Program Manager

Who We Are

The Clean Fight 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 innovate models of adoption to accelerate the deployment of climate solutions. Given that many of the technologies we need to solve the climate crisis already exist, it’s imperative that we ensure they are adopted quickly, and at scale. To enable this adoption, The Clean Fight creates, runs, and iterates different programs (models of adoption) to identify which can have the greatest impact, at speed.

The Clean Fight currently has two core programs. The accelerator program plays an important role in the New York State innovation ecosystem as the only accelerator focused on growth-stage companies, providing an essential next step for innovative climate companies looking to move from initial deployment to broad market adoption. We help them to quickly scale in NY, by providing tailored support, high-touch customer and capital partner matchmaking, and non-dilutive investments to help with demonstration projects and deployments. Each cohort focuses on a different part of the clean energy economy: our practice areas include buildings and energy storage. Our second program, The Empire Technology Prize, is a $10M prize program focused on the development and deployment of leapfrog decarbonization solutions for New York’s tall buildings. Currently in development, The Empire Technology Prize will look to solve one of New York’s thorniest climate problems - reducing the 70% of NYC and 40% of New York State’s greenhouse gas emissions that come from buildings. By focusing the world’s best innovators on this issue, we hope not only to collapse the time to market for these crucial technologies, but to provide a blueprint for other markets in the US and globally to do the same.

We are supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 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, operating programs in the US, China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa.

About the Role

The Program Manager will work with the Program Director and other members of The Clean Fight team to design and execute our world-class programs; initially, the Program Manager will help to lead our newest program, the Empire Tech Prize, a $10 million prize competition to encourage the decarbonization of tall buildings.
The Program Manager will help with global outreach, develop and execute a rigorous selection process, program curriculum, support provider identification and management, event planning and execution, and related program services. The person in this role will communicate day-to-day with a variety of stakeholders, including funders, partners, and cohort companies during the program, and proactively seek out commercial, funding, and other opportunities for participants during and after the program.

The Program Manager reports to the Program Director and is supported by a Program Associate. They will work closely with the Partnerships team, whose role is the sourcing and management of corporate and capital partners.

The team has an office near Madison Square Park at Rise NY and offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement. Unfortunately, relocation assistance is not available.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting the innovators leading the clean energy transition. They have relationship development and project management experience. Ideally, the Program Manager has hands-on experience in the buildings sector, helping to scale companies and/or in the clean energy business sector. They thrive in an early-stage environment by being a fast learner willing to roll up their sleeves; they’re self-motivated, solutions-oriented, resourceful, and able to prioritize and multitask.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a world-class global prize program, in collaboration with the Program Director, focused on adding r