primary BPRC support for 1-2 partners during their fellowship.
- Draft and give feedback on various campaigns' internal and public materials.
- Policy research and analysis
- Identify relevant opportunities and aggressively support partners’ applications for federal, state, and city funding for their projects.
- Provide direct grant writing assistance
- Facilitate connections with appropriate TA providers and relevant organizations
- Project manage conduction of feasibility studies and assessments
- Manage strategic initiatives
- Support BPRC’s organizational development and internal capacity, such as supporting external communications efforts
- End of fellowship report and presentation evaluating the project and sharing key lessons-learned
Qualifications
- Relevant experience in organizing, campaigning, and/or policy; experience working in government is preferred;
- Experience building partnerships and being in accountable relationship;
- Relational and collaborative spirit is a must;
- Excellent communications skills -- listening, speaking, and writing;
- “Nothing is too big or too small” attitude
- Technical expertise on building decarbonization or the energy system is not necessary, but basic skills in policy analysis and a sharp understanding of the political dynamics and stakeholders in climate work is required;
- Nuanced understanding of the relationship between an inside and outside strategy for social change - and for this project, is oriented towards collaboration with governing partners as a way to support base building goals;
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage their time effectively, and create and complete work plans without much supervision;
- Demonstrated commitment to values of equity and justice in their personal or professional life;
- Graduate degree in policy, urban planning, public administration, or other relevant fields is preferred;
- Willingness and ability to travel at least 1-2 times during the fellowship, if working remotely from their “placement”
Time and Pay
- $4000 per month for 20 hours per week
- BPRC follows a 4-day work week schedule June-August
- Fellows will be temporary employees of the State Democracy Project, BPRC’s fiscal sponsor
- Fellows must be located in the United States and have valid work authorization (including international students who can participate through valid CPT or OPT programs) – we are not able to support work visas.
Experience of former fellows
- “BPRC is a magical organization–it’s a serious strategy shop that dreams big, commits to its craft, and deeply invests in its people and relationships. Being part of the BPRC team has been such a joy and an honor, and I am grateful for the structured learning opportunities this Fellowship provided to explore power-building, policy implementation, and co-governance political models at local and state levels.” - Sinéad López
- “My fellowship with BPRC was an extremely meaningful and impactful experience. BPRC creates a space where learning, collaboration, and community truly intersect, and I had the privilege of contributing to and learning from two members of the BPN network. The core team holds an unwavering commitment to uplifting community groups who are driving the change we need to reach an affordable, healthy, zero carbon future. I left the fellowship inspired and more committed than ever to continuing this work. BPRC is a catalyst for change, and I’m grateful to be a part of its community.” - Josefina Hajek-Herrera
- “The BPRC fellowship was an exciting opportunity to have one foot in campaigning and one foot in governing at a time when both are needed to build a green transition from below. As a fellow, my skills in research, writing, and relationship management were all called upon to support meaningful work being done by BPRC's partner organizations. I loved being part of a top-notch team where we each encouraged and enabled one another to deliver high caliber results for the organization and our partners.”- Eric Holmberg
To Apply
Please apply by Friday, March 27th by filling out our online application form. We ask for your resume along with answers to two application questions.
Please expect a response by April 6th, when we plan to start contacting candidates and interviewing. We expect our interview process to take place throughout the month of April, with a goal of sending out offers by early May. The fellowship runs through June-November 2026.
This search is being run by NRG Consulting Group. Please contact jobs@nrgconsultinggroup.org with any questions.
