Access and Affordability Intern

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Our energy system is on the brink of a major transformation, and we’re looking for someone to help us ensure this new system puts rooftop solar energy at the cornerstone!

About SUN

About Solar United Neighbors

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit that started more than 15 years ago with a simple question. “Mom, can we go solar?” Since then, we’ve helped tens of thousands of people benefit from solar energy. We are dedicated to creating a clean, equitable, resilient energy system that benefits everyone – by helping people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.

Role overview

About the internship

As a Solar Access and Affordability Intern, you will work closely with the Solar Access and Affordability team and community partners to support access to clean energy for community members who have traditionally been left out of these opportunities. This fellow will work remotely across a distributed team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for energy justice, with an interest in community outreach and education.

This position reports directly to the Director of Solar Access and Affordability.

Responsibilities

Job responsibilities

Internship responsibilities include:

Program support (90%):

• Support the administration of the Energy Champions Program
  • Prepare materials, handle logistics, and assist with participant registrations
  • Support managing the online platform and zoom set up
  • Track participant attendance and analyze survey data
  • Support the distribution of stipends or microgrants
• Support Solar Access and Affordability educational programs with content preparation and delivery  
• Assist with updating program tracking documents to ensure that activities are logged.
• Help coordinate community outreach for upcoming educational events or training sessions. This could involve sending reminders, and working with local organizations to increase attendance. 
• Attend local Massachusetts events to represent SUN where applicable.
• Accompany team members at coalition meetings help take notes, track key discussion points, and identify potential opportunities for collaboration.
• Help with gathering and analyzing feedback after trainings and webinars to identify trends and areas of improvement.

Organization-wide administration (10%) 

• Actively contribute to a workplace culture aligned with SUN’s values of equity, inclusion, continuous learning, action-oriented, and people-centered.
• Show up fully for learning and planning and activities, including all-staff meetings, and strategy sessions. 
• Coordinate and work with external consultants as needed. 
• Attend meetings, prepare agendas, and take notes.  
• As a key member of the team, contribute to brainstorming, developing, and executing new ideas.  
• Manage your own regular administration, including timely submission of timesheets, receipts, reimbursements, scheduling, traveling planning, and HR paperwork.
• Other projects or tasks as assigned.

Work environment 

This position requires the ability to:

• Occasionally lift and move equipment or packages up to 50 pounds
• Remain in a stationary position and work at a computer for extended periods
• Travel occasionally by car or public transport to attend or support events
• Stand for extended periods while supporting events and/or community outreach activities

Core Competencies

At SUN, thriving means more than great work, it is about how we show up for one another, embrace challenges, and live our shared values. These Core Competencies guide our success together:

• Proactive and Accountable: takes initiative, follows through on commitments, and owns outcomes. 
• People-Centered Communicator: communicates clearly and respectfully in both written and verbal forms. Seeks understanding through questions, engages in open dialogue, and is receptive to giving and receiving constructive feedback.
• Adaptable and Growth-Minded: embraces learning with curiosity and approaches change with flexibility. Comfortable navigating new tools, systems, and evolving ways of working.
• Collaborative and Inclusive: builds strong relationships across teams, values diverse perspectives, and creates space for all voices to contribute.

Qualifications

Qualifications & skills

Required Qualifications:

• Resident of, or student attending school in, Massachusetts
• Computer access and reliable internet that supports video calls
• Passionate about energy equity and justice 
• Collaborative team player
• Organized and detail oriented in their work
• Strong communication skills especially in a virtual setting 
• Comfortable working with Microsoft office and Google docs 
• Enjoys speaking and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds to build relationships

Preferred Qualifications:

• Community organizing or outreach experience 
• Virtual event coordination experience (i.e. zoom administration)
• Experience developing educational content or curriculum Experience presenting or facilitating virtual events
• Experience working in the clean energy or community development field
• Experience working with communities traditionally excluded from the clean energy space (low-income, BIPOC, frontline communities)

As a SUN Intern, you will gain:

• Experience working with stakeholders to build community power 
• An understanding of rapidly growing solar and renewable energy space
• Experience working behind the scenes of a non-profit organization in a remote work setting 
• The opportunity to contribute to meaningful, impactful work 

This is a temporary, hourly position that may be part-time or full-time for up to 12 weeks, with a pay rate of $17.50. Interns are expected to provide their own laptop. As this is a remote role, employees must maintain a reliable internet connection and a suitable home workspace. Successful candidates must be based in Massachusetts and be able to provide proof of legal authorization to work in the United States without requiring company sponsorship.

Apply

How to apply?

To apply, please first register and apply with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center here. A statement of interest is optional; however, it can be a helpful way for you to communicate your fitness for the position if you think that may not be obvious from your resume. This statement can be sent after applying through the portal to jobs@solarunitedneighbors.org and including “SAA Fellow – statement of interest” in the subject line. No applications will be considered if they are not registered with Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

We anticipate accepting applications until the second week of April, with the first review of candidates next week. However, we encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible, as we may begin interviews on a rolling basis.

Applicants may redact or remove any information in your submitted materials (such as resumes, transcripts, certifications, or CVs) that could reveal your age, including your date of birth, school attendance dates, or graduation dates, and they will not be penalized for doing so.

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We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. SUN welcomes candidates of diverse backgrounds and experience to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with a non-traditional education. We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every preferred qualification, we still encourage you to apply.

SUN is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities. We will provide reasonable accommodations throughout the application, interview, hiring process, and work environment as required by law. If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at jobs@solarunitedneighbors.org so we can make the necessary arrangements. Only accommodation requests will be answered, and they will be handled confidentially.