Head of Regulatory

PowerLines

6d•$175,000 - $225,000•Remote

About The Position

PowerLines is seeking a full-time Head of Regulatory to build and lead its new Regulatory Team. This senior, hands-on role will lead the development and execution of the organization’s regulatory strategy, including engagement with state public utilities commissions and regulatory proceedings such as rate cases and rulemakings. The role combines team leadership, coalition and partnership building, technical advising, regulatory analysis, and external representation. The Head of Regulatory will be a senior programmatic leader on PowerLines’ executive leadership team. The Regulatory Team leads the organization’s work before utility regulatory bodies and collaborates with the Policy and Communications Teams to drive impact in regulatory venues and proceedings. The position is remote, with approximately 10 to 20 percent travel, and reports directly to the Founder and Executive Director. PowerLines is headquartered in Washington, DC. PowerLines is a national nonprofit focused on modernizing utility regulation to lower bills for energy consumers and support economic growth. Its work engages state public utilities commissions, policymakers, coalition partners, and media on utility affordability, energy investment, and related regulatory issues.

Requirements

At least 10 years of experience in utility regulation, preferably with a public utilities commission, state consumer advocate office, attorney general office, or issue advocacy organization.
A proven record of developing and executing multi-state policy or regulatory campaigns that delivered tangible public-interest outcomes.
Deep familiarity with utility regulatory processes across multiple state jurisdictions, including intervention eligibility, ex parte restrictions, and confidentiality rules.
Established relationships with consumer advocates, public utilities commissions, and regulatory networks.
Deep knowledge of energy and utility policy, including the interaction between utility legislation and regulation.
Fluency in utility ratemaking and resource planning, including revenue requirements, cost allocation and rate design, integrated resource plans, and utility financial filings.
Experience managing, mentoring, and developing staff.
Experience working across the political spectrum and maintaining nonpartisan positions in a politically sensitive issue area.
Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy into clear products for policymakers and represent an organization in diverse settings.
Ability to operate as both a senior strategic leader and hands-on individual contributor on a small team in a rapidly growing organization.
Ability to travel approximately 10 to 20 percent of the time.
Comfort building systems and processes in a startup environment.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor (JD), or experience serving as an expert witness in utility regulatory proceedings.
Familiarity with FERC and RTO governance and stakeholder processes.
Experience with state siting and permitting, or regulatory implementation of grid technology policies.
Experience supporting grant proposals and funder reporting.
Experience building and managing coalitions with diverse partners.
Experience scoping and managing consultants, lobbyists, and budgets.

Responsibilities

Oversee the Regulatory Team, lead weekly team meetings, mentor junior staff, and participate in executive leadership discussions on regulatory issues and strategy.
Lead recruitment and hiring as the team grows, in partnership with the Chief of Staff and Executive Director, and define scopes and direct the work of Senior Advisors and regulatory consultants.
Develop and regularly update the annual regulatory strategy, including team goals, OKRs, and an internal calendar of key dates and timelines, with the Executive Director.
Execute regulatory engagement strategies for major proceedings, including rate cases, integrated resource plan proceedings, and rulemaking dockets; identify priority dockets and guide partnerships, technical assistance, strategy advising, and communications engagement.
Set and direct engagement strategies for priority proceedings, including media and public engagement, and oversee compliance with applicable procedural and ex parte rules.
Make final decisions on docket prioritization, engagement strategy, and the substance of filings and testimony within the approved strategy.
Develop and oversee engagement on utility regulatory rulemaking opportunities, including implementation of legislative and policy priorities in partnership with the Policy Team.
Assess opportunities to participate in federal utility regulatory proceedings, including FERC dockets and technical conferences, and in regional transmission organization governance and stakeholder processes.
Support development of a bench of regulatory, technical, and legal experts to provide substantive expertise on key topics.
Oversee grant-funded projects supporting partners’ intervention and engagement in utility regulatory proceedings.
Assess existing and prospective coalition partners, build bipartisan and multi-sector partnerships across customer classes, and lead development of multi-state consumer advocacy engagement tools and strategies.
Provide technical assistance and strategic advice to partners, including consumer advocates, and conduct introductory utility regulation briefings as needed.
Oversee tracking and monitoring of regulatory developments and proceedings nationwide, as well as analysis of utility rate increase requests, annual capital spending plans, and utility earnings calls.
Oversee the development and updating of PowerLines’ regulatory products, including its docket and utility bill dashboard.
Lead preparation of written communications, testimony, and thought leadership as needed.
Participate in selected policymaker meetings and advise the Policy Team as needed.
Coordinate with the Communications Team on reporter materials and regulatory content in communications products; work with the Chief of Staff on cross-team prioritization and capacity planning.
Represent PowerLines on regulatory issues with commissioners, commission staff, intervenors, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders, coordinating with the Executive Director on the highest-stakes relationships.
Serve as a regulatory spokesperson with reporters and media.
Support fundraising proposal development and reporting, and maintain an internal tracker of major regulatory accomplishments and impact.
Attend relevant events and conferences, such as NARUC and NASUCA.