Senior Resource Planner (Legislative and Regulatory)

Do you want to shape policies that impact the future of a forward-thinking, publicly owned utility? 

Join City of Palo Alto and embark on a rewarding career!

Career Opportunity

City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is privileged to provide more than 25,000 customers with five municipal utility services: electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater, and fiber optics in our 26-aquare mile service territory.  We manage CPAU’s 100% carbon neutral electric and gas portfolios and are engaged in leading-edge water supply planning. Our team also plays a critical role in achieving the City’s ambitious community-wide electrification programs covering homes, commercial buildings, and vehicles.

We're in search of a Senior Resource Planner who wants to be an integral part of a team within a locally-owned utility that's dedicated to delivering cost-effective, dependable, and safe utility services. This position offers abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth, enabling you to make meaningful contributions while collaborating with passionate energy professionals.

In this position, your role will be to:

• Manage the Utilities Department's legislative and regulatory (L&R) program.
• Support the development and approval of programs and policies to meet new regulations.
• Advocate for the Utilities Department in transmission and energy market design proceedings, regulations, and laws.
• Engage with legislators, regulators, and stakeholders at the state and federal level to influence energy market design and policies.
• Serve as the voice of our customers in one of the greenest utilities in the country.
• Champion the most cost-effective policies as we transition to a carbon-free utility and economy.
• Work to preserve local control over policies, ensuring that Palo Alto's utilities are tailored to meet the unique needs of our customers.

• Expertise in Legislative Affairs: Proven experience in legislative analysis, advocacy, or a related field within the energy or water sector.
• Energy Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with energy contracts, generation resources and energy transmission in the context of the Western energy grid. 
• Water Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with water rights, environmental and regulatory challenges facing water supply in California and California water law. 
• Policy Acumen: Strong understanding of energy, water, and utility-related policies, regulations, and industry trends.
• Communication and Persuasion: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in conducting policy research, analyzing data, and synthesizing information to formulate strategic recommendations.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with governmental bodies, community stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Adaptability and Initiative: Proactive and adaptable in a dynamic regulatory environment. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, taking initiative to drive projects forward.

The City offers a fantastic benefits package that includes affordable healthcare plans, generous retirement packages, paid parental leave, convenient commuter programs and more!

Compensation (UMPAPA): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here.

Schedule: Hybrid, 9/80 work schedule (with every other Friday off) and up to 2 remote days per week.

• Facilitates strategic planning processes through data acquisition, analysis, decision process facilitation, report preparation, and critical activity analysis and tracking.
• Performs research and interprets utilities data related to assigned area of responsibility.
• Coordinates/leads development and implementation of short and long-term water, gas, electric portfolio management plans.
• Develops and evaluates recommendations for management and Council policy adoption.
• Devises methods and procedures to obtain, maintain, and update large sets of market-related data; provides leadership, participates in, and/or oversees the evaluation of data.
• Manages and oversees specialized studies in assigned area of responsibility.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field and seven years of progressively responsible related experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. 
• Master's degree preferred.

Licensing Requirements: 

• Valid California Driver's License

The Selection Process:

• Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.  
• The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.  

Salary : $171,891 - $229,174