The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), with offices in Arlington, VA and Lincoln, NE is the trade association for over 900 consumer-owned electric cooperatives serving more than 42 million people. NRECA is committed to harnessing the strength of America’s electric cooperatives into a single powerful voice. NRECA has won the following awards over the past few years:
• Top Workplace by the Washington Post
• 100 Best Places to Work - ComputerWorld Magazine
• 50 Best Places to Work - The Washingtonian
• CARE Award Recipient - Recognizing organizations that promote a positive work-life balance
• Best Place to Work Award Recipient - Lincoln, NE
• Gold Well Workplace - Wellness Councils of America
• State of NE Governor's Wellness Award - Grower Level
At NRECA, we work with people who are leaders in their fields. They are down-to-earth, hardworking professionals committed to helping our members serve their communities. Our work is interesting, constantly evolving, and requires new skills to meet the evolving needs of a dynamic industry. In this collegial, inclusive work environment, united around the compelling purpose and history of electric cooperatives, we thrive. And topping it off, NRECA cares about each person’s overall well-being, encouraging health, financial security, and a sustainable work/life balance. EEO/AA- M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status/Genetic Data
Summary Regulatory Affairs Director (Retail) P.5
Position Summary:
Lead NRECA expert and advocate for matters pertaining to state- and retail-related policy including retail restructuring, retail rates, electric vehicles, and rates. Those policy areas will evolve with industry changes and association needs. Responsible for engaging with, informing, and educating internal and external audiences and members on related issues.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Advocacy:
Anticipates internal and/or external policy and regulatory issues and recommends strategies to improve NRECA service excellence and reduce impacts on NRECA and its members.
Solves unique and complex problems that have a broad impact on NRECA and its members, using conceptual and innovative thinking to develop solutions.
Engages with NRECA members to develop consensus on priority needs and policy positions.
Works independently, with minimal guidance, within general functional policies and industry guidances related to area of responsibility to impact the direction and resource allocation for regulatory program, project, and services for NRECA and its members.
Contributes to the development of a strategic plan to enable NRECA to act proactively, to get out ahead on key issues, and to focus resources relating to area of responsibility to best meet members’ short-term and long-term needs.
Consistent with the strategic plan, and using all resources and advocacy paths available, directs and participates in all agency, court, media, and other policy advocacy relating to area of responsibility.
Manages outside counsel and consultants, as assigned.
Personally advocates and negotiates, with minimal guidance, technical and substantive issues directly with senior policy makers and staff.
Builds, manages, and actively participates in various external and internal committees, subcommittees, and coalitions with other stakeholders, as assigned, to represent NRECA and its members’ interests.
Assists with selecting witnesses and/or preparing testimony, white papers, and/or talking points, with minimal guidance, to be used during Congressional hearings, agency meetings, and other external communications by NRECA and its members.
Builds and maintains relationships in the policy community and industry in order to enhance own and NRECA’s reputation, access, and advocacy efforts.
Builds recognition as technical expert with NRECA and field of responsibility.
2. Member Education:
Responsible for informing and educating members about issues arising in area of responsibility in order to help them comply with laws, regulations and/or mandatory industry standards and adjust their business activities consistent with industry and policy trends.
Helps set the agenda for, attends, and participates in Annual, Regional, and other NRECA meetings as appropriate, and provides advice and consultation to the NRECA Board, NRECA Standing and other committees.
Contributes consistently to the Regulatory Bulletin, the Regulatory Looking Ahead, Week Ahead, Notes, Issues to Watch, REMagazine, and all other resources that have been or may be developed to keep NRECA staff and NRECA members informed about activities relating to area of responsibility.
3. Continuing Education
Possesses specialized depth and/or breath of expertise pertaining to area of responsibility and has broad knowledge of other 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.
4. 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 in the building, to enhance efforts on responsibilities 1-3 and to support others’ efforts on related issues.
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
Requirements and Qualifications
Formal Education Required:
Juris Doctor, Master’s or other advanced degree relating to area of responsibility, or 10 years of related work experience with federal/state agencies or industry related to the assigned area of responsibility.
Experience Required:
7 years of experience working at or with the federal and/or state agency or industry relating to the assigned area of responsibility. 7+ years written and oral policy advocacy in formal and informal agency and stakeholder proceedings. Experience building and working through coalitions and through outside consultants to advance advocacy goals. Experience working effectively as a member of a team to bring diverse skills to advocacy efforts. Experience at a trade association and with electric cooperatives is preferred. Experience advocating on issues within the assigned area of responsibility also preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
Knowledge of the electric utility industry, the electric cooperative sector, and the legal framework governing the regulation of the electric utility industry as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple projects at various stages of development using effective organization skills and attention to detail as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to work with a wide variety of people to foster cooperation in sharing information and materials as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to think strategically and creatively to achieve advocacy goals of the members.
Ability to lead people and foster collaborative skills and consensus building while operating in a fast-moving environment as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to effectively interact with others and work in a team environment and providing follow-up when needed as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to define issues, establish facts and draw valid conclusions and apply to work environment as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to be persuasive, negotiate, and collaborate with individuals at all levels inside and outside of the organization as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to anticipate internal and or external business challenges and/or regulatory issues; recommends process, product or service improvements as demonstrated by prior work experience
Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, with a diverse membership, employees, stakeholders and/or government officials in a clear and precise manner as demonstrated by prior work experience.
Ability to use Microsoft Office tools (i.e., 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 personal computer, copier, printer, fax machine, 10-key adding machine, and multiple line telephone as demonstrated by prior work experience.
ADA 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; 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.
Disclaimer Statement: 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.
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