Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager

Mac's List•Portland, OR

37d•$96,100 - $123,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager is a key contributor to Energy Trust's organization-wide efforts to ensure productive and responsive relationships with regulatory agencies, utilities and other entities providing funding, oversight and coordination commitments for programs and services delivered by Energy Trust. A significant focus of this position will be to serve as a formal liaison with the Oregon Public Utility Commission, Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista. This role may also serve as an organizational liaison for additional entities that establish funding for Energy Trust through grants and contracts, such as state and federal agencies and foundations. The Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager will coordinate with Energy Trust staff in all parts of the organization and engage executive and senior managers, as needed, to prepare and represent Energy Trust in meetings with regulators and funders, ensure the organization understands the needs and perspectives of these stakeholders, collaborate productively with others to fulfill requests, and resolve critical issues. This role will support effective joint work and collaboration with Oregon Public Utility Commission and utilities by: meeting regularly to stay informed about priorities and coordinate activities, facilitating connections between Energy Trust executives, subject matter experts and their counterparts at funding entities, using internal systems and processes that support effective coordination, hosting and facilitating discussions, monitoring the status of commitments and ensuring follow through, and communicating effectively within the organization and with funding and regulatory entities. Based in the Communications & Customer Service (CCS) Group, the Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager works closely with the CCS Director and other members of the Executive Team, as well as colleagues in CCS, Energy Programs, Finance, Planning, Innovation and Development, and all other areas of the organization. As a member of the CCS Government and Stakeholder Relations team, this position enhances public understanding of Energy Trust's purpose and role, supports access to information, and upholds the organization's commitment to transparency and accessibility. This individual reports to the Government and Stakeholder Relations Lead.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience relevant to responsibilities described above, such as in program management, public administration, natural resources, business, communications or another relevant field.
Minimum of 8 years of experience in progressively responsible roles utilizing communications, management, government relations, and relationship management competencies to deliver services and manage a complex work portfolio.
Minimum 5 years of experience specific to energy efficiency or renewable energy in a program, policy, planning or regulatory setting.
Strong familiarity with energy efficiency, renewable energy, utilities, utility regulation and energy policy, preferably have experience working with the Oregon Public Utility Commission and/or Oregon utilities.
Experience organizing and clearly presenting information to public, business and government audiences, including as an organizational representative in public settings.
Experience planning, organizing and coordinating meetings and documenting decisions.
Demonstrated skill in engaging people from a variety of backgrounds, facilitating teamwork, and negotiating solutions among parties with diverse needs and interests.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong interpersonal, facilitation and negotiation skills.
Ability to work independently and with a team, coordinating resources across a range of staff, including executive and senior level colleagues.
Experience working with systems and processes to support timely tracking and information sharing.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint. Experience using SharePoint and CRM systems preferred.
Capable of performing own administrative duties and calendaring, with strong attention to detail.
Must be a proactive professional who is able to perform in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and be flexible and responsive to changing context, needs and opportunities.
Must be able to interact with a diverse workforce and be comfortable working in culturally diverse settings and groups.

Responsibilities

Serves as primary liaison and relationship manager for Oregon Public Utility Commission.
Serves as liaison and primary contact for staff of utilities, government agencies, and may also for other established funders with formal coordination channels to Energy Trust.
Maintains regular communications and meetings with the Oregon Public Utility Commission and utilities.
Conducts proactive outreach to staff of utilities, government agencies, and other established funders with formal coordination channels to Energy Trust.
Stays informed on current areas of joint work, operations and engagements that involve OPUC, utilities and other funding entities. Works with internal subject matter experts, functional leads, process owners and leadership to ensure OPUC, utility and funding entities are engaged appropriately in Energy Trust budget, planning, metric development, reporting and contracting processes.
Maintains knowledge on matters of importance to OPUC, utilities and funding entities; draws on this knowledge to inform and advise internal discussions and planning. Seeks input from OPUC, utility and funding entity liaisons as needed to inform Energy Trust decision-making.
Monitors Energy Trust strategic, multi-year and annual priorities and briefs funding entities on changes to plans and new areas of focus.
Sets expectations appropriately with OPUC, utilities and funding entities when responding to inquiries and requests for support outside of planned areas of joint work.
Collaborates with counterparts at funding entities to share information, track on joint work plans, resolve issues and monitor needs, positioning content experts and leadership to represent information as appropriate.
Briefs executives and senior staff to inform them of key issues and concerns and shares knowledge relevant to escalated issues. Advises operational management team and others based on knowledge of funding entity interests.
Monitors commitments and deliverables - coordinating people and resources within the organization as needed to ensure assignments are made and commitments are complete.
Plans and facilitates meetings in coordination with funding entities to ensure joint purposes are accomplished in alignment with stated goals in funding agreements.
Ensures that Energy Trust leadership and staff understand developments that could potentially impact the organization's work with funding entities.
Serves as an Energy Trust spokesperson in organizational meetings, utility forums, community meetings and OPUC meetings.
Participates as a member of the Energy Trust Government and Stakeholder Relations team and provides relevant insights and information to support outreach, stakeholder relations, policy services and community engagement activities interfacing with funding entities and joint objectives.
Contributes to and utilizes internal systems, process and documentation to support consistent communication, collaboration and information sharing internally and with funding entities.
Identifies relevant utility, OPUC and funder relations activities for Energy Trust staff participation.
Undertakes other assignments on behalf of the Energy Trust, as assigned.
Performs all functions of the job in a safe manner.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Health/dental/vision insurance
Employer sponsored and paid life/disability
401(k) with a company contribution of 6% of your salary after 90 days of employment
TriMet pass
Access to health and dependent FSA/HSA accounts
Generous paid vacation, holidays and sick days
Paid volunteer hours
Employee assistance program
Career advancement opportunities
Great colleagues and culture
Flexibility to work from home and/or an office space at the Portland, OR location
Work from home laptop provided