Company

Orenda is on a mission to make the grid more efficient with renewable energy projects and proprietary asset management technology. We develop, build, own and operate battery energy storage projects in dense urban environments to bridge the gap between renewables and electricity consumption.

We are a dynamic, NYC-based company at the forefront of a new industry. We are seeking highly motivated and incredibly talented individuals who wish to contribute to our important mission.

About the Team

Orenda’s External Affairs function is responsible for shaping and executing Orenda's government and community relations strategy across local, state, and federal levels, and managing the communications for the Company. External Affairs will collaborate closely with Orenda’s Origination and Project Execution divisions.

About the Role

As Community Engagement Manager you will lead community engagement for our projects, shaping our presence in local communities, mitigating risk from opposition, and ultimately building support for our projects from development through operations.

This role will report directly to the Director of External Affairs.

What you’ll do

• Diligence projects in early stage of development
  • Collaborate with the Origination team on early maturity projects to understand community context and risk factors, and identify associated engagement needs.
  • Create a process to identify risks and lead project-level due diligence on political, community, and permitting dynamics in a fast-paced, evolving landscape.
• Build project engagement strategies
  • Facilitate the design and implementation of engagement plans including crafting project-level messaging and coalition building.
  • Manage critical stakeholder relationships, including with government officials, project area influencers, landowners, and local community groups.
  • Manage project communications campaigns in support of project development efforts including the development, editing, and dissemination of communications and advocacy materials such as, fact sheets, FAQs, presentations, briefing documents, website updates, social media, data analysis, etc.
  • Coordinate local events, sponsorships, and educational opportunities to build long-term support.
• Create key regional partnerships and raise the company’s profile
  • Position the company to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the region such as environmental justice advocates, business and civic organizations, workforce and educational institutions, etc.
  • Position the company as a leader in responsible siting, identifying opportunities for industry thought leadership through conferences, forums, op-eds, etc.
• Scale project processes and execution
  • Support management of external consultants, engaging them in strategy development, campaign execution, and post-project analysis.
  • Oversee internal team training and create company-wide standards for community engagement practices.
  • Capture lessons learned and ensure repeatable, scalable processes across the project portfolio.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws, permitting requirements, and regulatory expectations.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree required, preferably in communications, political science, community development, renewable energy, environmental studies, urban planning, or relevant field.
• 5+ years of experience in community organizing, advocacy, campaign management, local government, or stakeholder engagement in renewable energy.
• Established and active relationships with key stakeholders in the New York City area and strong understanding of local governmental structures; familiarity with renewable energy and infrastructure permitting preferred.
• Excellent organization and project management skills; ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.
• Prior experience managing and overseeing external engagement liaisons.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with diverse audiences, including public officials and community groups.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Motivated self‑starter with strong problem‑solving abilities and sound business judgment.

Skills and Attributes

• Follow-through on commitments: Keeps promises and closes the loop on next steps.
• Adaptability: Adjusts plans quickly as priorities shift, and stays effective in ambiguity.
• Calm under pressure: Stays steady during high-stakes moments and helps others stay focused.
• Persuasion: Builds support for a plan by listening first and tailoring the message to the audience.
• Trust and integrity: Earns credibility with communities and colleagues through honesty, consistency, and respect.
• Strong multitasking: Balances event planning, communications, and stakeholder engagement while meeting deadlines.
• Stakeholder mapping and analysis: Identifies key decision-makers and influencers, and understands local dynamics.
• Strategic communications: Explains complex project details in clear, plain language for non-technical audiences.
• Collaborative leadership: Works well across teams and locations, and leads projects from planning through delivery.
• Organized and process-driven: Builds simple systems and standards that make community engagement repeatable as the portfolio grows.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-office position requiring work from our headquarters (Brooklyn, NY) five days a week, with regular travel to project sites within the NYC area.

Why join Orenda?

At Orenda, you’ll help build the real-world infrastructure that makes the energy transition possible. You’ll do this in a mission-driven culture that values ownership, accountability, continuous learning, high performance, and genuine collaboration. We work hard, move quickly, and enjoy doing it together.

In addition to the chance to do important work with a great team, Orenda offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain top talent:

• Base Salary: The anticipated base salary range for this full-time position in New York City is $115,000-$160,000 per year. The final base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the successful candidate's relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
• Bonus: In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for a significant annual performance-based bonus.
• Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan, with 3% Employer Match
  • LifeTime Fitness corporate membership
  • Monthly commuter stipend
  • Learning and education stipend
  • Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy
  • Regular company events

Orenda Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair and inclusive hiring and employment practices in accordance with federal, New York State, and New York City law. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment—including hiring, promotion, compensation, or termination—on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

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