Director of Rates

MCE • Concord, CA

27d • $164,319 - $224,748 • Hybrid

About The Position

At MCE, we tackle the climate crisis with a shared commitment to innovation, community, and equity. Together, we foster an inclusive, collaborative, and flexible work environment where creativity thrives, work-life balance is prioritized, and every voice is valued.
MCE is a not-for-profit public agency that has set the standard for clean energy in our communities since 2010. We provide more renewable power at stable rates, and deliver cutting-edge energy programs to residents and businesses across four Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano. Our team, drawn from all walks of life, embodies a shared passion for environmental stewardship and community service. You’ll work alongside dedicated professionals innovating and collaborating to make our communities more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable.
MCE is in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in San Rafael and Concord. Employees have the option to work remotely, in a hybrid arrangement, or in the office, depending on the role responsibilities and any in-person meeting requirements. I am happy to provide more details if needed.
We value a range of experience. Even if you feel that you do not meet all of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Application materials will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
About the Finance Team
The Finance Team manages MCE’s financial planning and analysis, treasury and investment strategies, risk management, accounting, and the agency’s rate setting process. The team is responsible for maintaining MCE’s investment grade credit ratings, building reserve levels, and managing relationships with external financial institutions.
As a Director of Rates
Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Rates leads the development, implementation, and management of innovative and sustainable rate and tariff designs that support MCE’s goals. This includes creating equitable and sound structures that reflect the complexity of MCE’s customer base and market conditions. This position serves as MCE’s primary subject matter expert on rates. The Director of Rates uses advanced models, market data, and internal insights to inform rate proposals aligned with long-term planning, policy goals, customer impact, and to improve operational efficiency in rate processes.
You will collaborate with relevant departments and external stakeholders to ensure MCE’s rate methodologies are transparent, technically sound, and aligned with regulatory frameworks and customer needs. This role requires strong analytical skills, communication abilities, and the capacity to design and implement strategic rate initiatives, including cost-of-service analysis, Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) management, scenario testing, and innovative pricing for energy and capacity technologies used by MCE and our customers. The Director of Rates will also present rate proposals to MCE’s Board of Directors, using extensive experience with various rate structures to craft solutions that offer the best rates to customers while ensuring the agency's financial stability.
In partnership with cross-departmental teams and external vendors, the Director of Rates will support budgeting, cost-of-energy negotiations, tariff development, and cross-departmental decision-making. This role is critical, connecting technical rate design and data analysis with policy goals, customer outcomes, and agency strategy. Design fair rates that power a sustainable future. This may be a supervisory position.
MCE may consider hiring a candidate at the Associate Director of Rates level who can grow into the Director role. The Associate Director of Rates has less autonomy and experience with large-scale data management tools and industry practices than the Director. Additional differences include approach, technical skills, knowledge of MCE, and relevant years of experience in similar fields.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in leading data driven rate design and decision-making processes within the utility sector.
• Experience with Regulatory agencies, including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
• Strong data analysis skills and expertise in leveraging models and tools for innovative rate design.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, disseminating complex ideas to a broad audience, including executives and MCE’s Board of Directors, and any additional internal and external stakeholders.
• Best practices for program and project management.
• Strong experience using Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access).
• Adobe Suite.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, Economics, Business, Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience and
• At least seven (7) of those ten (10) years in energy and/or similar environments or in a closely related field in an investment banking or related business function.
• Public agency processes both internal and external engagement purposes.
• Deep understanding of direct and indirect customer behavior and usage change in the electric industry.
• Understanding and usage experience in variable, time, weather, and condition-dependent rate design software that considers storage, GHG free, and renewable penetration.
• Innovative billing models from within and outside the electric utility industry.
• Energy industry trends, regulatory changes, and advancements in renewable energy technologies that impact rates.
• Develop data models for rate structures, rate design scenarios, and fiscal impact modeling.
• Take initiative in identifying opportunities to improve existing policies or create new ones.
• Manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing ones in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Regularly engage with external and internal stakeholders through forums and one-on-one discussions to explain and gain support for proposed rates, fostering trust and transparency.
• Prepare clear, data-backed presentations for the Board of Directors and senior management that outline rate strategies, impacts, and benefits, ensuring strategic alignment and informed decision-making.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred, a master's degree in finance, Economics, Business, Engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement modern, future‑focused rate structures that advance renewable energy goals and support participation in CAISO energy markets.
• Lead data‑driven rate and pricing strategies that balance revenue sufficiency, affordability, compliance, and long‑term financial sustainability.
• Serve as MCE’s subject matter expert on rates, including evaluation of DERs, VPPs, microgrids, and other emerging technologies.
• Conduct complex modeling, cost‑of‑service studies, and marginal cost analyses to inform strategic, regulatory, and policy decisions.
• Oversee development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of MCE’s Rate Engine and related analytical tools.
• Manage tariff governance, lifecycle processes, and internal controls to ensure accuracy, consistency, and operational readiness.
• Assess financial, regulatory, and customer impacts of rate and tariff changes, identifying risks and mitigation strategies.
• Integrate rate design with agency‑wide financial planning, multi‑year forecasting, and cost‑of‑energy discussions.
• Provide leadership across departments and with consultants, ensuring alignment on rate design, filings, reports, and regulatory strategy.
• Represent MCE in regulatory proceedings, preparing technical analyses, comments, testimony, and serving as a key advisor or witness.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package offered, based on candidate experience along with generous benefits and perks, including fully paid premiums for health insurance, parental leave, dependent care subsidies, student loan repayment, and employee wellness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director