[Hiring] Interconnection Policy Lead @Permit Power

Role Description

Manage Permit Power’s interconnection policy development and campaigns in target states to dramatically accelerate the installation of home solar and batteries.

We are looking for an Interconnection Policy Lead to manage Permit Power’s agenda to modernize and streamline the process for connecting home solar and batteries to the electric grid in target states. In these states, you’ll be responsible for driving legislative and regulatory change, leading coalition efforts, and serving as the organization’s expert on utility interconnection rules and challenges. The Interconnection Policy Lead will report to the Interconnection Policy Director.

• Develop Permit Power's interconnection policy agenda:
  • Formulate and execute a comprehensive policy plan to simplify and streamline the interconnection process for home solar and batteries in target states.
  • This agenda should transform the utility approval process to eliminate delays and costs that hinder solar deployment.
• Oversee the bill-to-law cycle:
  • Conduct preliminary research for, draft, and vet interconnection bill language.
  • Lobby legislators, their staff, and executive branch officials.
  • Negotiate with opposition.
  • Produce advocacy materials, such as talking points, fact sheets, graphics, and reports.
• Build and drive coalitions:
  • Manage relationships with partners such as environmental groups, the solar industry, think tanks, and others.
  • Broaden support for an interconnection reform agenda and collaboratively refine and update state policy priorities.
• Serve as the subject matter expert:
  • Act as the organization's authority on utility interconnection rules and proceedings in target states.
  • Identify opportunities to enact cutting-edge policies like automated interconnection, flexible interconnection, and connect and notify.
• Direct regulatory advocacy:
  • Lead the organization’s formal participation in state public utility commission proceedings and other regulatory dockets.
  • This includes filing expert testimony, drafting comments, and providing oral arguments to ensure our interconnection reform agenda is adopted by regulators.
• Manage external research and consultants:
  • Scope external policy research and identify, onboard, and direct consultants to secure high-quality products supporting our interconnection policy agenda.
  • Oversee outside counsel to intervene in public utility commission proceedings.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in policy development, legislative advocacy, and/or regulatory affairs related to behind-the-meter solar/storage, utility-scale renewables, or electrification technologies required.
• Experience in utility interconnection policy preferred.
• Track record of successfully developing and executing policy agendas that lead to tangible outcomes, particularly within the state legislative or regulatory arenas.
• Ability to translate complex technical and engineering concepts into clear, accessible language and materials for policymakers, advocates, and the public.
• Experience testifying before, interfacing with, and developing materials for policymakers.
• Demonstrated ability to build coalitions and partner with stakeholders to achieve policy goals.
• Relationships with clean energy policy groups, technical consultants, research firms, and think tanks in the electric utility and distributed generation space.
• Expert-level knowledge of interconnection technologies and concepts related to distributed energy resources preferred (e.g. flexible interconnection, volt-var, demand-side management, auxiliary services).

Requirements

• Entrepreneurial and self-directed.
• Outcomes-oriented.
• Collaborative and low-ego.
• Flexible and open-minded.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Willing to travel for quarterly team meetings and periodic partner meetings, hearings, and conferences.

Benefits

• The salary range for this position is $135,000-160,000.
• This is a full-time, exempt position.
• Permit Power offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, vision care, pre-tax commuter benefits, FSA, 401k with 5% contribution matching (limits apply).
• Permit Power offers 6 months of paid maternity or paternity leave to bond with a newborn or adopted child within the first year of birth or adoption.
• We are currently a team of nine, working remotely across the country. We are open to candidates anywhere in the U.S.