- Assistant Director -EPD (2300096B)
Assistant Director -EPD - ( 2300096B )
Description
Join the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities ("DPU") for an opportunity to make a difference in the regulatory landscape in Massachusetts! The DPU is at the forefront of the Commonwealth’s efforts to create a more sustainable energy future while balancing the provision of safe, reliable, and least-cost service. The DPU is responsible for oversight of investor-owned electric, natural gas, and water utilities in the Commonwealth; developing alternatives to traditional regulation; monitoring service quality; regulating safety in the transportation and gas pipeline areas; and for certain aspects, associated with the siting of energy facilities. The DPU's mission is to ensure that utility consumers are provided with the most reliable service at the lowest possible cost; to protect the public safety from transportation and gas pipeline related accidents; and to ensure that customers' rights are protected. The DPU seeks to promote safety, security, reliability of service, affordability, equity, and greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The DPU seeks candidates for the position of Assistant Director, Electric Power Division ("EPD"). In this role, you will utilize your technical and collaborative skills working with other industry experts to develop and formulate recommendations on energy issues. If you are seeking a rewarding employment opportunity that harnesses and grows your skills and talents, positively shapes energy and regulatory policy, and impacts the public good while collaborating with a team of dedicated professionals in a collegial work environment, the DPU could be your next exciting career. Apply now!
A cover letter and resume must be submitted as part of the application process and attached “as relevant” to the requisition.
General Statement Of Duties And Responsibilities
The primary work of the Assistant Director of the Electric Power Division (“EPD”) is to assist the Director in managing the Electric Power Division, both on a substantive level in managing investigative projects, and on a personnel level, in training and supervising staff.The Assistant Director is also responsible for the EPD during times when the Director is absent.
The electric industry in Massachusetts is a $4.5 billion dollar industry on which every business and household relies.The primary mission of the EPD is to ensure that the regulated electric utilities in Massachusetts provide their customers with the most reliable service at the lowest possible cost.
The EPD is responsible for overseeing a variety of policy-related issues associated with the electric industry.EPD's responsibilities fall into three general categories:(1) the provision of reliable, cost-effective electric supply to customers, including basic service, competitive supply, and ratemaking; (2) initiatives and activities aimed at achieving a more efficient, modernized, and environmentally sustainable electricity system including energy efficiency; distributed generation including renewables and storage, net metering, and interconnection; grid modernization; and electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and (3) ensuring the physical reliability and safety of the electric system, including service quality, storm and emergency response, and vegetation management.
The focus of this position of Assistant Director is on achieving a more efficient, modernized, and environmentally sustainable electricity system and the provision of electric supply. This focus is key to the Department’s mission because (1) Massachusetts’ economy and lifestyles are dependent on a reliable supply of electricity; (2) Massachusetts is a leader in transforming its electricity use to reflect changing economic and environmental realities ; (3) relative to other regions of the country, energy costs are high in Massachusetts; and (4) environmental degradation is costly in terms of health and unsustainable in the long run.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The Assistant Director formally reports to the Director who assigns work, reviews work quality, and conducts formal evaluation. Direction and guidance is provided to the Assistant Director by the Director as necessary in terms of refining substantive approaches, rescheduling work priorities, and managing personnel.
Detailed Statement Of Duties And Responsibilities
- Development and Implementation of Sustainable Electricity Policies (25 Percent)
Participate in the development and implementation of sound and robust sustainable electricity policies in the Commonwealth, including: energy efficiency; renewable energy and storage development, and the interconnection thereof; long-term contracting for renewable energy; grid modernization; the provision of basic service and competitive supply; decoupling; and enabling the achievement of legislated greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for the electric industry. Develop and evaluate conceptual policy models and frameworks, identify strengths and weaknesses, and propose adjustments. Research and compare empirical evidence and other data to objectives of conceptual models and frameworks, propose refinements. Continually consult and communicate with DPU and EEA staff, electric utility executives and staff, public interest groups, and other government officials to monitor and improve industry activity.
- Institute, maintain, and update EPD infrastructure and IT tools to better organize and coordinate the work activities and communications among EPD and DPU staff (e.g., case trackers, EPD SharePoint and Teams sites, guidebooks/manuals for various workstreams).
