Director, Regulatory Affairs

Director of Regulatory Affairs 

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Salary Range: $170,000 - $190,000, plus bonus and incentive stock options

About The Company:

NineDot's name derives from the classic mathematical puzzle for sparking out-of-the-box solutions. As a leading community-scale, clean energy developer with a growing portfolio of projects across a range of technologies, NineDot Energy is creating innovative energy solutions that support a more resilient electric grid, deliver economic savings, address environmental justice and reduce carbon emissions. We plan to develop, build and operate more than 400 MW of clean energy systems by 2026 that will strengthen the local power grid infrastructure and provide clean, reliable and resilient power to tens of thousands of New York households and businesses. This is all in support of New York State’s mission to achieve 100% clean energy by 2040.

With the backing of the Carlyle Group - one of the largest private investors in renewable energy - NineDot is rapidly expanding its core team to scale its energy storage pipeline and continue innovating new products (i.e. vehicle-to-grid, community energy, etc.) to advance the decarbonization of New York’s grid. This is an exciting opportunity to build a platform from the ground-up with a world-class team of developers and innovators. NineDot is committed to building a company that exemplifies diversity, equity and inclusion values in its team culture, as well as business practices and community engagement.

Job Summary

NineDot Energy is seeking a leader for our Regulatory Affairs needs that will serve as an expert on existing and potential regulatory policies that affect NineDot's existing and future product lines. The Director of Regulatory Affairs will actively educate, advocate and testify with regulatory policy making bodies and industry trade groups as required in support of NineDot's mission to accelerate New York's path to achieving 100% clean energy by 2040. As the Director of Regulatory Affairs, you will play the leading role in NineDot's effort to identify and shape renewable infrastructure solutions made possible by rules and revenues stemming from the regulatory environment. You will serve as the expert on regulatory affair proceedings in the major energy markets from the FERC, NYISO and local electric utilities. You will also play an active role in tracking and authoring proceedings at the public service commission that affect potential solutions that help NineDot meet the 100% clean energy goals. The function will oversee the compilation of regulatory submissions in support of new product introductions as required. You will not only be responsible for tracking incremental changes to tariffs and grid services programs, but more importantly you will also be expected to help innovate on big new bold creative solutions that reshape the current energy system's ability to integrate renewable energy solutions both in New York and beyond.  

Roles and responsibilities

• Oversee federal and state regulatory actions and initiatives that affect NineDot and the renewable energy  industry. These key bodies include FERC, the New York Public Service Commission, NYSERDA and key city agencies.  

• Develop responses to federal, regional, state and city proceedings to protect NineDot's interests and improve the regulatory climate for deploying renewables and battery storage solutions.

• Propose novel regulatory innovations internally and externally that unlock new market opportunities for NineDot Energy 

• Lead the development and maintenance of an internal roadmap for policy and government advocacy for the state and federal policy and advise business functional leaders on strategy for when, how, and who to engage at federal and state agencies.

• Cultivate relationships with key legislators and regulators, and advocate before relevant elected officials and public entities including governors, state legislators and regulators, and state and local agencies.

• Establish and implement strategies to communicate policy positions to key federal, state, and local government constituencies.

• Identify and collaborate with contacts at relevant local and state level associations to facilitate and strengthen the organization's influence.

• Represent NineDot at industry conferences and events.

• Manage relations with lobbyists, trade associations, coalitions, and other external parties to advance NineDot’s public policy objectives. Ensure there is an appropriate NineDot representation on each group of interest. 

• Develop, lead and manage the Regulatory Team, including the assignment of tasks and responsibilities and timely and effective performance management of staff.

• Interpret previous, current, and new legislation and regulations that will have an impact on NineDot’s projects and business strategy.

• Support product development teams with regulatory expertise.

• Drive profitability and reduce costs by accessing government supported incentives and limiting regulatory and tax burdens.

• All other duties as assigned.

Competencies for Success

• Problem Solving - Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; conducts excellent and honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answer.
• Interpersonal Savvy - Able to relate well to all individuals within and beyond the organization; builds appropriate rapport along with constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact.
• Perseverance -  Pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish; seldom gives up before finishing, especially in the face of resistance or setbacks.
• Dealing With Ambiguity - Can effectively cope with change and shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture.
• Creativity - Capable of coming up with new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions.
• Technical Learning - Picks up on technical things quickly, capable of learning new skills and knowledge, good at learning new industry, company, product, or technical knowledge.
• Intellectual Horsepower - Demonstrated ability to deal with concepts and complexity comfortably; described as intellectually sharp, capable, and agile.
• Developing Direct Reports and Others -  Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.
• Building Effective Teams - Creates strong morale and spirit in his/her/their team; shares wins and successes; fosters open dialogue; lets people finish and be responsible for their work; creates a feeling of belonging in the team.
• Innovation Management -  Is good at bringing the creative ideas of others to market; has good judgment about which creative ideas and suggestions will work; has a sense about managing the creative process of others; can project how potential ideas may play out in the real world.
• Planning - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets objectives and goals; breaks down work into the process steps; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; measures performance against goals; evaluates results.

Required education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, government, policy, communications or business or related field or equivalent experience.

• 7+ years of progressive work experience focused on policy and regulatory affairs or government service in the energy or environmental domain.

• Proven experience working at or advocating before Congress, public utility commissions or energy/environmental agencies.

• Strong understanding of energy markets and regulation, energy distribution networks and technology, and distributed energy compensation issues.

• Exceptional and proven managerial skills.

• Passion/history for clean energy projects is a plus.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to evaluate priorities and multi-task accordingly while keeping others apprised of status with respect to deadlines.

• Must be detail and results-oriented with an ability to work in a cross-functional, fast paced, and constantly evolving environment.

• Familiar with Google Suite and Microsoft Office.

• Experience with Asana is a plus.

• Excellent personal organization and time management skills.

• Ability to handle multiple projects at one time, and prioritize workload.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.  

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and committed to leveraging the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experience of our workforce to create opportunities for our colleagues and our business. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender expression, gender identity, sex, age, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran and military status, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status of an individual or that individual’s associates or relatives that is protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

COVID 19 Protocol

NineDot continues to monitor local COVID-19 protocols mandated by state and federal governments. For those who will be joining events in person, you may be required to test before meetings.