The Solar Cowboys 205A Executive Way Desoto, Texas 75115 469.399.0009 TECL# 36304
Job Description: The purpose of this position is to provide support to The Solar Cowboys by handling any customer-facing interactions as well as represent our core values to anyone outside the organization. This position will require interfacing with the customers, handling inbound/outbound communications, and working with the sales and operations teams to ensure the needs of the customers are met in a timely manner. You will need to answer questions, handle complaints and provide support for customers with attention to detail.
Responsibilities:
● Complete welcome calls and project completion calls
● Schedule site surveys, installations, follow-up appointments, and inspections
● Handle any customer service calls with existing customers
● Create tickets for service calls if needed
● Diffuse any high-stress situations with customers
● Answer any inbound calls and notate them appropriately Skills:
● Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite
● Keen attention to detail and the ability to spot errors and inconsistencies
● Must have the ability to multitask, handle interruptions & prioritize workloads
● Must have strong verbal and written communication skills
● Must be able to take direction and work independently
● Willingness to learn; adapt and accept increased responsibility
● Must be responsible, self-motivated, and able to work effectively in a team setting
● The ability to embrace corporate values, understands the company mission, and execute daily tasks to reach larger goals
Contact Casey Sprunck, Operations Manager, The Solar Cowboys, 469.399.0009
Term: January 31, 2024-January 30, 2025 Part time: 20 hours/week Salary: $20/hour
Reports to Executive Director
TXSES is seeking a highly-organized and responsible CRM and Research Assistant intern to support our grant writing team, perform clerical and website tasks and assist with various research projects to spread awareness about our work as the single statewide non-profit organization that advocates for the distributed solar industry. Applicants should be prepared to work in a fast-paced team environment with unique opportunities to gain broad experience in Texas’ booming solar energy industry. Selected applicant will be on-boarded by our current intern and staff.
The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) is the pre-eminent statewide organization developing free, fact-based educational materials that advocate, share best practices and inform decision-makers regarding distributed-scale solar. TXSES promotes favorable solar policies that grow the industry; protect clean air; build healthy, resilient communities; support local, well-paying jobs; and lay the foundation for building a strong foundation for Texas’ 100% clean energy future. A membership-based organization, TXSES’s unique niche is exemplified in our well-established local chapters in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio. Having boots on the ground in these major metropolitan cities, which represent nearly a quarter of Texas’s 30 million+ citizens, enables our gifted, dedicated experts to disseminate fact-based, relevant solar information.
Research Assistant Duties and Responsibilities
General research as needed.
Respond to business members and individual member requests.
Prepare documents, reports, presentations and other clerical and administrative tasks.
Occasionally prepare articles for newsletter.
Help update content on www.txses.org website.
Help update content on Little Green Light (CRM software).
Create data analytics reports on social platforms and txses.org using Google Analytics.
Research Assistant Requirements and Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Highly organized multitasker who works well in a fast-paced environment.
Prior experience handling office responsibilities, experience in customer service, or related field.
Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel); scheduling appointments/updating calendars.
Comfortable making phone calls.
Willingness to learn and to grow with TXSES.
Benefits
Practical experience with current marketing and advertising techniques.
Shadowing, mentoring, and training opportunities with successful solar energy educational experts.
Opportunity to participate in networking events and organization meetings.
Flexible schedule for students.
Time off during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
To apply: send a cover letter and résumé to Patrice Parsons pparsons@txses.org with the subject line Internship for TXSES. Position open until filled.
TXSES is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and embracing a workplace with diverse voices and perspectives. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, and people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
Statewide educational campaign aims to double the amount of distributed solar by 2030
November 2, 2023
Austin, TX – As the Texas distributed solar industry matures and diversifies, there is an increasing need for consumers to understand the benefits, separating fact from fiction and educating decision-makers on the critical importance of sound, favorable solar policies that will grow the industry and lay the foundation for building a strong diverse, distributed solar industry in Texas’ rapidly changing clean energy economy.
