Regulatory Director, Interior West

ABOUT VOTE SOLAR

Vote Solar's mission is to realize a 100% clean energy future through a solutions-driven, people first approach. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advances just and equitable clean energy policy in state legislatures and public commissions across the United States. Our expertise comes from a deep understanding of the legislative process, regulatory interventions, and the ability to identify and accelerate solar solutions. We are adept at bridging communities and bringing diverse stakeholders together to forge inclusive coalitions and winning campaigns. 

Our goal is to effect real, tangible change. And we have the track-record to prove we can do it: Twenty years in, our work has made it so that one in three people live in a state with a 100% clean energy commitment. We’ll not only expand that number, but ensure that more people can participate in holding utilities and decision makers accountable for greater equity and justice in our energy system.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE

Vote Solar is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the workplace and in the communities with which we partner. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including multilingual and multicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

THE ROLE

Vote Solar seeks a candidate committed to help advance sustainable, equitable solutions to the challenges facing solar expansion in the region. The Interior West Regulatory Director position will require both strategic thought leadership in advocating for technical solutions before state regulatory bodies, and collaborative coalition building and management in getting those solutions implemented. Reporting to the Deputy Program Director for the West, this person will work closely with the Vote Solar Interior West Regional Team, including communications and grassroots organizing experts to advance concrete goals in regulatory and legislative venues. The ideal candidate is a results-oriented person who excels at building relationships and managing complicated projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Interior West Regulatory Director’s primary responsibilities will focus on Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico and will include:

REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY (50%)

• Intervene in regulatory proceedings before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, as well as other relevant public agencies to advance solar-friendly policies.
• Prepare expert testimony, frame discovery for utility and other witnesses, and advocate for Vote Solar’s positions in cross-examination—all in pursuit of regulatory outcomes that provide fair compensation for solar and technologies that help grow solar markets.
• Pursue innovative regulatory policies that address historical racial, economic and structural inequities by removing barriers to solar adoption for residential and business customers, and by encouraging utilities, system operators and regulators to fully integrate distributed and wholesale solar into their planning and operations.
• Enhance and defend market opportunities for solar and distributed energy resources to provide flexibility and reliability services to the grid and to displace new and existing gas plants.
• Advise on state-level legislation that can open up new opportunities for solar and storage markets in key states, with a focus on Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico
• Partner with Interior West Campaigns Director on strategy and approach within key states.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (20%)

• ​​Provide thought leadership in designing new regulatory paradigms that prioritize renewables, climate justice and maximizing participation in (and benefit from) distributed energy resources.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT & COALITION MANAGEMENT (20%)

• Build and collaborate with coalitions of stakeholders – including, for example, frontline communities, environmental justice advocates, consumer advocates, environmental advocates, energy efficiency proponents, energy storage providers, electric vehicle advocates, etc. – to develop and pursue win-win strategies.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE GROWTH AND LEARNING (10%)

• Continue personal learning and contributions to organizational work on diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Be committed to embedding equity in all organizational internal practices and culture.
• Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity.

REQUIREMENTS

WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. A relevant graduate degree is an advantage, but is not required.
• Five+ years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to execute on key strategies to achieve our mission, including coalition building and policy writing that summarizes complex issues for various audiences ranging from policymakers to regulators to interested public.
• A general understanding of US electricity markets and regulation.

OTHER EXPERTISE YOU MIGHT HAVE OR WOULD BE EXCITED TO GAIN HERE

• A combination of technical expertise in clean energy policy and practice (particularly in the solar sector) and experience with formal regulatory proceedings.
• Expertise in technical and regulatory needs for scaling up clean, distributed resources,  including a focus on improving resiliency and serving disadvantaged and other vulnerable communities.
• Experience in regulatory innovations to allow behind-the-meter solar + storage and other distributed energy resources to receive fair value.
• Integrated Resource Planning and clean energy resource procurement necessary to achieve state greenhouse gas or renewable goals and provide for the most cost-effective portfolio of utility-scale solar, storage, and other renewable resources.
• Effective collaboration with diverse populations and allies.
• Knowledge of utility ratemaking, procurement and/or grid operations. 
• Transmission planning for renewables, for example to 1) facilitate the growth of large-scale hybrid clean energy and storage projects to provide energy and resource adequacy, 2) deploy distributed energy resources at scale to reduce the need for transmission investments and promote beneficial electrification.

MINDSETS

• A personal commitment to being a part of an inclusive and just workplace, including a commitment to being on a journey with Vote Solar to develop personal, and inter-personal core competencies related to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
• Passion for building strong new capacity at a growing organization.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

LOCATION
The Regulatory Director - Interior West role is based in the Interior West region (AZ, UT, NV, CO, or NM), with a strong preference for Colorado, Nevada, or New Mexico.  This position will require some regional and national travel (several trips per year). Workplace arrangements are flexible, including options to work from a co-working space or work from home.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $125,500 - $131,600. At Vote Solar, we work hard to ensure that our compensation is equitable internally and aligned with our compensation philosophy and defined job levels. In order to ensure equitable compensation across roles in the organization, we do not negotiate new hire offers.

Vote Solar provides full-time staff with a competitive package, including 4 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 4 days of personal leave and 16 paid holidays. We also offer 100% employer-provided health, dental and vision care for both the employee and dependents; a retirement savings plan with an employer contribution of 3.5%; and a paid parental and medical leave policy for all regular employees. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send a letter of interest and resume to Vote Solar. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that all qualified applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

Application Process Note: Vote Solar is required to enroll in the E-Verify Program to verify employment eligibility of certain employees. Candidates who receive an offer may be required to complete this step depending on their state of residence.