The Company:  The Center for Manufacturing a Green Economy (CMGE)

About CMGE:

The green energy transition is already in motion, and CMGE is committed to building a training model that empowers workers with green technology expertise and connects them with union jobs. This type of workforce development is desperately needed—at the state level and across the country. With the state of California’s commitment to its climate transition, and the Governor’s agenda singularly focused on growing manufacturing jobs in the state, there is an opportunity to build a coherent, worker-centered vision of green industry that can drive the buildout of critical battery and electric vehicle (EV) sectors.

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This vision is also necessary to the economic and political consensus needed for sustainable climate investments, as the new administration threatens to reverse progress and return us to fossil-driven, low-road policies which threaten our communities, our economy, and global progress towards mitigating the climate crisis. Beyond that, and perhaps what is more compelling—this vision offers a future where workers prosper from manufacturing jobs and climate investments. While climate policies are being attacked systematically, renewed enthusiasm for American manufacturing presents an opportunity to implement a vision of a climate transition that centers economic issues and builds consensus from the bottom up.

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This moment is ripe for action by Labor to build that vision—showing that investing in green workers is essential to building a resilient economy. That a union is a value-add to business, and necessary from the infancy of an industry buildout. That these industries are critical to a liveable planet—and as such it’s in everyone’s best interest to ensure the workers building these products are empowered and provided opportunities for prosperity. CMGE sits in a unique position to drive this agenda by leveraging the UAW's expertise in manufacturing and health and safety; our in-house technical expertise on climate and batteries; the variety of projects in policy, training, permitting regulation, and public funding incentives; as well as our suite of resources from the state of California, and private philanthropy.

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The Center for Manufacturing a Green Economy (CMGE) is bringing a new standard of training to the green economy—empowering workers with knowledge of green manufacturing technologies, ensuring that their voices are amplified, and building a just transition towards new, diverse climate industries where workers and communities can thrive. We believe that an investment in the workers driving the energy transition is an investment in the American climate economy.

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CMGE offers a first-of-its-kind workforce training model: building a robust recruitment pipeline; providing foundational job skills training supported by wraparound services and stipends; and creating a skill-based apprenticeship for production workers. The Center’s initial training model is focused on the battery manufacturing workforce, with programs developing in Sacramento, the Imperial Valley, and the Inland Empire. While the pilot programs are all in California, CMGE has a national profile and is a registered Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Training and Expansion Center (ITAC), with plans to expand to Nevada, Arizona, and in other parts of the country—as well as in other critical green manufacturing sectors including solar panels, zero-emission light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as building decarbonization components.

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The Center’s initial training model is focused on the battery manufacturing workforce, with programs developing in Sacramento, the Bay Area, and the Inland Empire.

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‍The Opportunity:

CMGE is seeking a Strategic Researcher to provide high-level research, analysis, and project support. This is a unique opportunity for a candidate with subject matter expertise in climate technology, advanced manufacturing, and / or climate policy to support the build out of a worker-driven green industrial transition, starting in California and with opportunities to expand across the Western United States. This role conducts strategic research across a broad range of topics including corporate and financial research, climate industry analysis, and policy insights to help inform CMGE’s strategy and company engagement. The Strategic Researcher reports to the Executive Director and is a trusted collaborator across the organization.

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Job Duties:

Research and Analysis (60%)

• Execute research to support CMGE Executive Director and Workforce Development Director in developing strategy around company engagement, green industrial policy, and curriculum development. Early projects will include:
• Landscape analysis of battery and other green tech manufacturers: which companies along the battery supply chain (+ other green manufacturing sectors: building decarb components, solar, EVs) are being developed in California and across the broader West Coast? What metrics can we use to assess a company’s chances of success? What does the battery manufacturing supply chain look like in 2025?
• What are the public funding opportunities for green manufacturers and workforce development, especially in California, Washington, and Nevada?
• Mapping CEQA / NEPA permitted facilities in California and across Region 6. What areas are most ready for a manufacturing boom? Where are facilities already permitted for this type of industrial use?

Represent CMGE to external entities (20%)

• Build strategic relationships by attending relevant conferences, meetings, and networking events with companies and potential partners.
• Liaise with partner organizations and the UAW Region 6’s Organizing, Research, and EV policy teams. Ensure that CMGE’s research projects are aligned and additive.

Maintain and share knowledge (20%)

• Stay informed on the latest research and developments in climate, green technology, and manufacturing. Regularly share relevant insights with colleagues to support strategic development and outreach.
• Support outreach to new companies and funders. This could include drafting communications, proactive research support, and ad hoc projects to answer emerging questions.
• Assist with curriculum development as needed.

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• 4+ years of relevant work experience in engineering, business, data analysis, and research for advocacy or strategic campaigns
• Technical expertise working in climate technology, green manufacturing, the battery industry, and/or climate policy (global experiences / perspectives welcomed) including: experience around the technology, financial, and manufacturing elements associated with different technologies
• Motivated by the mission of a just and worker-centered climate transition
• The ability to conduct quantitative research, including data analysis on MS Excel and/or geospatial mapping, financial assessments / technological readiness level assessments
• Ability to conduct qualitative research, including compiling industry interviews and insights from CMGE partners and employers
• Bring a learning mindset
• Flexible approach and the ability to adapt to new tasks and working in a startup environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a keen ability to “read the room”, and foster relationships
• Experience working in a team, with contractors, and employer representatives
• Ability to self-organize and set priorities, goals, and manage multiple competing workstreams
• Demonstrated experience facilitating a group through decision-making regarding strategic, programmatic, and/or policy issues
  

Organizational Relationship:

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Reports to the Executive Director. Works collaboratively across the organization on discrete projects.

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Location:

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This is a hybrid position with the selected candidate needing to be in California. The first programs will take place in Sacramento and/or San Bernardino so the selected candidate will be expected to travel.

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Time:

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This is a full-time, exempt position working an average of 40 hours a week. At times, evening and/or weekend work may be needed to complete tasks.

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Physical Demands:

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Ability to work at a computer for 8 hours per day, communicate with a variety of people. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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Compensation and Benefits:

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The salary for this position is $95,000-$100,000. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes fully employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with 4% employer match, paid holidays, 20 vacation days, paid parental leave, and sick time.

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Equal Employment Opportunity:

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We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related conditions. We encourage and will consider employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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Applicants with Disabilities:

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Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. If you are seeking accommodation, please advise in writing at the time you apply.