Creating Our Energy Future Policy & Grants Strategic Advisor

Position Description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nations largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle’s electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

The Creating Our Energy Future Policy and Grants Strategic Advisor will be a key role to ensure City Light is leveraging Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and other Federal and State funding to accelerate a just energy transition for City Lights customers while also advising on and helping to set strategic direction for City Light in complying with key Washington State policies such as the Clean Energy Transformation Act, the Climate Commitment Act, the Clean Fuel Program and other State and Federal policies related to our energy future.

The expectation for this position is that it will require in-person work in Seattle for at least an average 2 days per week with flexibility for remote work the remainder of the time.

City Lights Electrification and Strategic Technology Division is responsible for creating the utilitys energy future and oversees the utilitys efforts related to transportation and building electrification, grid modernization and strategic technology.
This position is integral to determining the grant strategy and process across City Light and will be the lead in working across City Light staff to ensure robust prioritization and vetting processes are put into place and followed as City Light pursues and applies for grants. This position will work closely with the Create Our Energy Future Contracts Coordinator during contract negotiations for successfully awarded grants and will work with staff across City Light and the City to ensure grant tracking and reporting processes are adequately followed for the lifetime of all received grants.

This position will also serve a key and leading role in setting City Light strategic direction in response to emerging State and Federal policies impacting our energy future. This will require poise and close work with Seattle City Council, Staff throughout the City, within State and Federal Government, and other key stakeholders.

This position will report to the Manager of Create Our Energy Future Business Operations.

Job Responsibilities

Here is more about what youll be doing:

• Shape policy by developing recommendations for strategic policy initiatives and efforts at the City, State, and Federal levels
• Actively provides leadership, focus and direction to cross-functional, departmental or jurisdictional teams as an authoritative representative of elected official(s) and/or department heads of major City department(s) to achieve important City objectives related to the City’s priority programs and services
• Leads and coordinates and sets direction for City Lights grant strategy, pursuing funding opportunities emerging form the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act and other State and Federal funding sources
• Coordinate with Governmental & Legislative Affairs, and other policy staff within City Light to facilitate efforts with Mayors Office, Council, and state legislature
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Coordinate partnering efforts and represent the Utilitys interests as an industry leader
• Represent City Light with government agencies and regional and national/international organizations
• Reviews industry research to identify public policy trends and innovations related to electrification and utility technology, and makes recommendations for which concepts can be leveraged to deliver value for City Lights customer owners
• Present analytical results and make strategic recommendations to executive management and key stakeholders
• Lead or represent City Light on Utility cross functional, Citywide, and Regional teams responsible to research and plan technology driven programs
• Assist with shaping and performing research and discovery efforts in support of projects, programs, and initiatives undertaken or proposed for the group
• Lead or assist in drafting key documents such as legislative materials, white papers, and research summaries related to electrification and technology efforts
• Coordination and management of inflight grant related activities for the utility including contracting and process development
• Lead or spear-head grant compliance, reporting and coordination across Divisions
• Document and develop clear pathways and charters for establishing levels of administrative investment to applying for grants
• Identify internal standards for grant efforts and perform cost/benefit analysis on leveraging funds, and vetting opportunities against current strategic plan priorities
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in engineering, economics, business administration, public administration, political science or a related field (or a combination of education and/or experience with transportation electrification, distributed energy resource and/or decarbonization technology programs that provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Experience: Requires 5 or more years’ of progressively responsible experience providing strategic and operational support in policy, innovation, transportation electrification, carbon reduction, distributed energy resource and/or decarbonization technologies or related field.

Desired Qualifications – You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Experience implementing policies and/or programs to key stakeholders. Actively promote, support and manage key strategic Citywide initiatives including those related to fair and equal employment, diversity and justice in the workplace.
• Experience coordinating major strategic and successful Federal and State grant portfolios from application through reporting and close out
• Experience shaping organizational policy strategy to emergent policy initiatives and objectives and managing relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders
• Experience leading strategic research initiatives or instituting innovation strategies for utilities or large institutions organizationally similar to utilities.
• Provide grant-related technical guidance to internal and external stakeholders incorporating expertise in federal contracting requirements.
• Strong business process background to develop and document industry best practices from pre-award grant application development through post-award responsibilities.
• Complex budget development, quality control and post-award compliance audit experience
• Experience working with vendors/consultants with full-cycle grant application development and compliance (post award).
• Project management experience.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information

The full salary range for this position is $52.50 to $78.78 per hour.

Application Process
Please submit the following with your online application:

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

*Failure to provide the above mentioned attachments may result in the removal of consideration.*

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattles Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3 (Download PDF reader). A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.