Clean Energy Policy Advisor

Western Resource Advocates • Santa Fe,

14h • $78,761 - $123,625 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Policy Advisor, Clean Energy will develop and advocate for policies and programs that reduce the environmental impact of electricity production, spur a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, and address climate change in Arizona. The Policy Advisor will work with guidance from the Deputy Director of State Advocacy. The Senior Policy Advisor, Clean Energy will independently develop and advocate for policies and programs that reduce the environmental impact of electricity production, spur a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, and address climate change in Arizona. WRA is a regional nonprofit fighting climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. The organization is driving state-level action to advance policies that create a healthier and more equitable future for all communities. As the go-to experts for nearly four decades, WRA’s on-the-ground work deploys clean energy and protects air, land, water, and wildlife.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of relevant experience.
• 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 desire to understand complex regulatory processes and policy pathways.
• Ability to write and communicate clearly, and effectively explain complex concepts to a variety of audiences, including non-experts.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• 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.
• Commitment to WRA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals.
• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Extensive experience and 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 desire to understand complex regulatory processes and policy pathways.
• Exceptional ability to write and communicate clearly, and effectively explain complex concepts to a variety of audiences, including non-experts.
• Superior quantitative and analytical skills.
• 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.
• Commitment to WRA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in economics, engineering, environmental policy, or other relevant field.
• Experience testifying as an expert witness before state public utility commissions.
• Experience working on Arizona state policy.
• Advanced degree in economics, engineering, environmental policy, or other relevant field.
• Experience testifying as an expert witness before state public utility commissions.
• Experience working and building relationships with state legislators.
• Experience working on Arizona state policy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advocate for equitable policies in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums that reduce the environmental impact of electricity and natural gas use, spur a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, and address climate change in the Interior West with guidance and support from a senior team member.
• Monitor relevant local, state, and federal policy developments.
• Research and analyze current and emerging clean energy policy in Arizona including legislation, administrative rules, and utility proceedings at the Arizona Corporation Commission and the Salt River Project, with a focus on issues related to gas and electric resource planning, energy efficiency, distributed resources, load management, beneficial electrification, and rate designs.
• Assist in supervision of outside consultants.
• Keep abreast of emerging energy and climate topics to inform policy development, with an eye for equitable and inclusive policies and mechanisms.
• With guidance from a senior team member, evaluate utility plans and applications, state and local regulatory proposals, and pending legislation to ensure that they advance WRA’s decarbonization goals.
• Develop strategies and prepare expert witness testimony, comments and discovery in regulatory proceedings, including planning, permitting, rulemaking, rate cases, and other formal or informal processes with guidance from a senior team member.
• Track regulatory proceedings and other state-level forums and identify opportunities to advance WRA’s objectives.
• Represent WRA in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums, including through written and oral testimony before regulatory and legislative bodies, with guidance from a senior team member.
• Assist in negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements.
• Build relationships and work with representatives of regulated utilities, regulators, consumer advocates, clean energy and environmental advocates, state government agencies, and other gas and electric industry stakeholders to advance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Effectively engage in and help lead coalitions of diverse partners, building alignment around shared goals and strategies that advance WRA's mission and policy priorities.
• Assist with grant proposals and reports.
• Coordinate with other WRA policy teams to execute a common set of strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with WRA’s policy, Government Affairs, and Communications staff to craft outreach strategies and messaging that accurately and persuasively convey WRA’s positions to stakeholders and decision makers.
• Independently develop and advocate for equitable policies in Arizona regulatory, legislative, administrative and other policy forums that reduce the environmental impact of electric and gas public utilities, spur a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, and address climate change in the Interior West.
• Lead supervision of outside consultants.
• Independently evaluate utility plans and applications, state and local regulatory proposals, and pending legislation to ensure that they advance WRA’s decarbonization goals.
• Work with WRA’s Government Affairs team to provide policy support for advocacy campaigns.
• Develop strategies and independently write expert witness testimony, comments, and discovery in regulatory proceedings, including system and resource planning, permitting, rulemaking, rate cases, and other formal or informal processes.
• Lead negotiations and drafting of settlement agreements including developing WRA positions for those agreements.
• Draft internal papers and summaries on topics of current interest.
• Coordinate with other WRA policy teams to execute and drive a common set of strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with WRA’s policy, Government Affairs, and Communications staff to craft outreach strategies and messaging that accurately and persuasively convey WRA’s success to date and future goals.

Benefits

• 401(k)-retirement plan with up to 5% matching
• health, dental, vision, and life & disability insurance with 100% of premiums paid by WRA
• seventeen days paid vacation leave to start
• twelve paid sick days
• one paid volunteer day
• twelve paid holidays
• WRA is closed for Winter Break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for additional paid time off
• up to twelve weeks of parental leave
• after five years, staff are eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid sabbatical leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree