Senior Director, Resilience Programs

Job Type

Full-time

Description

The American Public Power Association (APPA) is looking for a Senior Director, Resilience Programs that oversees APPA’s Risk Management, Emergency Management, Safety and Mutual Aid programs to improve the resilience of public power utilities and their ability to recover in the face of increasing risks to energy infrastructure. This position requires proven experience in leading and facilitating teams in a fast paced, high profile, membership-based environment operating at a senior level with the energy sector and U.S. Government. The Senior Director oversees and performs work on technical, regulatory, and policy issues to support the goals of the Association and its members. As a senior member of the security and resilience team, assists the Senior Vice President, Grid Security, Technical and Operations Services, to set and inform the strategic direction of resilience program and work streams. The Senior Director coordinates and collaborates with APPA’s members through numerous forums, e.g., Safety Committee, Mutual Aid Committee, Risk Management Committee, workshops, events, national and regional industry bodies, and individually. The Senior Director will successfully plan and execute initiatives by collaborating with members, industry stakeholders, and the U.S. Government.

Please note: This is not a remote position. Candidates must be in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. APPA offers a flexible work schedule for full-time employees, and the option for telework is available after 3 months of employment (with supervisor approval).

Duties And Responsibilities

• Analyzes proposed regulations and prepares regulatory filings to federal agencies as appropriate in consultation and coordination with APPA members and staff.
• Cultivates relationships with regulatory agencies impacting the utility industry, including the Department of Energy; the Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency); the Department of Labor (Occupational Safety and Health Administration); the Department of Commerce (National Institute of Standards and Technology); the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center) as appropriate.
• Identifies and develops new sources of non-dues revenue.
• Supervises the work and activities of the Resilience team, including setting project goals/outcomes, structuring work efforts to achieve optimal programmatic outcomes, providing training, and performing evaluations.
• Works with the VP of Physical and Cyber Security as needed to coordinate efforts including exercises for the Department of Energy’s Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program (RMUC).
• Manages and oversees work on technical assistance programs, cooperative agreements, grants, research and development projects, and case studies as needed.
• Responsible for Resilience Programs growth in terms of member participation, total engagement, and revenue.
• Demonstrates value to members by facilitating the development of sector-led solutions, tools, and workstreams.
• Develops project management plans (PMP), creates requests for information/proposals, and manages contractors to complete tasks identified in PMPs as needed.
• Responsible for creation and execution of recognition programs related to safety, risk management and emergency management.
• Facilitates and coordinates APPA’s efforts related to Mutual Aid during national or man -made events.
• Represents APPA to various external stakeholder audiences on industry boards and committees, presentations, and speaking engagements.
• Provides expertise and leadership to APPA and members on safety, risk management and emergency management.
• Plans and coordinates APPA educational efforts as needed on relevant subjects in cooperation with APPA member services department.
• Through strong facilitation across APPA members and staff, oversees the creation of the strategic vision for the Risk Management, Emergency Management, Safety and Mutual Aid workstreams, including development of planning, initiatives, and exercises.
• Serves as internal POC for development of safety, risk management and emergency management workshops/sessions in support of APPA conferences, webinars, and other events.

Requirements

• Ability to facilitate collaboration, drive consensus, and deliver value to membership.
• Experience developing and implementing exercises as part of risk management and preparedness activities.
• Ability to acquire and maintain Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) designation.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity threats to energy sector and extensive experience identifying solutions to risks posed by domestic violent extremists and advanced persistent threat cyber actors.
• Knowledge of NERC, FERC, state public utility/service commission regulation and industry business practices and procedures.
• Extensive experience operating at a senior level within an energy trade association.
• Ability to present ideas clearly, concisely, and accurately, both orally and in writing.
• Degree from 4-year college or university, engineering major preferred. Master’s degree or higher preferred.
• Ability to build and maintain trusted relationships at all levels of the organization, with members, and external stakeholders.
• Expertise in bulk power transmission and electrical system reliability issues.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, planning, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel from 15-30%, as needed, to APPA members, conferences, and other industry partners.
• 10+ years of energy sector experience in managing operational risk, resilience, or relevant government organization, including DOE and DHS.
• Ability to represent the association in front of a variety of audiences, ranging from federal agencies to APPA members.
• Ability to obtain and hold top secret/Q/SCI level security clearance.
• Expertise in risk management, emergency management, cyber and physical security policy and technical issues or equivalent knowledge/credentials.
• Experience leading energy industry programmatic efforts to address safety issues related to pandemics and infectious diseases.