Clean Grid Alliance (CGA) is a nonprofit organization whose 75+ members include wind, solar and energy storage developers and manufacturers, non-profit environmental, public interest, and clean energy advocacy organizations, farmer organizations, and other businesses that support renewable energy. CGA is a vital player in the fast-changing clean energy sector. Clean energy (and other technologies that will enable a clean and renewable future) is growing rapidly and includes wind, solar, storage, and other emerging technologies like hydrogen —all of which will need CGA’s expertise and engagement in the years to come. CGA’s current footprint includes nine states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. CGA’s work with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) also includes MISO South (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and a small part of Texas).
As an extension of their highly successful advocacy, policy, and strategy work in the MISO region, Clean Grid Alliance (CGA), through dedicated funding, is extending its efforts to the SPP region. The Senior Manager, Transmission, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) will assist with the organization’s work on clean energy that includes expanding transmission across the Midcontinent and between Regional Transmission Organization “seams”, helping to create a marketplace that provides new opportunities for clean energy, and collaborating extensively with different advocacy groups. The position entails assisting with CGA-only initiatives and initiatives that are done collectively with a group of organizations. The Senior Manager, Transmission, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) may also include assisting with regulatory cases regarding state transmission line approval.
The Senior Manager, Transmission, Southwest Power Pool (SPP) will be part of the CGA team working on grid expansion issues day-to-day. The successful candidate will also interact regularly with CGA members, and CGA’s other teams, particularly State Advocacy and Communications.
Responsibilities:
Support CGA’s Transmission, Advocacy Strategy and Vision (20%)
- Work as part of a team, support work directed by VP, Transmission & Markets, and in conjunction with Engineering/Technical Consultants to expand transmission in SPP and move work currently in progress forward (such as Consolidated Planning Process, interregional planning between SPP and MISO).
- Disseminate and advocate for adoption of grid expansion strategies that support and facilitate clean energy resources.
- Perform substantive, programmatic, and administrative duties related to participating in SPP stakeholder process.
- Participate as part of a CGA team to secure funding to support grid transformation work in SPP.
- Serve as a Subject Matter Expert on all aspects of CGA’s transmission advocacy work in SPP.
Daily/Weekly Core Functions (65%)
- Participate in SPP daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly stakeholder meetings (committees, subcommittees, task forces, special projects, Board of Directors week meetings, meetings with SPP staff and executives).
- Advocate for CGA positions at SPP and related venues, and with state-based decision-makers and others.
- Participate in SPP workgroup calls and meetings to inform and discuss issues with CGA members.
- Make presentations at CGA member calls and quarterly member meetings, as assigned.
- Provide “connective tissue” between CGA SPP work and CGA Regulatory Advocacy work, as appropriate.
Other Duties and Activities (15%)
- Prepare updates and articles for CGA’s monthly e-newsletter, and other reports as needed, in conjunction with CGA’s Communications Team.
- Create and prepare articles, blog posts, social media, and other related materials, in conjunction with the CGA Communications Team.
- Participate in presentations at conferences and meetings to advocate for CGA positions and priorities.
The Candidate:
- Bachelor’s Degree and 5+ years in technical or policy work in energy or related fields.
- Ability to support an aggressive but doable agenda and help implement it.
- Experience engaging, influencing, and working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders across different interests.
- Ability to reconcile challenging and diverse viewpoints among non-profit organizations, for-profit renewable energy companies, CGA members and SPP stakeholders, and other organizations with whom CGA is working.
- Some experience presenting before regulators, policymakers, utilities, and other key stakeholders.
- Ability to juggle multiple tasks and priorities at once, perform well in fast-paced environment and effectively apply good judgment skills.
- Experience working effectively as part of a team and can perceive when to build consensus and when to lead.
- Ability to conduct rigorous information gathering and compile findings into simple and compelling formats.
- Self-starter who can work independently.
- Ability to travel with regularity as required by the position.
Location:
The preferred location for the position is in SPP Region – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, ideally near a major airport. This position may offer the ability to travel approximately 30% to 40% of the time.
DRiWaterstone is proud to lead this search on behalf of Clean Grid Alliance.
