Job Description

The Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) is excited to announce an opportunity for a Senior Policy Manager to join our team in support of a Solar for All (SFA) grant. CCSA is a named participant in the Community Power Coalition (CPC) MultiState award supporting community solar deployment across the country. The CPC SFA program, “Powering America Together,” will integrate with, support, and expand the impact of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Community Solar Partnership and Community Power Accelerator program with a goal of delivering meaningful benefits for Americans in low-income and disadvantaged communities through community solar projects.

The Senior Policy Manager will work on behalf of CCSA and the Community Power Coalition in a 4-year, term-limited position, monitoring and engaging in state-level regulatory proceedings related to core policy issues affecting community solar, including distributed energy resource (DER) interconnection and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits. In this role, you will also assist CCSA’s Policy and Existing Market’s Teams by tracking relevant regulatory proceedings, participating in workgroups, managing stakeholder coalitions, and developing educational materials for policymakers. The position will also work on research and analysis, strategic projects, and other duties as time allows. The anticipated start date for this position is immediate.

CCSA is a fast-paced, mission-driven, collegial, and fun work environment. The ideal candidate will share CCSA’s mission to expand access to solar for all and fit the fast paced and self-starting culture. Our team members are passionate about expanding access to renewable energy solutions to every American energy consumer and are constantly striving to improve and better ourselves. We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the workplace and in the communities with which we partner. If you will enjoy working in a growing organization with a collegial work environment, and in a fast-paced and self-starting culture, you are probably a great fit for our team! 

What You Will Be Doing: 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical Assistance & Capacity Building for Community Power Coalition Members

• Provide guidance to CPC members seeking to access LIHEAP benefits to support their community solar projects, including basics of the LIHEAP program and implementation considerations when using LIHEAP Funding with community solar.
• Support technical assistance efforts including developing educational materials on the basics of utility interconnection and best practices for use by state commissions and other state agencies and stakeholders. 
• Create culturally inclusive consumer education materials describing both the benefits of community solar and important consumer protection issues.
• Monitor state regulatory dockets to help CPC members engage with relevant proceedings related to LIHEAP and distribution system interconnection. Identify opportunities for CPC members to provide input. 
• Provide best practices and subject matter expertise to support CPC members’ meaningful engagement in dockets nationwide.
• Perform state-specific reviews of interconnection practices and potential challenges to inform CPC members and program administrators as new markets open to community solar.
• Identify and communicate opportunities to engage both CCSA members and CPC members.

Policy and Regulatory Affairs

• Work with the Senior Director of Interconnection & Grid Integration Policy to support regulatory activities and ensure regulatory efforts align with CCSA campaign plans and meet organizational goals.
• Execute research and analysis, strategic projects, and other duties as time allows. 

QUALIFICATIONS

What You Bring to CCSA:

• Successful candidates will have experience working with state and/or federal agencies, in regulatory affairs, analyzing agency-issued positions, communications and regulatory processes, and developing policy positions.
• Must be goal-motivated, adaptable, a strategic thinker, self-starter, and detail-oriented. 
• Excellent ability to speak publicly and write clearly, accurately, and persuasively.
• Ability to identify, build rapport, and keep contact with key energy policy stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines and manage projects independently.
• Ability to multitask on projects across several jurisdictions simultaneously.
• Resourcefulness in solving problems with limited resources.
• Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail.

Requirements

• Minimum 2+ years of work experience in energy regulatory policy and advocacy; or 1+ years and a graduate degree with a focus on electricity policy.
• Comfort with state-level utility regulation, preferably with a focus on solar or renewable energy.
• Some travel will be required as necessary for participation in relevant regulatory dockets (expect travel for one staff retreat annually, 3-5 conferences annually, and regulatory travel as needed).
• Candidates must be currently eligible to work in the United States.

Bonus Experience  

• Experience at the intersection of technology, utilities, and the grid with a focus on state policy and public utility regulation.
• Direct experience with distribution system generation interconnection processes.
• Direct experience with the LIHEAP program.

Reports To

Senior Director, Interconnection & Grid Integration Policy

The perks of working at CCSA:

• Base salary range is $90,000-$120,000 with the opportunity to participate in an additional performance incentive plan. Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, and skills of application and alignment with market data.
• This position also offers the opportunity for promotion and growth within CCSA.
• Comprehensive benefits include health insurance (90% premiums paid for employees and 75% premiums paid for dependents); 100% paid vision and dental insurance for employees and dependents
• 3% retirement plan contribution
• Company-sponsored short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance
• Paid parental leave (eligible after 6 months of employment)
• 3 weeks paid vacation (at start) and 11 paid holidays
• Professional coaching opportunities
• A fun and collegial environment
• Weekly all-hands company meeting and annual staff retreat keep you engaged and connected to the organization and your team members

Location

• Remote - CCSA is a remote-first organization; Flexible worksite - e.g., home or shared workspace
• Preference may be given to candidates that are in close range to a major airport 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send a resume and writing sample to CCSA Senior Director of Interconnection & Grid Integration Policy, Samantha Weaver (careers@communitysolaraccess.org) with the email header “CCSA Policy Manager, Community Power Coalition – YOUR NAME”.

Studies have shown that some groups of people, like women, are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet 100% of the job requirements. Whoever you are, if you like one of our jobs, we encourage you to apply as you might just be the candidate we hire.

The Coalition for Community Solar Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to ensuring that all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Mission and Core Principles

The Coalition for Community Solar Access is a national Coalition of businesses and nonprofits working to expand customer choice and access to solar for all American households and businesses through community solar. Our mission is to empower every American energy consumer with the option to choose local, clean, and affordable community solar. We work with customers, utilities, local stakeholders, and policymakers to develop and implement policies and best practices that ensure community solar programs provide a win, win, win for all, starting with the customer.

CCSA’s Core Principles are a concise set of overarching principles that guide organizational vision, mission, core policies, and culture. CCSA’s elected Board is responsible for developing and maintaining the Core Principles, with at minimum, an annual audit. Process and decision making of Core Principles is done based on Board governance rules set out in the Bylaws of the organization.

• Opportunity : Open, expand, and protect competitive, sustainable community solar markets through comprehensive engagement in all aspects of community solar market design, enablement and innovation.
• Access : Allow all consumers the choice to participate in and receive a tangible economic benefit from new community solar assets, and ensure those economic benefits are communicated and realized in a clear, timely and transparent manner.
• Integrity : Guarantee community solar market rules create a safe, reliable marketplace for consumers to make informed choices for products that work for their needs.
• Value : Ensure project compensation is reflective of the full value of the locally-sited energy produced by community solar projects.
• Efficiency : Champion transparent, non-discriminatory, and evidence-based rules on siting and interconnection for expedient and fair community solar project development.

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