Associate Manager / Manager, Energy Programs, VPPs
Salary : $130,000 - $165,000 / year (commensurate with experience)
Job Type : Full-Time with Benefits
Location : California residency is required. We are a remote-first work environment with a strong preference to hire staff within a 100-mile radius of San Mateo County. Employees are expected to attend in-person meetings (generally monthly / quarterly) at our Redwood City office. Other meetings may be required. This position will also require in-person meetings with customers.
We regret that we are unable to sponsor visas at this time and that no relocation assistance is available.
Position Summary
This new role works under the direction of a Senior Programs Manager and is responsible for supporting the implementation of PCE battery and distributed energy resource management programs in commercial and residential sectors with a goal of advancing customer affordability and electrification benefits, aligning renewable supply and demand, and driving Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) to scalable, self-sufficient business models. This is an exciting opportunity to support innovation, greenhouse gas reductions, energy resiliency, and cost savings for PCEs customers. Specific responsibilities include management of PCEs Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS), providing technical and strategic direction for deployment of residential and nonresidential dispatchable assets, supporting customers on deployment, and vetting opportunities to grow PCEs Virtual Power Plant (VPP).
Position Responsibilities
This position requires collaboration skills to work with internal / external stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a strong working knowledge of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including dispatch strategies and economics, DERMS and VPP strategies, and behind-the-meter resource deployment. Our top candidate is organized, has strong attention to detail, and able to support activities across multiple projects.
Duties :
- Manage distributed energy management system (DERMS) vendor contract including determining DERMS dispatch strategy, monitoring performance, advising on PCEs DERMS roadmap, providing support for asset integrations, and providing materials as appropriate for installers / integrators and customer support needs.
- Provide technical direction on BESS including hardware selection, dispatch protocols, and customer materials.
- Support integration of DERs into DERMS for dispatch optimization, including storage, thermostats, water heaters and others. Work with Energy Programs team members to understand asset performance requirements to avoid adverse customer experiences. Ensure customer satisfaction, monitor performance and recommend refinements to dispatch protocols and overall DERMS functionality.
- Recommend strategies to increase financial self-sufficiency of DER programs including exploring program structures and available supply-side and demand-side value streams. Work with DER Senior Program Manager and members of the Energy Programs, Regulatory, and Innovation & Strategy teams on program designs and policy to advance scalable, self-sufficient DER programs.
- Support Accounts Services team with engaging commercial property owners to encourage the installation and / or facilitate the trouble-shooting of existing solar, storage, and electrification measures. This includes understanding property owner concerns, following the progress of major projects, providing quantitative and technical analysis, and addressing problems and bottlenecks that may arise.
- Support the residential home upgrade team with technical guidance on DER integration, equipment selection, installer and customer information, design of pilots for new asset classes, and other needs as they arise.
- Recommend improvements to programs and processes, including changes to project management systems, contracts, incentives, program participation details, and technical guidelines.
- Analyze, track, assess and report on program-level financial and technical metrics, including individual and program-wide projected and actual costs, revenues, and installation cost scenarios to support project-specific decision making. Utilize, support, and occasionally develop internally-developed financial models. Refine and create models as appropriate.
- Maintain analytics on VPP program economics, including net margin impacts, grid services costs and benefits, and customer costs and benefits.
- Develop documentation, polished presentations, and other collateral for internal and external use.
- Assist in the design and implementation of customer recruitment and onboarding strategies.
- Develop and execute requests for proposals (RFPs), including by defining objectives and evaluation criteria, coordinating with communications team for publication, evaluating proposals, and recommending awards.
- Assist in preparing draft collateral and website copy and coordinate with marketing to finalize materials.
- Form relationships with contractors and local labor unions in the ecosystem.
- Occasionally support program outreach activities not otherwise covered by marketing or government relations, such as staff level engagement with public agencies on the local government solar and battery storage program. This also includes supporting public approval processes, such as participating in council meetings and other public forums.
- Present to various internal stakeholders including Energy Programs leaders and senior staff.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements
Education : Equivalent of a Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in engineering, environmental studies, economics / business, or another related technical / scientific field.
Experience : 7+ years of experience in the energy, solar, energy storage, utility, and / or project development sector(s), with a strong emphasis on behind-the-meter commercial & industrial and / or small front-of-meter utility scale projects.
Knowledge of :
Principles of electric generation, and in particular renewable energy technologiesStrong subject matter and working experience in multiple of the following areas : electric utilities, solar systems, energy storage, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, virtual power plants, microgrids, or other innovative energy technologiesImpacts of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in the local and global environmentAdvanced project managementAnalytics software; advanced use of MS ExcelMission, goals, and policies of Peninsula Clean EnergyAbility to :
Apply strong writing and quantitative analytic skillsExercise sound judgment, creative problem solving, and commercial awarenessManage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and quickly adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced dynamic environmentWork independently as well as coordinate team effortsBe thorough and detail-oriented; demonstrate patience, tact, and courtesyEstablish and maintain effective working relationships with persons encountered during the performance of dutiesMeasure and monitor performance and outcomes and recommend improvementsWork as needed to attend evening and weekend meetings and presentationsInteract professionally and effectively with customers, commercial partners, PCE staff, Community Advisory Committee, and Board of DirectorsComfortable with using basic and intermediate MS Office functions, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPointWilling to learn and use various tools / systems (CRM, project management, financial tools)Salary and Benefits
Compensation ($130,000 to $165,000) is commensurate with experience. PCE offers a generous benefits package including :
Individual, family and domestic partner health (medical, dental, vision) insuranceRetirement contribution and paid parental leaveLong term disability benefitsCell phone and internet stipend for remote workPaid vacationProfessional development stipendRequired Application Process
Cover LetterResumeResponses to the three Supplemental QuestionsApplication Process
Application materials must include :
ResumeCover letterAnswers to application questionsA case study assignment may be given in the final round of interviewsAbout Us
Peninsula Clean Energy is the community choice energy program (known as a "CCA") for San Mateo County and portions of Merced County. Peninsula Clean Energy's customer base includes approximately 310,000 accounts, serving a population of 800,000, with a total electrical load of almost 4 million megawatt-hours. Our mission is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by expanding access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. This includes providing cleaner power at lower rates with virtually GHG-free power as its standard power service. We have aggressive decarbonization goals including delivering 100% renewable energy on an