Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs

Gridware exists to enhance and protect the mother of all networks: the electrical grid. The grid touches everything, and when it grinds to a halt, the consequences can be dire: wildfires burn, land is destroyed, property is damaged, progress stops, and lives are lost. Our team engineers an advanced sensing system to continuously analyze both the electrical and mechanical behavior of grid assets. Utilizing high-precision sensor arrays, the system identifies and allows preemptive mitigation of faults. The technology has been proven with utilities to bolster safety, reliability, and reduce customer outage durations. The demand for power will only increase. We protect the grid of today while we build the grid of tomorrow.

Gridware is a privately held, Series A startup backed by the best climate-tech and Silicon Valley investors. We are headquartered in the Bay Area in Northern California.

Role Description:

As the first Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, you are responsible for accelerating Gridware’s market expansion by building the company’s brand in the growing grid resilience and wildfire ecosystem, including with state public utility regulators, policy-makers, utilities, advocates, and trade groups. You play a critical role in educating regulators, policymakers, and utilities about the increasing threats that extreme weather and wildfires pose to the electrical grid and how Gridware’s solutions can cost effectively help our utility partners to mitigate risk, protect property, and save lives. 

Gridware’s long term success depends on successful engagement with regulators and policy makers at all levels (local, state, and federal), and close collaboration with our utility partners. The successful candidate is comfortable engaging both regulators and utilities, adept at building deep stakeholder relationships, and willing to roll up their sleeves to understand the details of our business and the heavily regulated markets in which we operate. You will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the sales leadership to meet revenue goals.

Responsibilities:

Be the Expert & Thought Leader

• Develop and drive a national regulatory strategy leveraging your industry expertise.
• Evangelize our company while building authentic and durable relationships to help us grow and achieve our goals. 
• Leverage state and federal policy and regulatory expertise to inform the company’s go to market strategy and support sales efforts.
• Translate sophisticated technological solutions into accessible applications understood by regulators and other stakeholders.
• Draft and file regulatory comments, testify before regulatory bodies, and/or prepare Gridware’s CEO to deliver public comments.  
• Build Gridware’s brand as an industry expert - speak at conferences, participate in panels.

Build Relationships

• Create trust with utility clients as a regulatory partner and problem solver.
• Develop relationships with other thought leaders and industry experts across utilities, regulatory bodies, consumer advocates, local fire authorities, unions, and trade groups.
• Proactively and collaboratively engage and partner with internal stakeholders to drive business objectives.

Transform the Market

• Work with partners to shape best practices, policy, and regulation to accelerate efforts to make the electric grid more resilient, reliable, and safe.

Requirements

• 10+ years of relevant experience (mix of startup + industry + government a plus)
• Deep policy and market expertise at the intersection of technology, utilities, and the grid with a focus on state policy and public utility regulation
• Record of successfully advocating with external stakeholders and building non-transactional relationships
• Proven ability to drive results on high profile projects
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to synthesize complex topics into clear and simple messages
• Adept at defending positions, persuading team members, and presenting externally
• Strong business judgment and an ability to prioritize what matters most to the bottom line
• Entrepreneurial drive and comfort with ambiguous problems, undefined solutions, and a fast pace
• Bachelor's degree in public policy, economics, energy, sustainability or related field

Bonus Experience:

• JD, MPP, or related Masters
• Direct experience working at a Public Utility Commission
• Direct experience working at a Utility
• Demonstrated ability to hire and build a strong team

Benefits

• Starting pay for this role is typically between $170,000 and $190,000 + equity, commensurate with skills, experience, and qualifications. We determine pay based on experience, geography, internal equity, and any other factors related to the job 
• Flexible hours / hybrid schedule for those in the Bay Area
• Health, Dental & Vision (Gold and Platinum plans fully covered)
• Paid parental leave
• Commuter allowance
• Company-paid training

Location:  

A strong preference for in-person at our San Francisco office where we operate in a hybrid format. 30% domestic US travel expected. Gridware is currently headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, but will move to the Telegraph Hill area of San Francisco starting in January 2025.

To apply:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter. In your cover letter, please address the following questions: Can you share an example of a policy or market development client engagement you led that resulted in a critical win in an energy market? What was your approach? How would that translate to your work at Gridware?

Interview process and timelines:

• Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.
• 2-3 Interviews will take place in November.
• Top candidates will be asked to complete and potentially present a homework assignment to a panel of Gridware team members in November or December. 
• Finalists will be invited for in-person interviews in SF in December.
• Reference checks are a key part of the process and will be completed for 1-2 finalists prior to an offer decision.
• We anticipate extending an offer in December with an anticipated start date in January 2025.

Gridware is an equal opportunity employer. We want applicants of diverse backgrounds and hire without regard to color, gender, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.