Since 1976, TXSES has been the single statewide organization advocating for a robust distributed solar energy industry in Texas. A membership-based organization, TXSES’s unique niche is its well-established local chapters in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio. Its educational and outreach expertise has been key to raising awareness that distributed solar will support ambitious clean energy and carbon reduction goals and enhance the resilience and reliability of the electric grid, while building a diverse, equitable, well-trained distributed solar energy workforce.
“Over the past year, we’ve convened thought leaders in the distributed solar industry, educators, decision-makers and other stakeholders to get their input on the highest priorities that would enable every Texan to adopt solar energy as part of an equitable, 100% clean energy future,” says TXSES Executive Director Pete Parsons. “Given the unrelenting consumer demand for solar, while addressing the unreliability of the Texas grid, this statewide campaign represents a natural progression for TXSES in our nearly half-century of educating and raising awareness of the value and benefits of distributed solar in Texas.”
Using EIA data and Google’s Project Sunroof, TXSES policy committee member Larry Howe and TXSES intern Ethan Miller estimate conservatively there are nearly 300,000 residential and commercial distributed solar rooftops in Texas. This initiative proposes to double that within seven years.
“If growth in both demand and supply of Texas’ distributed solar sector is to continue in a safe and sustainable way, we must ensure that consumers, industry and policymakers are well-informed; that innovative and efficient business models thrive and a well-trained, quality workforce is responsive to both industry and community needs,” says Chair of TXSES Board of Directors Dr. Ariane L. Beck. “This is classic TXSES: providing straightforward educational distributed solar expertise to advance a secure, clean energy Texas.”
“Doing everything possible to ensure reliable power to the citizens of Texas cannot be over-emphasized,” says Texas State Representative Erin Zwiener. “The role of distributed solar is an important piece of that puzzle as it helps to reduce demand on the grid for everyone. As the only statewide organization that advocates for distributed solar, I am excited to learn that TXSES seeks to achieve this ambitious goal of doubling Texas’ distributed solar footprint. The impact of this initiative is a win-win for us all.”
With a wealth of experience in customer success relationships, data analysis, case/project management and social media, TXSES welcomes Steven Ùgalde who will be instrumental in helping grow TXSES’ base, acting as the main liaison between TXSES and its members while promoting business models and tools for local governments and other stakeholders that help advance TXSES’ mission.
Steven joins TXSES with an impressive array of skills and expertise, making him a valuable addition to TXSES.
Prior to joining TXSES, Steven was a subject matter expert with the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research (NAIER) in Austin where he nurtured and built relationships with key enterprise clients, delivering exemplary customer service, and leveraging extensive product knowledge with in-depth product consultation to drive satisfaction and retention rates by 80 percent.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Steven to TXSES where I’m certain he will bring his enormous talent and experience into his new role as Membership and Marketing Outreach Coordinator,” said TXSES Executive Director Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons.
“I am so fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of the TXSES team and look forward to helping TXSES expand into new markets while maintaining the high level of customer service our members have come to expect,” said Ùgalde.
Steven’s talent, insight and dedication to clean energy will help TXSES carry out its mission as an independent, statewide not-for-profit organization accelerating the clean energy transformation through quality educational materials, outreach and policy that will grow the industry, build healthy, resilient communities, support local, well-paying jobs and lay the foundation for equitable 100% clean energy Texas.
Before Winter Storm Uri, few people knew about or had heard of ERCOT. But since then, and especially this summer, hardly a day goes by without press in state, national and international media reporting about how ERCOT continues to navigate the precarious balance between supply and demand.
Recently on The Austin KOOPerative Hour, John Hoffner and I had the pleasure to chat with Beth Garza, former congestion analysis manager at ERCOT and renowned industry leader in electricity market design and oversight activities. Her ability to convey the most complicated nuances of electricity markets and market analysis was, in a word, captivating.
