Opportunity

Salary: $86,500-$121,000

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is hiring a Policy Advisor or Senior Policy Advisor to join our Clean Energy Team in Colorado. The Clean Energy Policy Advisor or Senior Policy Advisor will be responsible for developing and advancing equitable regulatory, legislative, and local policy solutions that move the region toward a clean energy economy and address climate change in Colorado. This position involves analyzing technical documents to write and present testimony in state commission planning and rulemaking proceedings, and working closely with other members of WRA’s Clean Energy, Communications and Government Affairs staff to shape state energy policy and increase the state’s participation in global climate change solutions. With a focus on Colorado, this position offers opportunities to work across the region with a variety of conservation professionals. Candidates should be highly motivated, creative, and strategic thinkers who possess analytical chops, strong writing skills, and sound judgment.

Responsibilities:

Policy Advisor:

• Assist in developing and advocating for equitable policies in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums that reduce the environmental impact of electricity and natural gas use, spur a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, and address climate change in the Interior West.
• Prepare expert witness testimony, comments and discovery in regulatory proceedings, including planning, permitting, rulemaking and rate cases and other formal or informal processes.
• Assist in negotiating and drafting complex settlement agreements and developing WRA positions for those agreements.
• Monitor relevant local, state, and federal policy developments.
• Along with WRA’s other state staff, work with the region’s electric and natural gas utilities, the business community, consumer advocates, the environmental community, and other stakeholders to advance clean energy and climate solutions.
• Coordinate with WRA’s policy, Government Affairs, and Communications staff to craft outreach strategies and messaging that accurately and persuasively convey WRA’s positions to stakeholders and decision makers.
• Keep abreast of emerging energy and climate topics to inform policy development, with an eye for equitable and inclusive policies and mechanisms.
• In coordination with other program staff, read and analyze the potential impact of proposed legislation, local ordinances or programs, and administrative or regulatory policies.
• Occasionally travel to meetings and events, generally within the Interior West.

Senior Policy Advisor:

• Lead efforts to develop and advocate for equitable policies, mechanisms, and organizational positions that reduce the environmental impact of electricity and natural gas use, spur a rapid transition to a clean energy economy, and address climate change in the Interior West.
• Lead efforts to develop and implement effective WRA advocacy strategies in regulatory, legislative, and other policy forums, including local governments.
• Lead negotiations and drafting of complex settlement agreements and developing WRA positions for those agreements.
  Independently prepare expert witness testimony, comments, and discovery in regulatory proceedings, including rate cases and other formal or informal processes.
• Synthesize relevant local, state, and federal policy developments into WRA’s advocacy strategies.
• Develop strategies to guide the region’s electric and natural gas utilities, the business community, consumer advocates, the environmental community, and other stakeholders to advance clean energy and climate solutions.
• Coordinate with WRA’s policy, government affairs, and communications staff to craft outreach strategies and messaging that accurately and persuasively conveys WRA’s positions to stakeholders and decision makers.
• Keep abreast of emerging energy and climate topics to lead policy development, with an eye for equitable and inclusive policies and mechanisms.
• In coordination with other program staff, read and analyze the potential impact of proposed legislation, local ordinances or programs, and administrative or regulatory policies.
• Occasionally travel to meetings and events, generally within their state.
• Assist other teams within WRA’s Clean Energy Program on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications:

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Experience or familiarity with public utility regulation, the energy industry, clean energy technologies, decarbonization strategies, climate policy, or related work.
• Background in economics, public policy, engineering, or related disciplines. Knowledge of or willingness to understand complex regulatory processes and policy pathways.
• Ability to write and communicate clearly, and explain complex concepts to a variety of audiences, including non-experts.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with attention to detail and follow‐through.
• Dedication to advocate for equitable and clean energy solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• Bachelor's degree, or comparable experience, in economics, engineering, environmental policy, or other relevant field.
• A Policy Advisor will typically have at least 2 years of relevant experience in the workforce.

Senior Policy Advisor:

• Graduate degree or comparable experience in economics, engineering, environmental policy, or other relevant field.
• A Senior Policy Advisor will typically have at least 5-8 years of experience in the workforce.

In addition to the above qualifications, a Senior Policy Advisor candidate should demonstrate at least two of the following:

• Existing relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers in Colorado.
• Knowledge of the politics and policy landscape in Colorado.
• Experience testifying as an expert witness before state public utility commissions, or presenting before official bodies or in a public forum.
• Skill with independently managing multiple projects with varying timelines.