POLICY ADVISOR - Data Scientist

State of Illinois•Springfield, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Under administrative direction of the Assistant Director of Utility Research & Analytics (URAD), performs complex quantitative analysis, technical, research, and policy functions involving public utility issues. Develops and conducts quantitative research, analysis, and reporting on topics and issues related to public utility regulation.

Requirements

Requires a master’s degree in economics, statistics, computational analysis, data science, applied mathematics, computer science, engineering, or a closely related quantitative field.
A bachelor’s degree in the aforesaid fields with a minimum of two years of work experience conducting data analysis on relatively large datasets that include statistical analyses can substitute for the advanced degree requirement.
Requires proficiency in computer programming using statistical or computational software and applying such programming knowledge (e.g. Python, R, SQL) on information in databases to perform various quantitative analyses, experience cleaning, organizing, modeling, and analyzing large and complex datasets, and ability to independently design and conduct quantitative analyses.
Requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel to review, analyze, and summarize large datasets, including use of pivot tables, lookup functions, and scenario and sensitivity analyses to support technical, planning, and policy decision-making.
Requires proficiency in Microsoft Word to prepare professional reports.
Requires superior oral and written English communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate analytical results to technical and non-technical audiences and the ability to professionally interact and collaborate with persons within and outside the agency, including with various stakeholder groups.
Requires the ability to attend stakeholder meetings and other work-related events, which may require occasional travel.
Requires the applicant to pass a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.

Nice To Haves

Prefers utility regulation experience.
Prefers prior experience in running capacity expansion models and analyzing model outputs (e.g., PLEXOS, PROMOD, Sienna), experience with probabilistic modeling related to power system reliability or resource adequacy.
Prefers experience developing data visualizations and dashboards using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms to communicate analytical results.

Responsibilities

Conducts reviews and research of public utility issues and policies including in-depth analyses of various data submitted to the Commission by public utilities and/or residing in databases available to the agency. Assists in identifying relevant public utility policies and issues to be researched, planning the design of data collection and data analysis.
Applies statistical and computational methods to clean, organize, model, and analyze large and complex datasets relevant to the public utility industry using spreadsheet-based tools, such as Microsoft Excel, and computer programming tools, such as Python, R, and SQL, to conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses and to deliver reproducible findings that support statistical modeling, forecasting, evaluation of how assumptions or changes influence analytical results, and regulatory decision-making.
Prepares and presents comprehensive professional reports that effectively communicate the results of research and data analyses in written form and/or in oral presentations. Provides written and/or oral testimony in ICC proceedings and assist in preparing ICC Staff briefs. Oral presentations may be made within or outside the agency and may be made to Commissioners, agency management, agency staff, and various external stakeholders.
Assists with the review, analysis, and summarization of comments submitted by parties in Notices of Inquiries (NOIs) and in preparing URAD’s Staff NOI Reports with recommendations for next steps.
Assists in reviewing, analyzing, and summarizing legislative proposals that relate to the work of the Commission and/or to the industries regulated or overseen by the Commission.
Monitors key public utility issues at the state and national level, including those discussed in trade and academic literature, ICC orders, party filings in ICC proceedings, and ICC workshops to keep abreast of issues and trends in federal and state utility regulation that may have an impact on Commission policies and synthesizes their implications for agency decision-making.
Performs other duties, as required or assigned, which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Benefits

A Pension Program
Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources
5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)