NY HELP No

Agency State, Department of

Title Program Associate / Director of Utility Intervention Unit (UIU) - Vacancy ID# 159170

Occupational Category Administrative or General Management

Salary Grade 664

Bargaining Unit M/C - Management / Confidential (Unrepresented)

Salary Range From $123793 to $156224 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Exempt Class

Travel Percentage 20%

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 9 AM

To 5 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? Yes

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

County Albany

Street Address 99 Washington Avenue

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12231

Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree and seven years of relevant specialized experience. Two years must have been at a managerial level.Education/Experience Substitutions• Education: Four years of specialized experience; Associate’s degree and two years of specialized experience• Experience: J.D. or Master’s degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience; Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experienceRelevant Specialized Experience in the analysis, regulation, or management of public or private corporations or the operational phases of public utilities, three years of which shall have been working with rate analysis or policy initiatives before a state public utility regulatory commission.• Experience will include planning, preparing, and conducting reviews or audits of utility financial, economic, or engineering records and studies or the equivalent experience in other business sectors ; Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate written policy or financial analysis, which includes appropriate supporting references to relevant authorities and/or supporting financial schedules; strong oral and written communications skills; exceptional analytical skills; experience in project management; and proficiency at leading teams and committees. Candidates must possess a valid New York State driver’s license and be available to travel as directed.Salary is commensurate with experienceIt is essential that candidates clearly and concisely indicate exactly how they meet the above minimum qualifications in their resume. Failure to show how you meet the minimum qualifications above may result in disqualification and removal from consideration.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:• Proven team leadership and effective management skills.• Extensive knowledge of the regulated utilities industry and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.• Extensive knowledge of engineering, economics and financial principles and practices in the field of public utilities.• Knowledge of the accounting and engineering factors involved in rate structure determination.• Ability to prepare reports and/or exhibits in the development of investigations and analyses.• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with state and local officials, utility representatives and the public.• Electric, gas, steam, and water systems and how they affect the rates, charges, and prices paid by consumers on their utility bills, gas pipeline infrastructure and planning, electric and gas service quality. • Consumer protection advocacy. • Rate design, revenue allocation and cost of service principles.• Renewable energy and distributed generation. • Grid modernization, climate change preparedness, energy efficiency and demand response.• Solar generation, net metering.• Offshore wind and hydroelectric procurement.• Electric vehicles and storage. • Storms and emergency response.• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major study in the field of business, mathematics, finance, economics, accounting, or engineering, preferred. A PhD or J.D. may substitute for one year of required work experience. Possession of a related professional designation such as a CPA or PE may be substituted for two years of work experience.• Nine years of progressively responsible Relevant Specialized Experience(See above)

Duties Description The Department of State (DOS), Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as the Utility Intervention Unit (UIU) Director overseeing the Unit’s consumer advocacy program, which represents the interests of residential and small commercial consumers before federal, state, and local agencies engaged in the regulation of energy, steam, water, and telecommunication services. UIU represents the interests of consumers before the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) during utility rate cases and during other policy-related regulatory proceedings. Additionally, the UIU serves as the statewide consumer advocate at the New York Independent System Operators (NYISO), which administers the wholesale energy market. UIU advocacy goals are to achieve savings for consumers by keeping rates as low as possible, while maintaining safe and reliable service. The regulatory and wholesale energy market processes require UIU to consider all factors, including the positions of other parties, prior to developing its own position(s) to assert the best interests for New York State utility consumers. UIU’s primary focus is on rate cases, which often integrate policy goals. Under the general supervision of the Division of Consumer Protection Director, the Utility Intervention Unit (UIU) Director will be responsible for leading the administration and coordination of UIU work. Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:• Participate in matters before the Public Service Commission (Commission), the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as well as several utility and energy-related interagency working groups and task forces. • Directly supervise the work of the unit’s staff and contractors including staff assignments and general workload; work product review, including staff reports, briefs, testimony, and comments in formal Commission proceedings reviewing staff work products for policy consistency, accuracy, and work product quality.• Manage UIU team of professional staff to include assignment of tasks, employee training and development, evaluation of their performance and time and attendance, making recommendations on hiring and other human resources actions, and participating in long-range planning of the program.• Strategize managing multiple priorities with strict deadlines and optimize UIU resources to ensure maximum advocacy outcomes for New York’s residential and small commercial utility customers.• Lead UIU team by identifying and benchmarking cohesive, effective approaches for testimony, negotiations, meetings and/or comments. Review rate case and regulatory proceedings. Prioritize and balance staff workload by creating clear expectations, while also being flexible and adaptive as intervening priorities arise.• Help ensure UIU staff is well prepared to participate in meetings, hearings, negotiations, collaboratives, and public meetings. Foster a professional environment conducive to teamwork and mutual respect. Resolving interoffice disputes over policy positions and/or proposed adjustment.• Analyze regulatory policies and utility rate cases to determine the effect on consumers supply and cost of electricity, natural gas, steam, water, telephone, and broadband telecommunications.• Independently plan and conduct investigations and reviews of policy and rate issues in complex dockets of investigation before the Commission. • Review staff analysis of utility revenue requirements such as cost of service, depreciation, and economic studies, and cost of capital analyses and provide feedback. • Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders from regulated entities and the Department of Public Service (DSP) Staff. • Perform comprehensive research and analysis of testimony and exhibits submitted by regulated companies, and other parties, using information from audits, information requests, testimony in other cases, prior Commission orders, statutes, publications, and other sources.• Identify key factors relevant to proposed regulatory policies, collect relevant data on the critical factors, develop policy alternatives as needed, and summarize the strengths and weaknesses of proposed or alternative policies.• Represents UIU as the designated Statewide Consumer Advocate at the NYISO and serves as primary voting member on several of the NYISO’s decision making committees, to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of reasonably priced electricity exists for consumers in New York State. • Review market conditions and industry trends and makes recommendations on appropriate modifications to rate structures or service changes.• Maintain full knowledge of current matters from a broad policy perspective related to all major aspects of the energy and telecommunications industries, market structure, and the full range of regulatory issues both nationally and those before the Commission.• Leads negotiations on substantive industry issues in technical sessions, settlement meetings and other settings.• Independently plan and conduct comprehensive investigations of policy and rate issues in complex dockets before the Commission.• Represents UIU at DPS management meetings, meetings with utilities, and meetings with other public agencies.• Draft and manage Request for Proposals (RFPs) to engage consultants to support UIU advocacy efforts.• Draft and submit weekly, monthly, and annual UIU activity reports to the Director. Create and maintain a UIU Strategic Operating Plan.• Provide UIU activity briefings to the DCP Director, Department of State Executive Management and the Chamber, as directed.

Additional Comments The Department of State is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability status, arrest record or criminal conviction history, or any other category protected by law.We are happy to provide reasonable and religious accommodations during the hiring process for those in need. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please send a request to HRM.Recruitment@dos.ny.gov.Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@oer.ny.gov.NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: The Department of State employees may be approved for a maximum of 50% telecommuting, however, they are required to apply and obtain approval through management in accordance with The Department of State Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Name Nicholas Dariano

Telephone 518-474-2752

Fax 518-402-3656

Email Address HRM.Recruitment@dos.ny.gov

Address

Street 99 Washington Avenue

Suite 1150

City Albany

State NY

Zip Code 12231

Notes on Applying If you are interested and meet the minimum qualifications above, email your cover letter, resume, and New York State Part 1 Application (https://dos.ny.gov/employment-opportunities) to HRM.Recruitment@dos.ny.gov. Please include Title, Location and Vacancy ID # you are applying for in the subject line of your email.