Application Guide

How to Apply for Executive Director

at Intelligent Infrastructure Institute

🏢 About Intelligent Infrastructure Institute

The Intelligent Infrastructure Institute is a unique nonpartisan organization focused specifically on how infrastructure systems actually perform in practice, with an initial concentration on California's energy infrastructure. What makes I3 distinctive is its practical approach—translating complex policy and regulatory systems into actionable insights rather than just theoretical analysis. Someone would want to work here to help shape a new organization from its founding stages while addressing real-world infrastructure challenges that affect communities.

About This Role

As the founding Executive Director, you'll set strategic direction for a new organization that already has substantive groundwork completed by the Board and leadership team. This role involves assessing existing developments, spending time in the field, and translating that understanding into practical strategies for infrastructure reform. It's impactful because you'll help define what I3 becomes while building alignment across institutions that shape California's energy infrastructure systems.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing field observations about California energy infrastructure performance, translating those insights into practical reform strategies, and building relationships with stakeholders across policy, regulatory, and public sectors. You'd balance strategic planning for I3's growth with hands-on work developing clear, repeatable approaches to infrastructure improvement.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Intelligent Infrastructure Institute Is Looking For

  • Has experience translating complex infrastructure or policy systems into practical, actionable strategies for reform
  • Demonstrated ability to build alignment across diverse stakeholders (policymakers, public, partners) in infrastructure or related fields
  • Background in California energy infrastructure, policy, or regulatory systems with field experience
  • Founding or early-stage leadership experience in mission-driven organizations, comfortable with shaping organizational direction

📝 Tips for Applying to Intelligent Infrastructure Institute

1

Highlight specific experience with California energy infrastructure systems—not just general infrastructure knowledge

2

Demonstrate how you've translated complex systems into practical strategies in past roles, with concrete examples

3

Show alignment with I3's nonpartisan, practical approach rather than ideological positions on infrastructure

4

Emphasize experience building stakeholder alignment across institutions, not just managing within one organization

5

Address how you would approach the first 90 days: assessing groundwork, field time, and strategy translation

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with California energy infrastructure systems and how they perform in practice', 'Examples of translating complex policy/regulatory systems into actionable insights for partners and policymakers', "How you've built alignment across diverse stakeholders in past infrastructure or policy work", 'Your approach to shaping an early-stage organization while building on existing groundwork']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → California's current energy infrastructure challenges and regulatory landscape (CPUC, CAISO, etc.)
  • → Recent infrastructure reform efforts in California and their practical outcomes
  • → The backgrounds of I3's Board members and leadership team to understand their groundwork
  • → How other nonpartisan infrastructure institutes operate and measure impact
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you assess and build upon the substantive groundwork already completed by the Board?
2 Describe your experience spending time 'in the field' to understand infrastructure systems in practice
3 How do you translate complex regulatory systems into clear, actionable insights for different audiences?
4 What strategies would you use to build alignment across California's diverse energy infrastructure stakeholders?
5 How would you approach expanding I3's work into other infrastructure systems over time?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing on theoretical infrastructure analysis without demonstrating practical strategy translation
  • Presenting as an ideological advocate rather than a nonpartisan problem-solver
  • Treating this as a 'blank slate' opportunity without acknowledging the existing groundwork

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Intelligent Infrastructure Institute!

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