Deputy Director, Light-Duty EV Infrastructure Incentives

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About Us:

CALSTART is a mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all.

For over 30 years, it’s been CALSTART’s mission to develop, assess, and implement large-scale, zero-emission transportation solutions to mitigate climate change and support economic growth. CALSTART works with businesses, organizations, governments, and communities to create real-life impact toward clean air and equitable access to clean transportation for all. CALSTART provides scientific, technical and policy support for regulatory development and clean technology and infrastructure acceleration.

About The Role:  

CALSTART is looking for a Deputy Director, Light-Duty EV Infrastructure Incentives to support the expansion and effective management of our Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure initiatives, including the Communities in Charge light duty EV infrastructure incentive project funded by the California Energy Commission. As the transition to clean transportation accelerates, our programs require a leader who will drive the administration, scaling, and successful implementation of incentive programs across California and nationally. The role is central to our Clean Fuels and Infrastructure Program team which includes Medium/Heavy Duty Infrastructure, Strategic Corridor Planning, Innovative Grid Technology and Hydrogen infrastructure.

This role requires in-depth knowledge of state-funded initiatives, strong leadership capabilities, exceptional customer relationship and service skills and an ability to manage projects from concept to completion. The Deputy Director will collaborate closely with internal teams, external partners, and state organizations to ensure compliance with project guidelines, manage project budgets, and ensure timely delivery of project milestones. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in incentive/construction program administration and team management, budgeting and forecasting, conflict resolution, and a proven track record of working with large-scale funding programs. 

This role reports to the Director for Infrastructure Incentive Administration.

This is a remote role and candidates must be located in California.

• Lead the Implementation of a light-duty EV Incentive Program: Oversee the administration of light-duty EV infrastructure incentives, ensuring the program's successful delivery according to goals and deadlines. Monitor and evaluate program performance, providing strategic direction to meet milestones and outcomes. 
• Develop and Implement Outreach Strategies: Drive the development of outreach and advertisement plans to increase program awareness and participation, especially in underserved regions. Work closely with the Marketing and Communications teams to promote the incentive programs and align messaging with organizational and program objectives. 
• Foster Team Cohesion and High Performance: Lead and mentor a team of project managers, fostering an environment conducive to collaboration and productivity. Establish clear workflows, delegation strategies, and performance metrics to enhance team effectiveness. Ensure robust measurement and management of work takes place to achieve program objectives. 
• Manage Key Stakeholder Relationships: Serve as the primary liaison between CALSTART and external partners, such as the California Energy Commission (CEC), key infrastructure providers and applications, ensuring effective communication and collaboration. Oversee contractor and vendor relationships, ensuring the delivery of high-quality work in alignment with project scopes and timelines. 
• Ensure Program Compliance and Data Integrity: Implement and maintain rigorous processes for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on program data, including incentive processing and project tracking as well as charger telematics and reliability data.  
• Oversee Program Payment Processes: Oversee awardee payment processing and ensure compliance with program requirements. Work collaboratively with Accounting and Contracts teams to ensure the timely payment of rebates to awardees while helping mitigate waste, fraud and abuse. 
• Support Strategic Leadership: Provide thought leadership in equity-focused infrastructure initiatives, ensuring that program implementation aligns with CALSTART’s values and goals. Offer insights and recommendations for increasing geographic and applicant diversity in EV incentive programs and developing a scalable and replicable model for other states and countries. Support business development and policy priorities in clean transportation infrastructure market acceleration. 

• Program Management and Leadership: 5+ years of professional experience in program management, ideally in large-scale infrastructure, clean transportation, or energy sectors. Ability to inspire, manage, and grow high-performing teams, ensuring program milestones and KPIs are met. 
• Stakeholder and Partnership Development: Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with government agencies, non-profits, and private sector partners. 
• Analytical and Strategic Planning: Strong data-driven decision-making skills, with experience in budget and schedule management for complex programs. Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze program data, develop insights, and recommend course corrections as needed. Adept at navigating evolving regulatory frameworks, technology landscape, and funding parameters to ensure program compliance and success. 
• Equity-Focused Leadership: Commitment to advancing geographic and applicant diversity, especially in underserved and rural areas. 
• Communication and Presentation Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting technical information to diverse audiences.  Proven ability to develop relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders, including state agencies, project partners, and internal teams. Experience presenting complex project updates to senior management and clients, including the ability to communicate effectively during ambiguous, contentious or changing conditions. 
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, sustainability, urban planning, public policy, political science, economics, business, or related field preferred

• Advanced Degree: Advanced degrees or certifications are a plus.
• Commitment to Equity and Sustainability: A deep understanding of the importance of equity in transportation infrastructure, with experience designing programs that foster inclusion and access for underserved communities. 
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in project management tools and software (e.g., Monday.com, Smartsheets, or similar platforms) and experience overseeing complex budgets and schedules. Familiarity with data analysis and reporting software, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of program data. 

We understand that not everyone will match the above qualifications 100%. If your background isn't perfectly aligned but you feel you would be a great addition to the team, we'd love to hear from you.

We're a tight-knit team of world-class innovators, business minds, and change agents who believe passionately in our mission and put our team ahead of self. We are committed to the continued development and growth of our employees and invest in your success!

We care about your personal well being as much as your professional success and offer generous benefits to full time employees including: 100% company paid comprehensive health benefits for Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability and Life Insurance, Retirement plan with generous company contributions, FSA for Health and Dependent Care, 3 weeks of vacation time in the first year of employment, 11 paid company holidays, paid sick time, paid family leave, and more!

Our inclusive environment focuses on making decisions based on merit without regard to race, color, hair texture, gender, religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, LGBTQIA+ status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, genetics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.