Policy Principal - Enabling Building Electrification & Affordability

Position Description

Advanced Energy United is currently seeking a well-rounded early-career candidate with interest and/or experience in policy and political advocacy for a position focused on gas transition, building electrification, and electric affordability issues. This Principal will work collaboratively to support existing state and regional teams to accelerate electrification of the building stock in legislative, administrative, regulatory, and political venues in states across the country. In the near term, this work will focus on long-term gas infrastructure planning and non-pipeline alternatives, clean heat and electrification programs, electric rate design, and electric ratemaking. 

Reporting to our Managing Director of Programs and Strategy, this Principal will join a team of subject matter experts to provide insight, strategy, and experience to our on-the-ground policy teams that are engaged on state legislation, in public utility commission dockets, and with governors. The transition to clean buildings will require use of all of the tools in the toolbox, including reforming utility business models, closing the “spark gap,” and reimagining utility resource and infrastructure planning. The work includes educating decisionmakers on financial and economic risks of the status quo, storytelling around the vision of clean, affordable, and resilient homes for all, coalition building, and developing advocacy strategies on some of the most complex issues in utility regulation of our day.

The ideal candidate will have 3-6 years of relevant experience in state energy legislation or regulation and some exposure to, or experience with, utility planning and ratemaking issues. They will have a good understanding of the utility business model and public utility commission proceedings. They should be a creative, flexible, and opportunistic self-starter with strong organization and prioritization skills, be able to support day-to-day execution of strategic plans, and have an appetite to get into the weeds while still seeing the bigger picture. Excellent writing and communications skills are a must. Candidates must be able to travel to meet with members, stakeholders, and decisionmakers.

Responsibilities 

• Work with United’s state, regional, and federal teams to execute on short- and long-term policy goals in key states across legislative, regulatory, and administrative venues; 

• Draft materials needed for education and advocacy efforts, including regulatory comments, legislative testimony, presentations, fact sheets, and other written and visual materials, and deliver verbal presentations as requested. 

• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with Advanced Energy United staff, member companies, allies, as well as key legislative, regulatory, and administrative staff. 

• Work with Advanced Energy United's communications team to identify opportunities to seek earned media coverage, including op-eds, editorial board meetings, etc., in key media outlets.

• Coordinate efforts with coalition allies in support of aligned goals; represent United and its members on coalition calls.

• Help support and organize education sessions, coalition meetings, decisionmaker meetings and stakeholder outreach.

• Travel on an as needed basis (up to 25%) to targeted states for staff trainings, advocacy days, meetings with key allies and stakeholders, communications outreach, and industry events. This includes representing United on panels, in meetings, and with media.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience;

• 4 to 6 years of professional experience, with at least two focused in clean energy and utility policy;

• A baseline understanding of utility regulation and state energy decision-making environments;

• An ability to think strategically and politically, even in technical venues; 

• Experience participating in coalitions and engaging with state legislative or regulatory processes; 

• Entrepreneurial approach, flexible attitude, and ability to operate in a remote environment;

• Ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment; 

• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal, including an ability to digest highly technical information and translate it for audiences of different backgrounds;

• Intellectual curiosity, inquisitive nature, and excellent listening and problem-solving skills;

• Performance-oriented individual with a strong work ethic, demonstrated initiative and commitment to achieving goals;

• Strong interpersonal skills required.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is regularly required to use hands and talk or hear. The employee is required to sit for long periods of time; reach with hands and arms; may need to balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, walk up and down stairs.

Job type: Full-time; regular; residence in the U.S. required 

Location: Remote

Salary: starting at $75,000

Start Date: November 2027

Advanced Energy United Perks include:  

•    Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families 

•    Medical premiums covered for employees at 100%  

•    Flexible spending plans for health care and dependent care   

•    Profit Sharing opportunities, and annual merit-based compensation increases  

•    $75/month personal wellness reimbursement  

•    $50/month phone stipend   

•    Up to $200 reimbursement for home office set-up  

•    Accrued Paid Time Off, 11 Federal Holidays, and an annual end-of-year closure  

•    Parental Leave  

•    Professional development reimbursement  

•    401(k) plan (with matching incentives)  

•    WMATA Transit Smart Benefits (DMV employees) 

Advanced Energy United is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. If reasonable accommodations are needed to participate in the job application, interview process, and/ or to perform essential job functions please contact the Talent Acquisition team at careers@advancedenergyunited.org. We are committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice across our organization (“DEIJ”). We also incorporate these values into our mission of making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. We know that varied perspectives and a commitment to social justice are needed to succeed in making the United States an advanced energy economy. We commit to building and supporting an inclusive workforce that represents different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints.