Overview
About Solar One
Solar One is a 501c(3) organization that empowers communities in the New York City metro area to thrive in the face of the challenges brought on by climate change, and to embrace a world that is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.
Originally founded in 2004 to manage Stuyvesant Cove Park, a two-acre native plant park and a small environmental education center, Solar One has grown into an award-winning organization with a thriving array of programs. Solar One’s mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, and technical assistance that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments. We empower learning that changes the way people think about energy, sustainability, and resilience by engaging and educating a diverse set of stakeholders and beneficiaries.
We are seeking a dynamic individual passionate about sustainable and inclusive community development, driven to use their talents to advance real change, through our focus areas including: K-12 Education, Green Job Training, Solar Energy technical assistance, and Stuyvesant Cove Park.
Job Summary
The Solar Instructor will be responsible for delivering Solar One’s solar career program (Solar CTE) for high school students across all five boroughs. The Solar CTE program is delivered over 5-10 days to NYC DOE CTE schools where students are studying engineering, electrical or construction trades. Solar CTE trains students on hard skills that align with solar careers such as solar installer and solar engineer. Content includes: solar site assessment, system design, wiring and racking and mounting. When the Instructor is not teaching Solar CTE on site at NYC schools, they may work alongside Solar One’s Green Workforce Training Program at our training center in Long Island City, Queens. At the training center, the Instructor would lead solar installation training for adults enrolled in our 2-week intensive training program, or assist Senior Instructors in teaching building energy efficiency, green carpentry and HVAC. Teaching is in-person in NYC, computer-based work can be done at home or at our office space in Long Island City, Queens. There may be some occasions where the Instructor would support the solar training program in Newark, NJ as well.
Main job responsibilities include:
● Teaching Solar CTE program in 7-10 high schools during the 2023 school year. Ability to travel around NYC is essential.
● Coordinating programs with schools and other community partners. This may include, program planning, materials coordination, and scheduling.
● Strong potential to deliver a 6-week intensive high school summer school program focused on green careers from July through mid-August.
● Teaching our green workforce training program for adults on an as-needed basis.
● Potential for designing and installing small off-grid solar powered systems with community partners.
● Collaborating with the education team on program and curriculum design.
● Tracking and recording activities delivered to schools and teachers.
Qualifications and Skills
Successful candidates for this role should be able to demonstrate the following:
Technical Skills
● Basic Microsoft office
● Google Suite
Soft Skills
● Verbal communication
● Strong Writing Skills
● Project Management
● Time Management
● Attention to detail
● Outreach
● Adaptability
Subject Area Expertise Required
● 3+ years experience teaching audiences such as adults or high school students.
● Content knowledge and/or experience in some or all of the following areas: solar photovoltaics, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable building, passive house
● Interest and passion in teaching about sustainability and climate action technologies.
● Demonstrated success in communicating with partner organizations and individuals to build and maintain strong partnerships
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required for this position.