NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C.

Position Summary

The Sustainable FERC Project (Project) in NRDC’s Climate & Energy Department is seeking a Senior Advocate to lead the Project’s advocacy at the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). This person will be responsible for advancing reforms in transmission planning, resource adequacy, and wholesale markets to expand clean energy deployment and maximize the reliability and affordability of energy in the MISO region.

This role requires experience with technical regulatory matters relating to transmission systems and/or energy markets, the ability to collaborate in a team setting with internal and external partners, interest in cultivating relationships with MISO staff, state regulators and other stakeholders, and willingness to travel to MISO’s offices in Indiana, Minnesota, and elsewhere.

To read more about our recent work, visit www.sustainableferc.org/blog.

The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).  

The primary responsibility of the Senior Advocate is to identify major wholesale markets, resource adequacy, interconnection, regional and interregional transmission barriers in MISO, and, working with coalition partners, develop solutions, and advocate for tariff changes at MISO necessary to implement the solutions. In doing so, the Senior Advocate will have the support, expertise, and collaboration of other Project and NRDC staff, the Project’s coalition partners, and expert consultants with specialized modeling capabilities or expertise.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential responsibilities.

• Conceive and advocate for the changes to MISO’s wholesale markets, resource adequacy, interconnection, regional and interregional transmission rules necessary to advance the Project’s and NRDC’s clean energy transition goals.
• Develop and implement MISO stakeholder-focused strategies necessary to advance goals and outcomes.
• Periodically reassess existing desired outcomes and identify new outcomes and strategies.
• Represent the Project coalition and NRDC at MISO and in other forums as needed. This advocacy includes participating in stakeholder meetings and conferences, including making verbal comments, drafting stakeholder and FERC comments, and other activities necessary to accomplish the Project’s advocacy goals.
• Coordinate a coalition of partners – including leading regular meetings/calls, tracking of MISO issues, and organizing periodic strategic planning. 
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, especially MISO staff, state government officials, consumer advocates, and industry partners.
• Coordinate with the Project’s staff and with other teams at NRDC to develop complementary solutions and to align goals, strategies, and messages. 
• Monitor relevant developments in other RTOs.
• Manage expert consultants as necessary to advance the Project’s advocacy objectives.
• Communicate the Project’s message to a wider audience, including media and state and federal policymakers, in a manner that translates complex and arcane grid rules into simple and understandable terms.
• Working with NRDC’s communications team, write blog posts and other editorial content; respond to media inquiries. 

• A graduate level degree (especially engineering or law), and a minimum of 7 years experience in a relevant field.
• Experience with electricity regulation, especially wholesale power markets and transmission planning.
• Proficiency in understanding and communicating complex concepts.
• Interest in cultivating relationships with partner organizations to advance the Project’s and NRDC’s goals.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to grasp and translate technical power grid issues into plain English.
• Oral advocacy skills and experience; and comfort speaking in varied settings, including with media.
• Ability to participate in teams that work collaboratively towards shared outcomes.
• A sense of mission and passion for public interest and environmental advocacy.
• Willingness to travel (estimated up to 20% of the time).
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $130,000 to $150,000.

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.