Senior Associate, Resource Planning

Job Description

Are you passionate about decarbonization and looking to help transform the US electricity system? Do you enjoy tackling complicated problems with robust analysis and thoughtful communication? If yes, Synapse has a position for you.

Synapse is a consulting company that has been providing rigorous analysis on behalf of public interest clients in the energy and electric sector for more than 25 years. Our work includes expert analysis, reports, and high-impact expert testimony in hundreds of docketed proceedings across the United States and Canada. Our clients include environmental non-profits, state agencies, federal agencies, and consumer and environmental advocacy groups.

Synapse is seeking an ambitious energy and/or economics candidate with strong quantitative and writing skills. Candidates should have a commitment to public interest issues such as sustainability, environmental justice, and consumer protection, and a desire to dive into utility resource planning dockets, analyze and develop clean energy portfolios, and review the economics and risk of new renewable projects as well as legacy fossil fuel power plants. Candidates should also have a passion for advancing the analysis available to social interest parties in the energy field.

Job Responsibilities

The Senior Associate will join our team and manage projects, proposals, teams, project scope, and content related to topics such as resource planning, electricity markets, modeling, energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, legacy fossil-fuel power plants, and/or other related topic areas. Our clients are passionate about transforming the electricity sector, and we are looking for someone that shares their passion and commitment to this important work.

Your role will include:

• Leading and managing projects and proposals focused on resource planning issues
• Shadowing experienced expert witnesses and gaining the skills needed to become an expert witness yourself
• Creating, using, and maintaining spreadsheet-based tools and other analytical platforms to analyze energy technologies, programs, and portfolios
• Conducting electricity system modeling activities using industry-standard production cost and capacity expansion software (such as EnCompass, PLEXOS, Strategist, System Optimizer, or PROMOD), as well as in-house custom software tools
• Assessing utility company modeling approaches, scenario definitions, input assumptions and related parameterization. Working collaboratively with team members to refine analyses and develop reports and testimony
• Clearly and succinctly summarizing complex technical concepts to clients, regulators, and public audiences through testimony, papers, presentations, and meetings
• Defending analysis and refuting opposing viewpoints and analysis

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Economics, Energy and Environmental Policy, Physical Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or related field
• 5+ years of relevant industry work experience with a Master's or Bachelor's Degree, or 2+ years of relevant industry work experience with a Doctorate
• A strong desire to work on behalf of public interest clients in improving energy planning and policy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work and communicate well in teams
• Ability to multitask and prioritize critical tasks and conflicting requirements

You don't have to satisfy every requirement or meet every qualification listed above. If your skills are transferable or you are near the number of years of experience we seek, please apply. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered.

We will also consider Principal Associate candidates with more experience for this resource planning role.

We are looking for a candidate to start working in spring 2023, in our Cambridge, Massachusetts office or in a remote location. Candidates should plan on occasional travel to present testimony in regulatory proceedings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project management and budget management experience in a consulting position or in a similar role
• State, federal, or provincial electric utility regulatory experience preferred
• Expert witness testimony experience: ability to develop persuasive arguments for testimony and reports based on analysis of quantitative and qualitative evidence

Working at Synapse

Synapse prides itself on its flexible and collaborative working environment. Many staff work in-person in our Cambridge, Massachusetts office, while others are hybrid or fully remote across the country. Synapse currently supports a hybrid work environment so our staff can find the right mix of support, collaboration, and flexibility. While we prefer employees located locally so we can nurture this environment, we will consider remote candidates where such an arrangement is compatible with our clients’ work.

Synapse offers numerous benefits to its employees:

• Generous and flexible PTO
• Flexible work hours and holidays, and the ability to choose a schedule that works for you
• Medical, dental, and life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Profit-sharing bonuses
• Collaboration: everybody contributes, asks questions, proposes solutions, and works on interesting research and analysis
• Extensive professional development opportunities
• Cambridge, MA office space with sit-stand desks, lots of meeting space, indoor bike parking, and plenty of nitro cold-brew and kombucha on tap

Senior Associate base salary: $85,000 annually, based on a full-time schedule. Our beginning base salary range represents the floor for this position and does not include profit-sharing bonuses. Actual salaries will vary from the floor based on various factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. Synapse offers competitive market salaries, based on our primary market of nonprofits and government agencies. Our salaries reflect our work for these public interest clients.

We are unable to sponsor work visas for this position. Authorization to work in the United States is required to be considered. 

To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume to the form on our website.

Synapse is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a culturally diverse company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community.