[Hiring] Policy Specialist @Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development

Role Description

GPI seeks a bright, motivated, and collaborative individual to lead our engagement efforts in meetings and proceedings of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). The core responsibilities of this position are to attend MISO meetings, build relationships with parties involved in those meetings, and provide support and advising to GPI’s projects that focus on or relate to MISO rules and decisions. This position is part of a larger team that is working on engagement in the SPP, MISO, and PJM regions.

Job Duties

• Engagement in MISO stakeholder processes:
  • Develop and maintain a strong, diverse network of MISO staff and stakeholders including states, NGOs, utilities, developments, consumer advocates, and large load customers.
  • Identify opportunities within MISO stakeholder processes for market reforms to increase investment in non-emitting generation resources and enabling technologies including transmission.
  • Shape development of regional transmission plans that analyze the impacts of public policies and goals and high penetrations of clean energy in the MISO region.
  • Support engagement to build consensus for processes needed to plan and permit interregional transmission, with specific focus on the MISO-SPP seam.
  • Advance GPI’s reputation and objectives via participation in collaborative stakeholder initiatives, public presentations, and panel participation as well as blog and research report publication.
  • Participate in MISO’s stakeholder processes on behalf of the MISO Cities and Communities Coalition as deemed appropriate and necessary by coalition members.
  • Participate in MISO’s stakeholder committees, including via both virtual and in-person meeting participation.
  • Collaborate and support other mission-aligned organizations and partners working in these RTO venues.
• Convening and facilitation:
  • Provide support to the MISO Cities and Communities Coalition in partnership with other GPI staff including without limitation:
    • Planning and convening monthly general coalition meetings.
    • Planning and convening monthly policy committee meetings.
    • Preparing briefs and education materials on current issues.
    • Recruiting MISOCCC members.
    • Prepare and solicit input on public coalition comments to MISO and FERC.
    • Identify and recruit subject matter experts to present information in meetings to build the collective understanding of all participants and support robust, informed discussions, including for MISOCCC and other groups convened by GPI.
• Programmatic Support:
  • Participate in strategic planning activities at GPI, representing the MISO stakeholder engagement work.
  • Serve as a programmatic lead for GPI’s MISO stakeholder engagement work on a variety of energy system decarbonization projects.
  • Maintain working knowledge of current issues in MISO and of state and utility policies and plans in the MISO region to inform direct engagement in MISO stakeholder processes and GPI’s long-term strategy.
  • Maintain existing and develop new partnerships with organizations working in the energy system decarbonization space to enable GPI to partner with others where such a partnership would be of benefit.
  • Advance GPI’s programmatic work through collaboration with colleagues, in service to GPI’s mission and strategic plan.
• Project development, fundraising, budget management:
  • Support the development of proposals to philanthropic funders to support the program’s transmission and wholesale electricity markets work.
  • Support regular reporting for grants and other project milestones.
  • Build relationships with current and potential funders for the program’s transmission and wholesale electricity markets work.
  • Assist with managing project budget and contracts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant proven skills and experience.
• 2+ years of professional work experience in MISO or RTO engagement issues.
• Existing relationships with parties active in MISO or RTO stakeholder engagement processes.
• Experience working on a diverse team.
• Experience working with different communication styles.
• Self-motivated.
• Excellent time, deadline, project, and people management skills with ability to multi-task.
• Problem solving skills: ability to identify solutions to challenges that arise.
• Frequent (i.e., monthly on average) travel to MISO meetings and related stakeholder meetings is required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
• Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute.

Equipment Used

• This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.

Physical Requirement

• This position requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.

How to Apply

• Required application materials include a resume and one-page cover letter.
• Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Company Description

The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.