Job Description

Salary Range:

$86,500.00 To 121,000.00 Annually

Position Summary:

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring a Senior Transmission Policy Advisor to join our Clean Energy Team. Working under the direction of the Deputy Director, Regional Markets, the Senior Transmission Policy Advisor will provide expertise to independently lead WRA’s participation stakeholder processes and state and federal regulatory proceedings, while also participating in WRA’s legislative advocacy and relationship building efforts to promote effective transmission planning and grid expansion. The Senior Advisor will review grid expansion studies, grid modernization technologies, federal transmission planning reforms, and new transmission proposals. The Senior Advisor will independently provides compelling assessments of technical information that are accessible and actionable to non-technical audiences with the overall aim of rapidly expanding the transmission system to support WRA goals for greater clean energy integration and decarbonization.

About Western Resource Advocates

WRA fights climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. We respect the different needs of diverse people and partner with them to develop a shared vision for progress—one that advances communities while protecting biodiversity.

Our team of policy experts, scientists, economists, and attorneys has a 30-year history of working where decisions are made, sweating the details, creating evidence-based solutions, and holding decision makers accountable. This on the ground work with policymakers and other advocates advances clean energy, protects air, land, water, and wildlife—and sustains the lives and livelihoods of the West.

Location

This position may work remotely in one WRA’s states, from one of WRA’s six offices; or a hybrid of the two. WRA’s region includes Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. WRA has offices located in Boulder, CO; Carson City, NV; Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; and Santa Fe, NM.

Responsibilities And Activities

• Independently develop, draft, and advocate for transmission expansion and planning assessments across the Interior West.
• Build relationships and work with representatives of regulated utilities, regulators, consumer advocates, clean energy and environmental advocates, and other electric industry stakeholders to advance transmission development and grid expansion.
• Participate in day ahead energy market initiatives on behalf of WRA on transmission and seams related issues.
• Represent WRA at Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), the Colorado Coordinated Planning Group, CAISO, and other transmission planning and expansion forums.
• Represent WRA in coalitions of aligned organizations and assist in coalition comment drafting efforts.
• Partner with Indigenous Peoples Engagement Manager to monitor transmission expansion initiatives across indigenous and tribal lands.
• Collaborate with WRA staff to produce and disseminate materials that effectively communicate our mission, goals and the results of our work to external audiences.
• Oversee and manage outside consultants.
• Review and analyze transmission proposals in state utility regulatory proceedings.
• Serve as an expert witness representing WRA in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums, including through written and oral testimony.
• Lead WRA’s engagement in regional transmission planning efforts and interface with transmission planners in WestConnect, Northern Grid, CAISO and WECC who are doing long term transmission modeling and planning.
• Keep abreast of energy and climate topics to inform policy development, with an eye for equitable and inclusive policies and mechanisms.  Lead efforts to develop policy tools that address potential issues related to the impact of transmission expansion on environmental and cultural resources within the region.
• Assist with grant proposals and reports.
• Proactively and effectively coordinate with other WRA policy teams to execute a common set of strategic priorities.
• Identify needed communications or outreach materials, and collaborate with WRA Marketing and Communications staff to produce and disseminate materials that effectively communicate our mission, goals, and the results of our work to external audiences.
• Collaborate with WRA Government Affairs staff to evaluate, develop, and/or advocate for proposed legislation consistent with achieving WRA’s regional markets and transmission expansion goals.
• Occasional travel to meetings and events, generally within the Interior West.

Required Qualifications

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position, will be considered.  For example, the requisite expereince, knowledge, skills, and abilities would include:

• Bachelors degree in power systems, electrical engineering, energy economics, or related fields.
• At least 5-8 years of relevant experience in power systems, regional transmission plans, grid expansion, bulk power transmission and economics, or related fields.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Extensive experience or familiarity with public utility regulation, the energy industry, clean energy technologies, decarbonization strategies, climate policy, or related work.
• Background in economics, public policy, engineering, or related disciplines. Knowledge of or willingness to understand complex regulatory processes and policy pathways.
• Excellent ability to write and communicate clearly, and explain complex concepts to a variety of audiences, including non-experts.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with attention to detail and follow‐through.

SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered for the Senior Policy Advisor role, in addition to the above qualifications, a candidate should demonstrate at least two of the following:

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering, power system engineering, or energy economics with a specialty in power engineering or electrical engineering.
• Existing relationships with key stakeholders and decision makers in WRA’s region.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the politics and transmission policy landscape in WRA’s region.
• Experience testifying as an expert witness before state public utility commissions or presenting before official bodies or in a public forum.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Some travel is required.

Salary And Benefits

The salary range is $86,500-$121,000 annually; salary depends on relevant experience and new staff rarely start at the top of the range. WRA’s excellent benefits package includes a 401(k) retirement plan with up to 5% matching and health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA. Annually, staff receive three weeks paid vacation leave to start, twelve paid sick days, one paid volunteer day, one paid birthday off, 12 paid holidays, and WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off. After one-year employees are eligible for up to twelve weeks of parental leave with the first six weeks paid, and after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave. Position is full-time exempt.

Deadline To Apply: Open Until Filled with priority review beginning on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

Diversity and inclusion are a critical component of our business strategy, mission and vision. We welcome candidates from an array of backgrounds and experiences to join our team. Learn more about our commitment here: https://wraoldsite.wpengine.com/#commitment-to-diversity.

Western Resource Advocates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or veteran status.

Apply To Be WRA’s Senior Transmission Policy Advisor!

How to Apply

Job Categories: Clean Energy. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 80,000 - 100,000.

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