Public Policy Director

Duke Energy Corporation•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the company’s engagement with PJM and transmission policy, ensuring operational reliability, regulatory compliance, and strategic growth. The Public Policy Director will serve as the central leader responsible for the coordination, development, and execution of all company-wide policy initiatives related to PJM Interconnection (PJM) and federal/national transmission issues. This role will ensure seamless communication and alignment among all internal departments and external stakeholders on PJM and transmission matters, while driving strategic engagement with PJM and relevant trade associations and third parties such as the Edison Electric Institute and WIRES. This will require establishing strong working relationships at all levels within key Duke Energy business units and across external affairs and communications to develop and advance company positions.

Requirements

Bachelor degree in Public Policy, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration or other related discipline
seven (7) years minimum of related work experience

Nice To Haves

Experience in RTO/ISO operations, particularly PJM, FERC regulatory processes, and/or transmission policy.
Prior experience in state or federal government policy-related role, RTO or regulated utility operations.
Demonstrates ability and flexibility to effectively manage and facilitate multiple projects and issues simultaneously.
Demonstrates effective analytical, problem identification and resolution skills.
Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision-making skills.
Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, including communication skills, presentation skills, conflict resolution and negotiation skills, and leadership skills.
Intuitive skills to identify and discern issues that are important to the company and that could positively or negatively affect ability to achieve company objectives.
Proven self-starter, results-oriented, and requiring no supervision to take charge and get things done.
Demonstrates ability to maintain composure and clarity of thought and purpose when confronted with highly stressful situations.
Demonstrates ability to work in a team environment to coordinate resources in a matrixed organization.
Demonstrates ability to develop results-oriented business relationships to influence the outcome of issues to effectively advance and/or position the corporation’s business plans and objectives.
Preferred B.A./B.S. degree in public policy, engineering or business.
M.S., MBA, MPP, Law Degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Act as a central point of contact with PJM, overseeing and coordinating PJM-related policy issues of strategic importance to the company.
Facilitate collaboration among departments including Duke Energy Ohio Kentucky (DEOK), Transmission Planning, Fuels & System Optimization, Legal, Corporate Affairs and other relevant business partners to develop company positions, ensure information sharing and shape constructive PJM policies.
Represent Duke Energy with PJM state officials (regulators, OPSI members) and at PJM stakeholder meetings and proactively develop and implement company responses to PJM initiatives, including FERC filings, including but not limited to co-location orders, litigation, tariff changes, market rule changes and market participant filings, ensuring the company’s interests are represented and regulatory requirements are met.
Manage and communicate externally the company’s position on complex and high-impact PJM matters, such as IMM complaints, self-funding filings, interconnection policies, and regional/interregional transmission planning.
Maintain effective relationships with PJM and other Transmission Owners (TOs), and internal cross-functional teams to address reliability, settlement, and compliance issues.
Represent the company at industry forums (e.g., EEI, WIRES), with peer companies and other relevant stakeholders, providing clear communication of outcomes and directives to internal stakeholders.
Ensure all relevant departments are informed of PJM policy changes, litigation outcomes, and compliance requirements.
Develop and advance company policy positions on transmission policy (planning, siting, cost allocation, and cost recovery), incorporating PJM perspectives alongside other regional and enterprise considerations (e.g., MISO and Carolinas/Florida).
Coordinate with the Public Policy Director, Customer Value & Grid Edge, to ensure alignment of positions on generator interconnection, hybrid/co-located solutions and large load interconnection.
Collaborate with corporate affairs teammates, including federal government affairs, to advance constructive federal policy initiatives to actively shape the national conversation on transmission policy.
Communicate external developments on the issue set in a timely and understandable manner to business units to effectively manage their strategic issues, business objectives and decision-making process.
Maintain strong and effective working relationships with key trade associations/coalitions and advocate for company positions or communicate concerns to these groups (e.g., EEI, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber).
Represent Duke Energy at external forums/conferences to ensure that company policies and positions are effectively communicated and favorably impact the company.
Anticipate, coordinate and conduct research in support of strategic policy initiatives and review/write analysis of PJM and federal public policy and related materials.
Maintain strong working relationships across external affairs and communications, including collaborating with federal government affairs to support the company’s advocacy on relevant issues.
Provide direct support to senior Duke Energy executives in their engagement with trade associations and other key stakeholders.
Sustain Duke Energy’s culture of collaboration in promoting major strategic initiatives.
Support the Managing Director of Public Policy in the overall facilitation of Duke Energy’s energy modernization and growth strategy.