Senior Specialist, Market & Policy Innovation
- Job Title
- Senior Specialist, Market & Policy Innovation
- Job ID
- 27749851
- Work Remote
- Yes
- Location
- Remote
- Other Location
- Description
-
About Us
Clean Energy Works is a ten-year old nonprofit that champions inclusive and equitable financial solutions that support the transition to a just clean energy economy. The climate, health, and economic benefits of clean energy are clear, but not everyone is able to pay for the upgrades needed.
Clean Energy Works primarily champions inclusive utility investments, a ground-breaking payment mechanism that enables utility companies to pay the upfront costs for qualified clean energy upgrades and allows the utilities to recover their cost through a fixed fee on the customer’s bill that is lower than the estimated savings from the upgrades.
For more information about Clean Energy Works and inclusive utility investments visit our website (www.cleanenergyworks.org) or the dedicated Inclusive Utility Investment website maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
We center equity, integrity, and deep collaboration in all areas of our work. We demonstrate those values in our emphasis on empowering community partnerships, meaningful engagement with utility stakeholders and regulators, and through our leadership and management practices.
Work Conditions
This role is a full-time position that works remotely from anywhere in the continental United States. However, the position will require some travel consisting of one or two in-person staff retreats annually, and other professional events which could be more or less intensive at times based on workflow. Candidates must be flexible and able to collaborate effectively with employees across multiple US time zones. Our general working hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET, with all employees generally expected to be available from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET. Our work environment is based on Google Suite applications and we will provide a laptop for daily work.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Senior Specialist, Market & Policy Innovation reports to the Director of Building Decarbonization and will help accelerate inclusive utility investments to decarbonize buildings, including through energy efficiency and appliances, demand response, distributed solar PV, and battery storage technologies. The role will focus on:- inclusive utility investment market innovation, including integration of the model with virtual power plant designs, its application to new measures or sectors, and other targeted improvements to improve the value proposition to prospective participants, utilities, and regulators;
- inclusive utility investment policy innovation, including regulatory or policy changes to better account for and compensate utility and grid value, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, resilience, and equity outcomes; and policy and program integrations to broaden access to clean energy upgrades and reduce energy poverty.
Consistent with their focus areas, the Senior Specialist will provide issue education and technical assistance to utility regulatory commissioners and their staff, federal and state agencies, utility managers and boards, legislators, industry associations and service providers, nonprofit organizations, and—in collaboration with the Just Energy Transition Team—community-based organizations and coalitions.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to play a pivotal role in accelerating investment in distributed clean energy upgrades where the pace of transition is too slow, especially where it is needed most. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated and passionate interest in working to advance a truly inclusive and transformative clean energy transition, with focused attention to removing upfront costs and other barriers that unjustly stratify participation in the clean energy economy.
PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY- Market and Policy Innovation
- Virtual Power Plant (VPP) model - Lead development of inclusive utility investment tariff and program designs that incorporate the value of grid flexibility and other grid benefits into the customer value proposition for customer-sited DERs aggregated in a VPP, potentially including solar PV, energy storage, smart water heaters, air- and ground-source heat pumps with smart thermostats, and—in collaboration with the Transportation Decarbonization Team—electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- Help develop, refine, and execute team strategies to improve inclusive utility investment policy and program designs, especially to address challenges encountered in the field and to harness new opportunities through market and policy innovations.
- Policy and Regulatory Adoption
- Develop or deepen subject matter expertise on inclusive utility investment policies and programs, including the Pay As You Save® system.
- Research and understand innovations in relevant sectors and their potential impacts on, or integration with, the inclusive utility investment model—including, for example, modeled and measured energy savings; distribution system planning; utility cost tests and equity metrics; DER valuation; and virtual power plants.
- Communicate to utility commissioners and staff, state and federal policy makers, utility employees and executives, and other industry stakeholders to advance inclusive utility investment policies, including policy innovations that harness opportunities to improve the performance and reach of inclusive utility investment programs.
- Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
- Meet with and provide technical assistance to stakeholders in priority states and markets who are critical to evolving the business and policy landscapes to rapidly accelerate VPP deployment with equitable benefits, including through inclusive utility investments.
- Foster learning and interest among companies, organizations, and associations capable of helping to scale inclusive utility investment program services and new market opportunities.
- Partnerships and Network Management
- Cultivate and develop relationships and work with relevant utility, regulatory, legislative, agency, and industry groups and entities such as the Smart Electric Power Alliance, Virtual Power Plant partnership, VPP service providers, national laboratory researchers, and relevant federal agencies/offices.
- Research and Communications
- Develop and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on research and communications collateral, including articles, white papers, video, and conference presentations to advance market and policy innovations developed through the role’s project work.
- Summarize and communicate key findings and insights from research and project work to others in the organization, fostering team/institutional knowledge building and collaboration.
- Other duties as assigned
MUST HAVE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES - The following are some of the core skills and competencies that we have identified as required for success in this position.- Education / Experience - At least 7 years of professional experience (which can include a master’s degree or other graduate or professional degree) in energy policy, the electric power sector, utility and regulatory engagement, public interest advocacy, or other fields relevant to the position. NOTE: A successful candidate need not have a college degree if they can demonstrate relevant experience and skills.
- Energy Policy - The ability to identify and advise on promising deployment strategies for energy efficiency and distributed energy resources (DERs), especially through utility planning, investments, and programs. Understands how energy regulators & other policymakers seek to advance energy efficiency, DERs (including solar and energy storage), building electrification, and VPPs, as well as barriers to scaling these technologies and initiatives. Ability to analyze costs and benefits of energy efficiency and DER technologies and policies.
- Equity - The ability to understand and apply the five dimensions of our equity framework (recognition, distributive, procedural, structural/reparative, and transformative). The ability to consistently see, learn from, and take strategic action related to demographic and socioeconomic power analyses. Demonstrates an understanding of systemic inequalities & their impacts and promotes policies & practices to address inequities.
- Industry Knowledge - The ability to track and understand relevant industry trends and developments. Monitors industry metrics and analyses, including relevant policies and regulations. Assesses emerging technologies, business models, and practices, and understands their impact—including risks and opportunities—in the context of organizational objectives.
- Industry Engagement - The ability to foster and maintain connections and partnerships in the electric power sector, including with regulators, legislators, agencies, technology and service providers, financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Works jointly with industry stakeholders on projects and initiatives. Persuades target entities to support and implement our policy solutions. Assesses market trends and industry data to develop strategic insights, identify opportunities, and guide organizational priorities.
- Financial Modeling (Utility Industry) - The ability to identify, quantify, and capture financial value within the utility and energy services sectors. Accounts for financial risks and uncertainty.. Understands trends, market dynamics, and economic factors influencing the energy sector. Produces trustworthy scenario analyses.
- Data Analysis - The ability to critically evaluate and interpret relevant industry data, identifying key trends, limitations, opportunities, and other strategic insights. Applies data-driven insights to solve complex business and policy challenges. Utilizes data to support effective decision making and strategy development.
- Project Management - The ability to plan and organize individual and organizational resources to move a specific task, event, or duty towards completion including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple work tasks in parallel, work independently, and organize workflows effectively.
“NICE TO HAVES” - If you have any of these be sure to include it in your application!- Experience developing, leading, or implementing building energy- or utility-related programs, especially involving energy efficiency, building electrification, demand side management, or virtual power plants.
- Experience using energy analytics to develop services or program offerings, deliver strategic insights, or drive policy innovation and decisions.
COMPENSATION
The annual salary for this position is in the range of $100,000 and $110,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications. Clean Energy Works is prepared to offer an attractive compensation and benefits package, including healthcare benefits, 401(k) match, 11 paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 23 vacation days. A full-time workweek at Clean Energy Works is 35 hours.
Clean Energy Works is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or any other classification considered discriminatory under all applicable federal, state or local laws.
- Pay Range
- $100,000.00 Annually to $110,000.00 Annually