- Monitor Trends (10 Percent) Keep abreast of industry, regulatory, and technological advances. Such advances include smart grid pricing and deployment approaches, renewable energy development and long-term contracting, energy efficiency polices, decoupling policies, microgrids, virtual power plants, time-of-use ratemaking, and the development of retail electricity markets. Technological advances include advanced metering, distribution system smart grid technologies, renewable generation technologies, and electric vehicles.
- Supervise Staff (30 Percent) Manage time and caseload of EPD staff. Review quality of work; provide direction in terms of organizing work, approaches to solving substantive problems, and effective writing. Orient new staff and educate staff in terms of Department methods and practices. Help staff accommodate and stick to their hybrid working schedules and any subsequent adjustments.
- Case and Project Management (30 Percent) Manage cases and projects, from start to finish. Identify and organize the substantive issues, plan the procedural steps, assign cases and projects (or sections thereof) to staff and monitor progress. In some cases, execute the procedural steps and participate in discovery and the drafting of Orders and other Department correspondence. Coordinate with the legal and rates divisions, the Division of Regional and Federal Affairs, and other staffs; and resolve substantive and logistical problems. Collaborate with Division Directors and Commissioners to address unique aspects of a proceeding. Oversee writing efforts to ensure production of a comprehensive, timely, coherent written product that will realize the intended goals.
- Assign case or project work and delegate various responsibilities to staff as needed and on an equitable basis to ensure case teams are sufficient and diverse. Adjust workloads as necessary to accommodate shifting priorities. Convene regular 1:1 meetings with reports to monitor, assess, and address their progress, workload, and issues. Review staff work performance. Collaborate with Director to ensure high level of productivity and boost team morale.
- Assist with the posting and filling of open positions, including screening and interviewing applicants. Encourage and recognize staff diversity.
- Other duties, as assigned (5 Percent) This includes providing support for external EPD functions, such as assisting the Director of Government Relations or Communications in compiling updates on EPD-related matters for legislative purposes and reviewing proposed legislation.
Preferred Qualifications
The Assistant Director should have broad knowledge of regulatory practices; industry practices; and policies, laws, and regulations of state and federal energy regulatory agencies. The Assistant Director should have knowledge of economics, rate-setting methods, and financial and policy analysis. The Assistant Director should have an understanding of electrical wholesale and retail markets, energy efficiency, renewable energy and storage, grid modernization, net metering, interconnection of distributed generation, revenue decoupling, as well as a general understanding of the electrical system components and dynamics. The Assistant Director must have strong analytical skills, i.e., the ability to penetrate complex issues, use sound judgement, think critically in terms of completing claims, and draw and make appropriate conclusions and recommendations. Technical strength is assumed.
The Assistant Director must have the ability to manage the work of others in a technical organization and should be accustomed to working effectively with all levels of the organization. The Assistant Director must have strong oral and written communication skills, and must be able to interact effectively with a wide variety of audiences inside and outside the organization.
The Assistant Director must be able to assign work to others, adjust work assignments as necessary, and plan for future work. The Assistant Director must be able to develop individuals’ skills so that the Electric Power Division can operate effectively.
REMARKS
The ability to supervise and manage the work of others, particularly direct reporting staff, including planning, assigning, and adjusting their work activities according to the nature of the work to be accomplished, their capabilities and workload, shifting priorities, and other available resources; providing feedback of their work through periodic reviews and/or evaluations; determining their training needs and providing or arranging for such training; responding constructively to their concerns; motivating them to work effectively and productively; and determining the need for disciplinary action and either recommending or initiating disciplinary action.
EPD staff are currently on a hybrid schedule, working partly from home. Schedule will be finalized upon hire
Qualifications
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have at least (A) five (5) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least one (1) year must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
Substitutions
I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Official Title : Program Manager VI
Primary Location : United States-Massachusetts-Boston-1 South Station
Job : Environmental and Energy
Agency : Department of Public Utilities
Schedule : Full-time
Shift : Day
Job Posting : Sep 1, 2023, 2:25:54 PM
Number of Openings : 1
Salary : 41,017.08 - 125,501.44 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Melixza Esenyie - 6176261282
Bargaining Unit : M99-Managers (EXE)
Confidential : No
Hybrid Work Eligible : Yes
Refer a candidate for this job
Tell us about a friend who might be interested in this job. All privacy rights will be protected.
Refer a candidate
Guides
Apply for a Job
Apply for a Job for JAWS Users
Create a Profile
Create a Profile for JAWS Users
System Requirements
