Regulatory Affairs Director, Water and Waste Programs

Position Summary:

This position is responsible for working collaboratively with professionals across NRECA’s Regulatory Unit, which is focused on electric cooperative advocacy before Executive Branch agencies and the Executive Office of the President. The Regulatory Affairs Director, Water and Waste Programs is a senior-level position that requires a strong working knowledge of energy and environmental policy and a demonstrated ability to advocate on behalf of electric cooperative interests before policymakers. A key feature of the electric cooperative business model depends on an engaged relationship with NRECA’s consumer-owners. As such, in addition to direct advocacy before policymakers, the position requires the individual to build and maintain strong relationships with NRECA’s cooperative members to extract the practical feedback necessary to inform and shape Administration policy decisions. NRECA’s Regulatory advocacy is directed by the mission of our 900, not-for-profit cooperative members to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy to those they serve at the end of the line.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Advocacy:

• Engages with NRECA members to develop consensus on priority needs and policy positions related to waste and water issues affecting electric utilities. This includes electric cooperative-focused advocacy before the Environmental Protection Agency as it seeks to regulate under statutes including the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
• Supports NRECA policy priorities by proactive advocacy on key issues, and deploying resources allocated to area of responsibility to best meet members’ short-term and long-term needs.
• Manages outside consultants.
• Strategically leverages all resources and advocacy paths available, leads and participates in all agency, court, media, and other policy advocacy relating to area of responsibility.
• Personally advocates and negotiates technical and substantive issues directly with appropriate policy makers and staff.
• Builds and maintains relationships in the policy community and industry in order to enhance NRECA’s reputation, access, and advocacy efforts.
• Advocates NRECA positions through regular engagement, including developing and presenting testimony and developing and submitting comments, on regulatory activities related to area of responsibility.
• Participates in and represents NRECA interests in coalitions with other stakeholders.

Member Education:

• Responsible for informing and educating members about issues arising in area of responsibility to help them meet their regulatory obligations and adjust their business activities consistent with industry and policy trends.
• Provides input on agendas, attends, and participates in Annual, Regional, and other NRECA meetings as appropriate, and provides advice and consultation to the NRECA Board.
• Contributes consistently to the NRECA outreach resources developed to keep NRECA members and staff informed about activities relating to area of responsibility.

Continuing Education:

• Possesses specialized depth and/or breath of expertise pertaining to area of responsibility and has broad knowledge of other policy and regulatory issues.
• Builds in-depth knowledge about the members’ business needs, policy positions, and internal politics.
• Works continuously to maintain, enhance, and expand knowledge of membership and area of responsibility.
• Builds nationally recognized expertise relating to area of responsibility and works continuously to maintain, enhance, and expand that expertise.

Coordination and Communication:

• Leads project teams to achieve milestones and objectives for projects with notable risk and complexity, includes developing the strategy for project execution.
• Communicates complex ideas, anticipates potential objections, and negotiates with others, often at internal and external senior levels, to influence decisions.
• Works closely with colleagues in Government Relations, Communications, Business and Technologies Strategies and others on an enterprise-wide basis.
• Keeps NRECA leadership and management and NRECA membership informed on issues relating to area of responsibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

Direct Reports to this Position:

None

Qualifications

Formal Education Required:

Bachelor’s or advanced degree with work experience in the utility sector and/or energy policy.

Experience and Certifications Required:

Eight or more years working in the utility sector and/or energy policy.

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required (as demonstrated by prior work experience):

• Knowledge of the electric utility industry and federal agency policy making.
• Must have experience within or practicing before the agency or agencies relating to area of responsibility.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a diverse membership, federal agencies, employees and/or vendors in a clear and concise manner to include developing comment packages to agencies, testimony and briefing papers.
• Ability to be persuasive, negotiate, and collaborate with individuals at all levels throughout organization and with outside groups.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively to achieve advocacy goals of members.
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment to build consensus and gain agreement on a plan of action.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point) in the day-to-day essential duties of the job as demonstrated by prior work experience.
• Ability to operate various office equipment such as computer, copier, printer, or other job-related equipment as demonstrated by prior work experience.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.
• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Additional Requirement:

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail [email protected] or call: 703-907-5992 – NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call 402-483-9275 – NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released the ‘Know Your Rights’ poster, which updates and replaces the previous “EEO is the Law” poster and “EEO Is the Law Poster Supplement”.

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

E-Verify. As a Federal Contractor, NRECA is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify.

For more information about life at NRECA please visit www.Electric.coop.

Learn more here