Graduate Research Fellow, Energy Planning at National Association of Development Organizations

, , -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

03 Feb, 26

Salary

18.0

Posted On

05 Nov, 25

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Research, Writing, Communication, Team Player, Land-Use Planning, Regional Planning, Economic Development, Energy Development, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Virtual Meeting Platforms, Survey Management

Industry

Public Policy Offices

Description

Graduate Research Fellow, Rural Energy Planning The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) [http://www.nado.org] seeks a part-time Graduate Research and Writing Fellow to work closely with staff on various research, training, and capacity building activities supporting Regional Development Organizations(RDOs) with planning and economic development efforts centering around energy development. The work of the Graduate Research Fellow will primarily be in support of the Rural Energy Academy, which is in partnership with the National Association of Counties. The Rural Energy Academy seeks to empower regional planners and local leaders with the information and support needed to navigate energy development projects and make energy decisions best for their community. Under the direction of the Director of Programs, the Fellow will conduct research, write case studies and reports, prepare presentations, and assist with planning and delivering in-person and virtual training and networking activities for the Rural Energy Academy and other energy-related NADO programming. Specific Responsibilities May Include: * Research content for case studies, articles, and in-depth research reports * Assist in planning content for conferences, workshops, forum sessions, webinars, or other events * Proofread articles and social media materials prepared by other staff * Develop, manage, and analyze results of various surveys * Assist with NADO conferences, special events, special reports, newsletters, and other related communication programs * Other duties as assigned REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE: * Strong understanding of issues related to land-use planning, regional planning, regional economic development, and energy in particular those affecting rural communities, in order to contribute to research and training deliverables * Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills to gather information and communicate with management and other staff * Must be a team player and have research experience in following a research plan to identify sources, collect and analyze information, and present findings * Experience or capability in developing resources that are accessible for wide-ranging audiences * Basic skills with Microsoft Office products, such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as well as Adobe Acrobat Pro. Successful candidates will also have a level of proficiency with various virtual meeting and training platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and others Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required. Candidates should be enrolled in a graduate program, though recent graduates will also be considered in certain circumstances. Students pursuing a Master’s degree in planning, journalism, social sciences, economic development, transportation, environmental studies, public administration, public policy, or related subjects are encouraged to apply. Location: The fellow must reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to occasionally support office-related tasks. Our workplace offers a flexible hybrid model, with staff working both remotely and on-site as needed. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: THE WORK IS GENERALLY SEDENTARY, ALTHOUGH SOME SLIGHT PHYSICAL EFFORT MAY BE REQUIRED. THE WORK REQUIRES FREQUENT COMPUTER AND TELEPHONE USE. Compensation: This is a part-time position up to 20 hours per week at a rate of $18/hour. The position will run through June 2026. Temporary employees, including interns and graduate fellows, are not eligible for insurance benefits through NADO. However, temporary employees will be eligible for sick leave in accordance with state-specific regulations. APPLICATION PROCESS: PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING: 1. 1-page maximum cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and working at NADO and how your skills and experiences meet the position requirements outlined above 2. Resume 3. 1-2 short writing samples that showcase your ability to research, write, and share information with a wide-ranging, non-academic audience of economic development professionals and planners. These may include a short case study, article, blog post, brief, report, or similar document. Please consolidate all writing samples in one single attached document (PDF preferred). About NADO and the NADO Research Foundation The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) [http://www.nado.org] is a membership association that represents the network of Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) across the country that includes about 400 federally funded Economic Development Districts (EDDs) that encourage economic development planning and project implementation in distressed urban, suburban, and rural regions. NADO advocates for federal policies and programs that promote equitable community development, economic competitiveness, rural development, economic mobility, and quality of place. The NADO Research Foundation (NADO RF) [https://www.nado.org/about-nado-research-foundation/], NADO’s non-profit affiliate organization, provides technical assistance, education, research, and training to support and strengthen the national network of RDOs. NADO RF provides thought leadership, conducts research, and produces publications focused on promising practices and innovative approaches that promote regional community development.

Responsibilities

The Graduate Research Fellow will conduct research, write case studies and reports, prepare presentations, and assist with planning and delivering training and networking activities. The role supports the Rural Energy Academy and other energy-related programming at NADO.