Strategic Policy Manager/ Senior Strategic Policy Manager

OPEN POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT!

Strategic Policy Manager/ Senior Strategic Policy Manager

Open until filled.

Posted 3/27/2024 San Diego County – hybrid work schedule set by SDCP (Remote worker may be accommodated).

About the role: The Strategic Policy Manager or Senior Strategic Policy Manager works with the Director of Regulatory & Legislative Affairs to oversee strategic regulatory engagement and to identify areas of opportunity for San Diego Community Power. The Strategic Policy Manager is responsible for performing strategic policy analysis to assess impact to San Diego Community Power’s operations, procurement and programs. Additionally, the Strategic Policy Manager will be responsible for identifying potential external funding opportunities and coordinating across internal departments to assess which opportunities should be pursued.

This position also informs SDCP’s management and staff about policy issues and opportunities in order to keep the organization abreast of policy proposals that could impact SDCP’s mission and goals.

WHO IS SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY POWER?

San Diego Community Power is a community-owned organization that provides affordable clean energy and invests in the community to create an equitable and sustainable future for the San Diego region. We aim to be a global leader, inspiring innovative solutions to climate change by powering our communities with 100% clean affordable energy while prioritizing equity, sustainability, and high-quality jobs. We are a values-led, mission driven organization grounded in Justice/Equity/Diversity/Inclusion (JEDI), Impact, Integrity, Innovation, Servant Leadership, and Togetherness. Our culture is built on open communication, accountability, and curiosity. We are a growing team whose key premise is trust, collaboration, and connection with each other and the communities we serve. We are responsive and work smart to achieve high goals. 

OUR HISTORY

San Diego Community Power was formed in 2019 as a public, not-for-profit community choice aggregator (CCA) in the San Diego region. We began electric service in 2021 and now serve seven member agencies: the Cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa and National City, as well as the unincorporated communities of San Diego County. San Diego Community Power was formed to bring local control and customer choice to San Diego while also providing clean and renewable energy at competitive rates. We are the second largest CCA in California, serving nearly 1 million customers. For more information, please visit SDCommunityPower.org.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

At SDCP, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We represent a diverse customer base and hope to hire employees that reflect our communities. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES

• Strategic Policy Advice: Proactively identify and develop strategic policy direction in consultation with SDCP staff, the Board, and external partners. Provide technical and/or analytic analyses and strategic advice on regulatory and legislative matters.
• Regulatory case management: Manage regulatory proceeding caseload, including tracking due dates for regulatory filings, informing internal departments of policy developments, coordinating with external counsel or technical consultants as necessary, and communicating with regulatory agency staff.
• Regulatory analysis: Develop summaries and analyses for key policy issues affecting SDCP’s operations, fiscal health, and ability to offer innovative programs.
• Regulatory engagement: Engage in strategic regulatory intervention, including drafting and reviewing comments, proposals, testimony, and briefs as well as preparing discovery requests and responses.
• Strategic Initiatives: Proactively identify potential external funding sources for programs or other strategic organizational goals. Work across departments to connect potential external funding sources with current or planned organizational programs or other initiatives.
• Coalition building: Support the Regulatory and Legislative Affairs team in developing and building relationships with California energy market stakeholders and communicating SDCP policy positions to stakeholders.
• Member agency support: Assist SDCP’s member agencies with information regarding regulatory proceedings that could impact their internal municipal operations.
• Internal departmental support: Inform SDCP departments of regulatory proposals that would impact SDCP’s operations and ability to comply with state policy objectives and assist in compliance reporting and communications with regulatory agencies when necessary.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND ABILITES

• Bachelor’s degree required and at least 5 years of related energy and/or environmental policy experience. Alternatively, a master’s degree in public policy, business, economics or other relevant fields will be considered if the candidate does not possess 5 years related energy or environmental policy experience.
• For the Senior Strategic Policy Manager, a minimum of 7-10 years of experience is required.
• Ability to represent SDCP to community constituents, regulatory agency staff, and before public bodies.
• Exercise good judgment in answering questions; exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality in all matters.
• Strategic thinking, strong technical and analytic skills, as well as attention to detail.
• Ability to develop a wide variety of short- and long- term strategic plans and recommendations in response to policy proposals and potential funding opportunities.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities to meet deadlines and escalate key issues.
• Ability to be nimble and self-directed in a highly fluid and rapidly changing environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and advocacy skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams, consultants, agencies and constituents.
• Strong work ethic and able to take on initiative/working in a fast paced, growing, and dynamic public agency.
• Proficiency in Adobe Pro software as well as MS Office and Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse communities and people of different culture, backgrounds, and opinions. Experience developing working relationships that demonstrate high trust, collaboration, and team-player attitude.
• Ability to act with integrity and professionalism at all times.
• Commitment to sustainability, community energy, and mission driven work.
• Access to reliable transportation to attend occasional SDCP events, meetings, and workshops, 1-2 times per month.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Previous experience in energy sector, power markets and/or previous experience in regulatory, legislative and/or compliance roles.
• Experience in representing an organization and partnering with external stakeholders to build consensus.
• Demonstrated experience with challenging policy issues in a CCA, utility, or similar environment and strategies to address them.
• Understanding of the operations of California regulatory agencies and how to participate in proceedings, hearings, etc.
• Effective and organized project manager and leader.
• Passion for contributing to the success of community choice energy in California.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree required and at least 5 years of related energy and/or environmental policy experience. Or a master’s degree in public policy, business, economics or other relevant fields will be considered if the candidate does not possess 5 years related energy or environmental policy experience. 

For the Senior Strategic Policy Manager, a minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of experience is required.

WORK ENVIROMENT & CONDITIONS

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. The position requires occasional carrying, lifting and/or moving objects up to 25 pounds. 

At SDCP we work in the communities we serve and in the office. SDCP works to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for employees and in our communities. SDCP requires employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Exemptions to the vaccine requirement will be considered for individuals with medical conditions that prevent them from being vaccinated and for individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs that prohibit them from being vaccinated, consistent with governing labor laws.

SDCP is an agency required to adopt and promulgate a Conflict-of-Interest Code (“COI”). The COI code requires employees in designated positions, including those identified under the interim disclosure process, to file a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) on an annual basis. A Successful candidate accepting this position may be required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission. 

Compensation:

Salary Range: The position salary range is: Strategic Policy Manager from $113,900 to $153,800 and Senior Strategic Policy Manager from $141,300 to $190,800; with exact compensation to be determined by SDCP, depending upon experience. 

Benefits: Standard benefits package including but not limited to:

Insurance: SDCP offers group health benefits, including medical, vision, and dental insurance, for eligible FT employees. Also provided is a $100,000 Life & AD&D policy, STD and LTD coverage that is 100% paid by SDCP.

Retirement: SDCP offers a 457(b) plan for employee contributions and contributes 10% of eligible compensation to the employee’s Money Purchase Plan.

Paid Time Off: 11 holidays per year + paid winter holiday (between 12/24-12/31), 160 hours of accrued paid time off per year (increases with time in service), and 96 hours per year of accrued paid sick leave.

This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended at the discretion of SDCP as needed.