Position Description
Advanced Energy United is currently seeking an energetic, smart, strategic, self-starting Policy Principal with a background in policy/legal analysis, regulatory engagement, and issue advocacy to join United’s policy and campaign team in the West.
The Principal will be an integral part of Team West, which advances our broad policy priorities through a combined arms approach that coordinates state-level legislation, regulation, decisionmaker engagement, and public communications. This position focuses on regulatory venues as part of a comprehensive strategy to effect change through interwoven channels.
They will work under the direction of United’s western regulatory Policy Director and collaboratively with United’s state teams to plan and execute effective interventions in regulatory proceedings, primarily at Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), that will accelerate the energy transition and expand markets for the advanced energy industry. Policy topics may include resource planning, transportation electrification, grid modernization, distributed energy resources and virtual power plants, transmission and interconnection, future of gas and building decarbonization, western regional market formation, and utility business model reform.
Additionally, this role will help build United’s regulatory thought leadership and strengthen relationships with PUC commissioners and staff, utility staff, and allied organizations in western states, with a priority focus on California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. Candidates will need to have the ability to travel to meet with United members, coalition allies and stakeholders, and public officials.
Regardless of background, there will be a steep learning curve to this position. The work requires knowledge of new advanced energy technologies, the electric grid, state laws and regulatory processes, different markets and business models, and politics and policymaking. Legal, economic, or engineering training is very helpful—but most important is a willingness and ability to proactively learn, to seek out efficient and trustworthy information sources and advisors, and to construct logical and compelling arguments.