Policy Specialist, MISO

## Compensation
**Salary range:** $65K–$85K, commensurate with experience.
Benefits include a health plan, 401(k) retirement plan, LTD, STD, life, vision, dental, FSA/HSA, paid time off, professional development allowance, and a communication stipend.

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## About the Great Plains Institute
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is accelerating the transition to net‑zero carbon emissions for the benefit of people, the economy, and the environment. Increased demand for GPI’s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus‑derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI’s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by approximately 80 professionals and supported by some of the nation’s most respected philanthropies.

### Our Values
The following values inform the way we work both inside and outside of GPI. It is important to us to be trusted, inclusive, equitable, pragmatic, and transformative:

**Trusted.** We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.
**Inclusive.** We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
**Equitable.** We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.
**Pragmatic.** We take a clear‑eyed view of the world as it is, even as we seek to improve it.
**Transformative.** We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.

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## This Position
GPI seeks a bright, motivated, and collaborative individual to lead our engagement efforts in meetings and proceedings of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Core responsibilities include attending MISO meetings, building relationships with parties involved in those meetings, and providing support and advising to GPI projects focused on or related to MISO rules and decisions. This position is part of a larger team working on engagement in the SPP, MISO, and PJM regions.

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## Job Duties

### Engagement in MISO Stakeholder Processes
– Develop and maintain a strong, diverse network of MISO staff and stakeholders including states, NGOs, utilities, developers, consumer advocates, and large load customers.
– Identify opportunities within MISO stakeholder processes for market reforms to increase investment in non‑emitting generation resources and enabling technologies including transmission.
– Shape development of regional transmission plans that analyze the impacts of public policies and goals and high penetrations of clean energy in the MISO region.
– Support engagement to build consensus for processes needed to plan and permit interregional transmission, with specific focus on the MISO‑SPP seam.
– Advance GPI’s reputation and objectives via participation in collaborative stakeholder initiatives, public presentations, panel participation, blog posts, and research report publication.
– Participate in MISO stakeholder processes on behalf of the MISO Cities and Communities Coalition as deemed appropriate and necessary by coalition members.
– Participate in MISO stakeholder committees through both virtual and in‑person meeting participation.
– Collaborate with and support other mission‑aligned organizations and partners working in these RTO venues.

### Convening and Facilitation
Provide support to the MISO Cities and Communities Coalition in partnership with other GPI staff, including:
– Planning and convening monthly general coalition meetings.
– Planning and convening monthly policy committee meetings.
– Preparing briefs and educational materials on current issues.
– Recruiting MISOCCC members.
– Preparing and soliciting input on public coalition comments to MISO and FERC.
– Identifying and recruiting subject matter experts to present information in meetings to build collective understanding and support robust, informed discussions for MISOCCC and other groups convened by GPI.

### Programmatic Support
– Participate in strategic planning activities at GPI, representing the MISO stakeholder engagement work.
– Serve as a programmatic lead for GPI’s MISO stakeholder engagement work on various energy system decarbonization projects.
– Maintain working knowledge of current issues in MISO and of state and utility policies and plans in the MISO region to inform direct engagement and GPI’s long‑term strategy.
– Maintain existing and develop new partnerships with organizations working in the energy system decarbonization space.
– Advance GPI’s programmatic work through collaboration with colleagues in service to GPI’s mission and strategic plan.

### Project Development, Fundraising, Budget Management
– Support development of proposals to philanthropic funders for transmission and wholesale electricity markets work.
– Support regular reporting for grants and other project milestones.
– Build relationships with current and potential funders.
– Assist with managing project budgets and contracts.

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## Desired Qualifications and Skills
– Bachelor’s degree or relevant proven skills and experience.
– 2+ years of professional work experience in MISO or RTO engagement issues.
– Existing relationships with parties active in MISO or RTO stakeholder engagement processes.
– Experience working on a diverse team.
– Experience working with different communication styles.
– Self‑motivated.
– Excellent time, deadline, project, and people management skills with ability to multi‑task.
– Problem‑solving skills and ability to identify solutions to challenges.
– Frequent travel (monthly on average) to MISO meetings and related stakeholder meetings.
– Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
– Commitment to the mission and goals of the Great Plains Institute.

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## Equipment Used
This position involves use of a desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, and telephone.

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## Physical Requirement
This position requires working at a desk (sitting or standing) for extended periods and extensive use of devices (keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset.

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## How to Apply
Required application materials include a resume and one‑page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

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## Background on Great Plains Institute
GPI has a fast‑paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative‑takers, problem‑solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. Performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.

The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.