Regulatory Director, West

ABOUT VOTE SOLAR

Vote Solar's mission is to realize a 100% clean energy future through a solutions-driven, people first approach. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advances just and equitable clean energy policy in state legislatures and public commissions across the United States. Our expertise comes from a deep understanding of the legislative process, regulatory interventions, and the ability to identify and accelerate solar solutions. We are adept at bridging communities and bringing diverse stakeholders together to forge inclusive coalitions and winning campaigns. 

Our goal is to effect real, tangible change. And we have the track-record to prove we can do it: Twenty years in, our work has made it so that one in three people live in a state with a 100% clean energy commitment. We’ll not only expand that number, but ensure that more people can participate in holding utilities and decision makers accountable for greater equity and justice in our energy system.

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE

Vote Solar is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the workplace and in the communities with which we partner. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including multilingual and multicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

 

THE ROLE

Vote Solar seeks a candidate committed to help advance sustainable, equitable solutions to the challenges facing solar and distributed energy resources expansion as the region moves toward a 100% carbon-free electricity system. The Regulatory Director - West position will be primarily focused on California and require both strategic thought leadership in advocating for technical solutions before state regulatory bodies, and collaborative coalition building and management in getting those solutions implemented. Reporting to the Deputy Program Director for the West, this person will work closely with the Vote Solar’s West Regional Team, including communications and grassroots organizing experts to advance concrete goals in regulatory and legislative venues. The ideal candidate is a results-oriented person who excels at building relationships and managing complicated projects.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Regulatory Director, West’s primary responsibilities will include:

 

REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY (50%)

• Intervene in regulatory proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and other public agencies to develop solar-friendly policies.
• Prepare expert testimony and comments, prepare discovery for utility witnesses and other witnesses, and advocate for Vote Solar’s positions in regulatory dockets—all in pursuit of regulatory outcomes that provide fair compensation for solar and technologies that help grow solar markets.
• Pursue innovative regulatory policies that address historical racial, economic and structural inequities and remove barriers to solar adoption by residential and business customers. 
• Advise on state-level legislation that can open up new opportunities for solar and storage markets as well as other distributed energy resources in California. 

 

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (20%)

• Provide thought leadership in designing new regulatory paradigms that prioritize renewables, energy justice and maximizing participation in (and benefit from) distributed energy resources.

 

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT (20%)

• Build and collaborate with coalitions of stakeholders – including, for example, frontline communities, environmental justice advocates, consumer advocates, energy efficiency proponents, solar and energy storage developers, electric vehicle advocates, etc. – to develop and pursue win-win strategies.

 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE GROWTH AND LEARNING (10%)

• Continue personal learning and contributions to organizational work on diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Be committed to embedding equity in all organizational internal practices and culture.
• Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity.

 

REQUIREMENTS

WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. A relevant graduate degree is an advantage, but is not required.  
• Seven plus years of relevant work experience, including experience in regulatory oversight, research or advocacy.  
• Demonstrated ability to execute on key strategies to achieve our mission, including coalition building and policy writing that summarizes complex issues for the interested public.

 

OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OR WOULD BE EXCITED TO LEARN HERE

• Expertise in technical and regulatory needs for scaling up clean, distributed resources, including a focus on improving resiliency and serving disadvantaged and other vulnerable communities.
• Experience in regulatory innovations to allow behind-the-meter solar + storage and other distributed energy resources to receive fair value.
• Experience coordinating or testifying in utility rate cases.
• Ability to work with other Vote Solar team members on data visualization and policy communications to the public.
• Effective collaboration with diverse populations and allies.
• Knowledge of utility ratemaking, procurement and/or grid operations.

 

MINDSETS

• A personal commitment to being a part of an inclusive and just workplace, including a commitment to being on a journey with Vote Solar to develop personal, and inter-personal core competencies related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Passion for building strong new capacity at a growing organization.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Understanding how we work (in collaborative, authentic partnership), is as important as what we work on.

 

LOCATION

The Regulatory Director, West role is based in California, Oregon or Washington State with a preference for the Bay Area or Sacramento in California. This position will require some regional and national travel (several trips per year). Workplace arrangements are flexible, including options to work from a co-working space or work from home. 

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $133,500 - $140,000. At Vote Solar, we work hard to ensure that our compensation is equitable internally and aligned with our compensation philosophy and defined job levels. In order to ensure equitable compensation across roles in the organization, we do not negotiate new hire offers.

Vote Solar provides full-time staff with a competitive package, including 4 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 4 days of personal leave and 16 paid holidays. We also offer 100% employer-provided health, dental and vision care for both the employee and dependents; a retirement savings plan with an employer contribution of 3.5%; and a paid parental and medical leave policy for all regular employees. 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send a letter of interest and resume to Vote Solar. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that all qualified applicants may participate in the application process. Please inform Adrena Lambert at alambert@votesolar.org of accommodation requests at the time of application.

Application Process Note: Vote Solar is required to enroll in the E-Verify Program to verify employment eligibility of certain employees. Candidates who receive an offer may be required to complete this step depending on their state of residence.