Careers

About CESA

The California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) is a 501(c)(6) membership-based advocacy group committed to advancing the role of energy storage in the electric power sector. CESA has represented the industry since 2009 and played a central role in shaping the legislative and regulatory policies responsible for launching the modern energy storage industry. At 90+ members strong, CESA is the definitive voice of energy storage in California and the West. CESA operates on a technology and business model-neutral philosophy, representing the interests of both utility-scale and customer-sited systems and multiple storage technologies. Our membership includes energy manufacturers, developers, and operators in addition to several legal and technical firms with expertise in the electricity sector. For more information about CESA, please visit: https://storagealliance.org/about.

Job Description

The Policy Director oversees CESA’s regulatory activity and ensures that strategic priorities are achieved while aligning our work with CESA’s Core Principles: creating healthy and diverse storage markets, working collaboratively with members and other stakeholders, and building CESA’s credibility and reputation. The Policy Director is the primary face of CESA’s advocacy, working directly on specific issues as well as managing the work of technical consultants. The successful candidate will be based in the Western U.S. with a preference for California. The Policy Director reports to the Executive Director.

Scope of Responsibilities

In collaboration with CESA’s technical consultants, organize and staff CESA working groups, including developing presentations for working group meetings, providing updates, and soliciting member feedback for formal positions and comments.
Draft formal and informal comments, workshop presentations, testimony and other advocacy documents on behalf of CESA at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the California Energy Commission (CEC), California Governor’s Office and Legislature.
Directly advocate CESA positions in workshops and hearings.
Oversee special projects and technical consultants.
Track, review, and interpret comments and testimony submitted in regulatory proceedings and develop arguments with evidence that can either support or rebut the issues.
Actively shape and participate in policy presentations and discussions at board meetings, retreats, and all external communications.
Participate actively in external coalitions and informal stakeholder working groups to advance CESA’s positions.
Assist CESA’s lobbyists with the preparation of position letters and fact sheets for distribution to legislators and legislative staff and attend meetings with legislators and legislative staff as a subject matter expert.
Enhance key external relationships with policy, procurement, and program staff and leadership in entities such as the CPUC, the CAISO, the CEC, Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), other trade groups, and electric utilities. 
Represent CESA at conferences, as needed.
Support event planning, membership drives, and special project development.
Ensure high customer service to CESA members, providing advisory and support services where applicable and feasible.
Protect CESA’s credibility and long-term viability through adherence to key policy principles, integrity, and mission.

Qualifications

Subject matter expertise in one or more of the following issue areas: Resource Adequacy, Integrated Resources Planning, functioning of wholesale energy markets, distributed energy storage programs, transmission planning, and interconnection.
Experience engaging in one or more of the following processes: CPUC proceedings, CAISO stakeholder initiatives, CEC dockets, and Legislative processes.
Experience with project management and group facilitation on policy and strategy development, alignment, and execution.
Experience with energy storage companies, energy storage project development, or other related experience relating to developing and bringing energy storage solutions to the grid is preferred.
Experience overseeing the work of consultants, and ensuring timely completion of quality work product, within predefined budget constraints.
A strong network with energy industry professionals and staff at key agencies, other energy trade associations, load-serving entities, and energy storage companies, including at Director-level or higher. Having existing working relationships with key energy policy decisionmakers is preferred.
Experience in public speaking at events and conferences.
Strong customer service instincts and a highly professional and collaborative attitude.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, and direct experience writing comments and advocating orally in stakeholder workshops or hearings.
Experience working with the press and making public statements.
Strong analytical skills, with some training in economics, statistics, public policy, or related fields preferred.

Experience and Education

Minimum of 5 years of policy experience in the energy industry, preferably with some experience working in one of California’s energy agencies (CPUC, CAISO, CEC, or CARB) or representing an organization before these agencies.
A bachelor’s degree is required, but an advanced degree in public policy, economics, law, or a related field is preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CESA is a non-profit, 501(c)(6), advocacy organization and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.

Salary

The base salary starts at $140,000 with a target annual bonus of 20%. The base salary and bonus are negotiable commensurate with experience.

To Apply

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample (up to 7 pages) to careers@storagealliance.org by November 29, 2024.