Who We Are
The Clean Fight, powered by New Energy Nexus, is a not-for-profit business accelerator working to significantly speed the growth of the inclusive clean energy economy of New York State and beyond. Our mission is to help scale the world’s best growth-stage climate tech start-ups whose innovative technologies will help meet our nation’s future energy needs, while boosting economic development, quality job creation, and resilience in New York State communities with the greatest need and impact.
The Clean Fight plays an important role in the NY State innovation ecosystem as the only accelerator focused on growth-stage companies (defined as those with $1M+ in annual revenue from a diversified customer base, or other clear indicators of market adoption), providing an essential next step for innovative energy companies looking to move from initial deployment to broad market adoption of their offerings.
Our program identifies what a given sector needs to achieve equitable and sizable impact, and then recruits the best startups from around the world with proven solutions that are ready to be broadly adopted. We help them scale in NY, at speed, by providing tailored support, high-touch customer and capital partner matchmaking, and non-dilutive investments to help with demonstration projects and deployments. www.thecleanfight.com
We are supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and by the Department of Energy. We are a chapter of New Energy Nexus, an international not-for-profit that strives to achieve a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population in the shortest time possible by supporting diverse clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, accelerators, and networks. New Energy Nexus operates programs in the US, China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. www.newenergynexus.com
About the Role
The Accelerator Program Manager will work with the Program Director and other members of The Clean Fight team to design and execute our core programming, creating a world-class growth-stage accelerator program. Each cohort will focus on a different part of the clean energy economy: so far the focus has been on building decarbonization and efficiency, next up is energy storage.
The Accelerator Program Manager will help develop and oversee a rigorous startup selection process, program curriculum, technical assistance provider identification and management, event planning and execution, and related program services.The person in this role will communicate day-to-day with cohort companies during the program, and proactively seek out commercial, funding, and other opportunities for participants during and after the program.
The Accelerator Program Manager reports to the Program Director and may have direct reports down the road but will not have any initially. They will work closely with the Partnership Director, whose role is the sourcing and management of corporate and capital partners. We compensate competitively and offer generous medical, dental, and vision benefits. The team is currently working remotely but will likely have an office in Manhattan or Brooklyn and offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement starting this summer. Unfortunately relocation assistance is not available.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who is passionate about helping to build businesses that are critical to the clean energy transition. Ideally, the Accelerator Program Manager has had hands-on experience helping to scale growth stage companies and has knowledge of the clean energy business sector. They thrive in an early-stage environment by being a fast learner willing to roll up their sleeves, self-motivated, solution-oriented, resourceful, and able to prioritize and multitask.
Key Responsibilities
- Execute a world-class global accelerator program, in collaboration with the Program Director, for the clean energy space, focused on adding real and unique value to growth-stage startups
- Help evaluate the needs of participants in order to scale, and identify and connect them with the necessary resources
- Assess and monitor best practices in the accelerator world to understand what is and isn’t working and ensure we’re pioneering a best-in-class program design
- Coordinate an inclusive startup selection process, including the development and management of the selection committee
- Manage program execution, including hosting multiple major events per year
- Help build a strong expert network to support the program’s startups
- Elicit and respond to the needs of participants throughout our programs
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree +
- 4+ years experience
- Experience working in accelerators or other organizations designed to help companies scale, or within startups directly helping them scale (e.g., sales, business development, or other relevant functional experience with a growth stage company; accelerator manager or associate; investor; consultant or investment banker, etc.)
- Experience supporting others as they build great companies, and building community between companies so they can support each other
- Ability to coordinate and execute large events, in partnership with event production resource
- Proven project management in lean, complex, fast-paced environments
- Experience in the clean energy world is helpful but not required. Work in building efficiency and decarbonization and/or energy storage is particularly relevant
- Experience working in non-profit or government roles with a focus on clean energy, climate solutions, or similar also valued
