ENERGY REGULATION SPECIALIST

Position Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The International Programs department seeks to empower the global community of regulators to drive meaningful change in their energy sectors.  Working in partnership with U.S. and international government officials, our projects support real improvements in the quality and effectiveness of regulation in foreign countries through dialogue and collaboration. We utilize the talents and expertise of state commissioners and staff in our work, sharing the best of what the NARUC community has to offer.

The position will serve as in-house energy regulation expert on international projects to assist partner energy regulators in countries with transitioning and emerging economies throughout Africa, Asia, Central America, Eurasia, and other regions. The Energy Regulation Specialist will serve as a project technical lead to selected projects, which can include drafting and/or reviewing project deliverables, leading workshops/trainings, and conducing in-country field work. The Energy Regulation Specialist will also review and edit project deliverables prepared by outside project consultants.  The Energy Regulation Specialist will work closely with various levels of staff in the International Department to develop and implement results-oriented project annual workplans and specific consultancy scopes of work for partners and donor approval. In addition, the Energy Regulation Specialist will play a significant role with donor outreach and new project development.     

The position reports to the Principal Technical Advisor (PTA).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

Requires significant experience and regulatory knowledge of a broad range of technical energy issues, including but not limited to the integration of utility-scale renewable energy sources, distributed energy resources, mini-grids, demand response and energy efficiency implementation programs, cost of service and cost allocation methodologies, functional unbundling and accounting, , and the enforcement of network reliability standards.  Under NARUC’s programming for results design, the Energy Regulation Specialist must be able to identify necessary steppingstones and phases for various energy reform processes and be able to translate regulatory best practices from the U.S., EU/Third Energy Package, and other international experiences into the context of emerging economies. 

Program Management and Energy Regulation Support

• Prepares defined in-house energy regulation work for specific projects.
• Supports identification of milestones/progress with practical recommendations to program staff.

• Provides technical guidance to program staff on project design and scope of work.
• Contributes to in-house prepared and/or external consultant prepared project deliverables, including regulations, policies, procedures, technical analysis/review and laws.
• Drafts/reviews scopes of work and requests for proposals, consulting agreements and contracts to ensure appropriate sequencing of milestones so that foreign partners can achieve identified targets and results. 
• Serves as workshop trainer/facilitator and other key roles to reduce reliance on outside consultants.
• Supports oversight of technical output under contracts; conducts technical analysis.
• Oversees progress and quality of technical assistance projects by outside project consultants.
• Assists in developing work plans and concept papers.

Reporting and Coordination with Clients and Partners

• Briefs donors on partner capacity building needs, challenges, and results, when appropriate utilizing case studies, best practices, and program reporting.

• Communicates with foreign partners.
• Gathers real-time information with partners.
• Builds and sustains relationships with partners.

• Works directly with foreign regulators on real-life challenges, outlining a steppingstone approach for forward progress.
• Assists with identifying and pursuing new business opportunities and relationships. Undertakes scoping trips, attends critical events and/or liaises with donors to develop new projects, provide expert guidance and/or report on key results.

Training

• Provides support to program staff in the design of work plans, activity agendas, and other program documents and planning that lead to actionable steps and results by the recipient foreign energy regulator.
• Serves as a technical resource to program staff by promoting knowledge transfer and learning opportunities.
• Supports program staff in identifying project visions.

Compliance & Financial Management

• Coordinates on budget adherence.
• Ensures compliance with NARUC and USG policies, regulations, and operational and financial procedures. 
• Supports and/or prepares proper documentation to ensure timely submission of expenses.
• Maintains appropriate documentation to support program files, budget planning and expense reports, and financial audits.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs other duties as assigned.