Senior Fellow, Energy and Environment

R Street Institute•Washington, DC

5d•Remote

About The Position

The R Street Institute—a free-market think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. and with regional offices across the country—seeks a collaborative senior fellow to conduct research on leveraging market competition and limited government to advance a cleaner environment and thriving economy. The ideal candidate will have strong electricity policy expertise as well as robust analysis and communication skills. This position reports to the director of the Energy and Environmental policy program. If you want to join a mission-driven organization and work toward pragmatic policy solutions, this could be the right opportunity for you! Your typical week might include leading the formation or revision of R Street’s electricity policy positions; project-managing R Street’s electricity policy work; monitoring state and federal energy regulatory developments; collaborating with internal scholars on the Energy and Environment team or the Finance, Technology, Cybersecurity, and Governance teams; collaborating with scholars at peer think tanks; briefing governor’s cabinets, congressional offices, state and federal energy and environmental regulators, and state legislators; providing regulatory and legislative testimony; reviewing new scholarship; writing papers, opinion pieces, and regulatory comments; speaking at leading industry conferences (e.g., Future Power Markets Forum); and interfacing with national and state media outlets, including trade press and general press. Other Aspects of Your Role Collaborate with internal and external subject matter experts on research projects Lead credible, high-quality research projects Adapt policy, engagement, and communication strategy in a quick-changing legislative and regulatory landscape Work with Government Affairs and Communications teams to identify and consistently engage with target audiences Write a mix of regulatory comments, policy papers, and short pieces to help solve complex public policy problems Strategize with allied groups and keep up to date with practitioner developments and research on improving competition and consumer choice in electricity policy Attend and speak at events and panels Remain vigilant against ninja infiltrations

Requirements

No particular educational background required—a proven record of achieving results is far more meaningful than credentials
Ability to independently evaluate electricity policy and develop pragmatic policy positions consistent with a pro-market, limited government directive
Deep understanding of competitive electricity market design and operations including Regional Transmission Organization/Independent System Operator (RTO/ISO) wholesale markets and relevant retail choice mechanisms
Expertise in electricity transmission policy including grid planning, cost allocation, and generator interconnection processes and their effects on market function and efficiency
Demonstrated expertise in electricity policy, particularly state utility regulation (e.g., integrated resource planning, rate base mechanisms) and federal matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission related to market rules and transmission tariffs, sufficient to qualify as an expert witness
Understanding of welfare economics and public policy analysis through a market-failure and government-failure lens
Superb critical thinking and strong writing skills
Demonstrated ability to write complex, technical regulatory comments and papers and provide expert regulatory and legislative testimony
Ability to manage projects led by R Street’s part-time electricity subject matter experts
Ability to serve effectively in a cross-functional role, working simultaneously with multiple R Street scholars and different organizational units
Robust communication and interpersonal skills, with a strong team orientation
Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage competing interests and priorities effectively
Support for R Street’s passion for free markets and limited, effective government
A sense of humor and a desire to grow with a multifaceted organization

Responsibilities

Leading the formation or revision of R Street’s electricity policy positions
Project-managing R Street’s electricity policy work
Monitoring state and federal energy regulatory developments
Collaborating with internal scholars on the Energy and Environment team or the Finance, Technology, Cybersecurity, and Governance teams
Collaborating with scholars at peer think tanks
Briefing governor’s cabinets, congressional offices, state and federal energy and environmental regulators, and state legislators
Providing regulatory and legislative testimony
Reviewing new scholarship
Writing papers, opinion pieces, and regulatory comments
Speaking at leading industry conferences (e.g., Future Power Markets Forum)
Interfacing with national and state media outlets, including trade press and general press
Collaborate with internal and external subject matter experts on research projects
Lead credible, high-quality research projects
Adapt policy, engagement, and communication strategy in a quick-changing legislative and regulatory landscape
Work with Government Affairs and Communications teams to identify and consistently engage with target audiences
Write a mix of regulatory comments, policy papers, and short pieces to help solve complex public policy problems
Strategize with allied groups and keep up to date with practitioner developments and research on improving competition and consumer choice in electricity policy
Attend and speak at events and panels
Remain vigilant against ninja infiltrations

Benefits

Unlimited paid time off policy, including all federal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and two weeks holiday closure in December
Alternating Fridays off
A health insurance option entirely paid by the employer (even for families)
Dental and vision insurance
401(k) contributions with up to a 4 percent match
HSA employer contribution match
Quarterly wellness reimbursement
Mobile equipment/mobile plan reimbursement
Home internet subsidy
Annual educational and professional development reimbursement
A choice between child care assistance, pet care assistance, and student loan repayment assistance