Senior Policy Advisor - Clean Heat

About NESCAUM

Headquartered in Boston, NESCAUM is the nonprofit association of state air quality agencies in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NESCAUM is governed by a Board of Directors composed of the lead state air quality officials in these states and has a staff of dedicated professionals with expertise in science, technology, and policy. NESCAUM’s mission is to provide scientific, technical, analytical, and policy support to state air quality and climate programs in the Northeast. To accomplish this, NESCAUM participates in regional and national dialogues, conducts research, helps create regional policy solutions to shared problems, facilitates information sharing, and sponsors training programs. NESCAUM also operates the Ozone Transport Commission, a multistate organization created under the Clean Air Act that is responsible for facilitating regional solutions to the ground-level ozone problem in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

NESCAUM’s Clean Heat team works with states across the country to accelerate the transition to zero-emission buildings and industry. NESCAUM’s multi-year effort on residential buildings led ten states and Washington, DC to sign a multistate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with quantitative goals to improve heat pump market share and publish a Multistate Action Plan to achieve the MOU’s goals. In 2025, NESCAUM launched an Industrial Heat Electrification Initiative (IHEI) under the Clean Heat team to help states transition large boilers used in industrial, commercial, and institutional applications to zero-emission technologies like heat pumps. NESCAUM is now seeking a Senior Policy Advisor to lead NESCAUM’s industrial clean heat portfolio. The Senior Policy Advisor will lead the IHEI, support states in developing innovative regulatory solutions to reduce air emissions from industrial heat, and facilitate work groups that convene states to work on stationary source and air permitting issues.

Job Summary

The Senior Policy Advisor will spend approximately 75% of their time building and leading NESCAUM’s IHEI and 25% of their time managing multistate air regulatory and permitting workgroups focused on stationary sources. The IHEI addresses air emissions (greenhouse gases, criteria pollutants, and air toxics) from low- and medium-temperature heating in industrial, institutional, and commercial settings. NESCAUM convenes states to share information, conducts research and technical analysis, and develops regulatory resources (e.g., model rules, permitting guidance, and technical support documents) to help states meet climate and air quality goals. The Senior Policy Advisor will lead NESCAUM’s industrial heat workstream by: developing and reviewing regulatory and permitting strategies to reduce emissions from industrial heat; leading projects and multistate workgroups; drafting letters, comments, white papers, and reports; overseeing research and technical analyses; contributing to development and fundraising efforts; and helping build and grow internal capacity to meet NESCAUM’s goals and objectives. This position reports to NESCAUM’s Policy and Program Director for Clean Heat and will serve on a team that includes additional staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the IHEI by leading strategy, planning, budgeting, and grant proposals.
• Facilitate multistate workgroups and committees focused on industrial heat and stationary source air regulation and permitting.
• Coordinate with states toward setting shared targets and strategies for reducing emissions from industrial, commercial, and institutional heat.
• Identify regulatory and permitting strategies that states can use to transition industrial heat to zero-emission options and produce regulatory resources (e.g., model rules, permitting guidance, technical support documents) to support states’ efforts.
• Conduct research and oversee technical and economic analysis, including consultant reports and activities, related to industrial heat electrification.
• Review and comment on relevant federal and state regulatory proposals.
• Produce high-quality written and analytic materials, sometimes on short deadlines.
• Build effective relationships with state partners and key stakeholders and facilitate progress towards shared targets.
• Coordinate with external partners and coalitions on industrial heat decarbonization strategies, policy development, and research products.
• Represent NESCAUM and present at conferences, meetings, and webinars.
• Develop and participate in collaborative opportunities with external organizations.
• Conduct fundraising for key initiatives as needed.

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a strong air regulatory background, in addition to experience and/or knowledge related to industrial heat decarbonization. They will also be a creative and proactive thinker who can identify innovative ways to build on existing regulatory frameworks to speed states’ progress in addressing pollution from industrial heat. The successful applicant will have the following minimum qualifications:

• At least 6-8 years of programmatic or technical experience in a relevant field such as air regulation, air permitting, industrial decarbonization, industrial processes, commercial building decarbonization, or energy policy.
• Bachelor’s degree; master’s degree in a relevant field may substitute for up to two years of work experience.
• Experience leading projects and programs, including independent decision-making and motivating progress on shared goals and objectives.
• Strong knowledge of the Clean Air Act and state air regulatory processes such as State Implementation Plan development, BACT/RACT/LAER analysis, permitting procedures, and other relevant regulatory frameworks.
• Familiarity with (preferred) or interest in (required) clean industrial heat technologies such as industrial heat pumps, electric resistance boilers, thermal energy storage, heat recovery, and other types of equipment.
• Ability to synthesize complex technical and policy information for wide audiences, identify barriers to progress, and highlight creative solutions.
• Experience with stakeholder facilitation and convening, including stakeholders with differing levels of knowledge and experience.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong technical analysis skills using tools like Excel, as well as ability to perform quantitative analysis for the purposes of assessing emissions, health, and cost impacts.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Entrepreneurial/opportunistic approach to work and programs.
• Strong organization and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

While not required, the following qualifications are considered a plus:

• Experience working with or in government agencies, particularly state air agencies.
• Direct experience with stationary source air regulation or permitting.
• Demonstrated understanding of conventional and emerging technologies used to produce commercial and industrial heat, such as variable refrigerant flow, rooftop units, industrial boilers, industrial heat pumps, thermal energy storage, and others.
• Advanced degree in engineering, energy, policy, or another relevant field.

Location

This position can be remote (Northeast location preferred) or based in Boston, Massachusetts. The NESCAUM office is located near South Station and is easily accessible via public transportation. Staff based out of the Boston office typically work a hybrid schedule, coming into the office Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and working from home Thursday and Friday.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $90,000-120,000, depending on experience. NESCAUM offers an excellent benefits package, including: full health coverage with no employee contribution to premiums; flexible spending account; dental and vision coverage; 401k matching up to 7%; life and disability insurance; generous paid time off and leave policies; and public transit pass (for commuting staff).

To Apply:

NESCAUM is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse candidate pool. NESCAUM recognizes diversity as an asset essential to accomplishing its work and views diversity as encompassing differences in race and gender, as well as age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, job skills, and education. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by January 16, 2026.

To be considered for this position, interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter explaining your qualifications and interest to: Riena Harker, rharker@nescaum.org.