Manager, Policy Development - Demand Response and Distributed Energy (Hybrid)

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

The California ISO is committed to the health, safety, and work/life integration of its employees, and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position is available in a hybrid schedule.

Relocation assistance is available.

Under the general direction of the Director, manages the day-to-day operations and staff responsible for  market policy development in the area of demand response and distributed energy resources. Builds and maintains relationships with stakeholders to ensure concerns are addressed through the stakeholder process. Provides technical, analytical and policy leadership to assigned policy development team. Ensures high quality policy papers are developed that address market design issues. Collaborates with Market Strategy and Governance team to develop board content.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Manages the day-to-day oversight for Market Policy Development operations and staff.  Responsible for providing broad direction and guidance, identifies training needs, coaches and gives feedback on employee performance, develops staff performance plans, makes recommendations with respect to the hiring, firing, advancement, promotion or any other change in the status of direct reports, and performs related activities as appropriate.
• Works in a team environment to develop market design proposals to evolve the CAISO’s day-ahead and real-time markets. Review and ensure high quality content of policy papers addressing market design issues.
• Performs frequent outreach to stakeholders to understand market design policy concerns and business needs.  Responsible for ensuring that stakeholder concerns are effectively addressed through the stakeholder process to provide a strong record for board and regulatory approvals.
• Provide technical, analytical and policy leadership to the policy development team, other sector managers, and other ISO business units as appropriate.
• Works with the Market Strategy and Governance team to develop board memorandums and presentations that clearly and concisely explain ISO market design policy proposals.

Level of Education and Discipline:

A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Economics, Engineering, Law, Public Policy, Computer Science or Business. Master’s Degree preferred.

Amount of Experience:

Equivalent years of education and training, plus ten (10) or more years related experience, including five (5) years at lead level or equivalent.

Type of Experience:

Experience required in a combination of the following: experience as an industry expert in demand response, distributed energy resources, and demand flexibility; utility/power industry or regulatory, preferably in a similar ISO; experience in market design and system analysis; regulatory, economic analyses, and data analyses experience; experience with real-time applications, software tools and PC based applications.  Knowledge of economics, market design, finance, and programming concepts desirable.  Extensive knowledge of advanced power system operations, electric dispatch and optimization techniques, California power transmission networks, or network modeling is desirable.  Demonstrated capability to lead large analytical or economic projects involving various groups of specialists and stakeholders. Demonstrated ability in complex problem solving in the electric utility industry and ability to identify solutions to complex engineering/economic problems. Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff. 

Additional Skills and Abilities:

Ability to think strategically and devise solutions to problems in keeping with multiple considerations. Excellent leadership and management abilities with experience coaching and developing others. Must demonstrate sound judgment and critical thinking when making decisions.  Must be able to work effectively in a team environment as team leader, facilitator and team member.  Strong analytical and quantitative skills required.  Excellent interpersonal, communication and writing skills required, including the ability to effectively communicate complex materials and concepts. Must be able to handle a dynamic and changing work environment, and work well independently. 

The pay range for the Manager, Policy Development is $158,500 - $264,250 annually.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.