About Grid Strategies:
Grid Strategies LLC is a power sector consulting firm helping clients navigate the opportunities and barriers to integrating clean energy into the electric grid to ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity. Drawing on extensive experience in transmission and wholesale markets, Grid Strategies analyzes and helps advance grid integration solutions. Based in the Washington, DC area, the firm is actively engaged with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Department of Energy and other parts of the Executive Branch, state public utility commissions, regional transmission organizations, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Congressional committees and staff, and various electricity industry stakeholders.
Grid Strategies was founded in 2017 and has been instrumental in starting and growing Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG), the Working for Advanced Transmission Technologies (WATT) Coalition, the Advancing Modern Powerlines (AMP) Coalition, and the Future Power Markets Forum to develop and advance solutions and cooperation across the electricity sector. Grid Strategies clients include state agencies, consumer advocates, environmental groups, clean energy buyers, clean energy trade associations, renewable energy and electric transmission developers, and technology companies.
Grid Strategies is a distributed team with office space in Washington, DC.
Actively hiring: External Affairs and Communications Associate
Grid Strategies is seeking an external affairs and communications associate to join our growing team to support Grid Strategies’ communications and media strategy and external events organizing. This role can be remote, but candidates in (or willing to relocate to) the San Francisco or Washington, DC region for a hybrid role are preferred. Travel of up to 20% of your time may be required.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Supporting Grid Strategies’ communications and media strategy by:
- Assisting Grid Strategies team members with preparing for media engagement, such as by providing background research and offering prep sessions;
- Developing and maintaining relationships with members of the media, on behalf of Grid Strategies;
- Working with clients around public announcements to coordinate needed information and materials, including assisting with preparing press releases and other communications-focused materials;
- Managing Grid Strategies’ social media interactions, such as posting when Grid Strategies team members are speaking at events, sharing news, and promoting new Grid Strategies reports, as well as proposing and executing new communications strategies and campaigns to highlight Grid Strategies’ work;
- Maintaining Grid Strategies’ shared PowerPoint and other presentation materials to ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility to all team members for various uses; and
- Monitoring and summarizing news related to topics of interest to Grid Strategies team members.
- Leading Grid Strategies’ external events organizing, including:
- Researching, negotiating, and securing meeting spaces;
- Arranging meeting services, such as food and beverage, audio-visual equipment, name badges and tent cards, etc.;
- Serving as a liaison between clients, attendees, suppliers, and other Grid Strategies team members before and during events;
- Developing and communicating run of show for events and ensuring time management during events;
- Speaking with attendees to identify improvements for future events; and
- Reviewing and reconciling company credit card charges with events-related expenses, including Grid Strategies team member travel.
- Arranging internal Grid Strategies team events, including an annual all-staff retreat and periodic events, such as holiday parties.
- Assisting Grid Strategies team members with preparing for conferences and other external events, such as helping with travel arrangements, preparing talking points and slide decks, sending required materials to conference planners, proposing conference sessions, and organizing meetings with other conference attendees to maximize the value of Grid Strategies team member attendance.
- Updating Grid Strategies’ website, including routine website management, posting new reports, and proposing and implementing website enhancements.
- Additional administrative responsibilities and special projects, as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications/Skills:
- A bachelor’s degree with 1-5 years of relevant experience with communications, social media management, graphic design, administrative tasks, customer service, and/or event planning.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize competing demands, including effective time management skills, ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, and comfort working in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, both within an organization (e.g., ability to manage upward communication) and externally with clients.
- Ability to work independently and take the lead, particularly on event organizing and problem-solving.
- Ability to work within a specified budget.
- Strong organizational and planning skills and ability to manage a broadly user-friendly shared electronic filing system (e.g., SharePoint).
- Detail- and process-oriented mindset.
- Creativity for proposing website, social media, and other communications campaigns and innovations.
- Interest in the substance of Grid Strategies’ work and mission.
- Interest in growing communications and event planning skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially PowerPoint; proficiency with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and WebEx, and ability to quickly learn other video conferencing programs, as needed; familiarity or ability to quickly learn project management, data visualization, and design platforms, such as Notion, Tableaux, and Canva.
Pay Range: $65,000-85,000. Final pay will be determined based on relevant experience and skills, geographic location, and education and relevant training.
Application Process: To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to gkershaw@gridstrategiesllc.com, neither prepared using artificial intelligence tools.
Timeline: Grid Strategies will accept rolling applications until the position is filled, but priority will be given to earlier applicants as we intend to fill the position quickly.
Not actively recruiting: Research and policy analyst/manager
Research and policy analysts/managers support Grid Strategies’ clients with guidance from senior staff. Duties could include:
- Reviewing published research and modeling and summarizing findings
- Drafting memos, PowerPoint presentations, and other communication assets
- Drafting comments in response to public agencies
- Creating and supporting policy analysis and advocacy strategies
- Facilitating meetings with clients and/or external industry leaders and public events
- Analyzing data – sorting, finding trends, visualizing, etc.
- Reading and interpreting tariffs, market rules, regulations, and laws
Research and policy analysts/managers’ work appears in Grid Strategies reports, communications, and client products.
We have work for candidates relatively new to the electricity policy world who are very organized and intellectually ambitious, as well as for those who already have relevant experience and are ready to make a big impact.
This role can be remote, but candidates in (or willing to relocate to) the San Francisco or Washington, DC region for a hybrid role are preferred.
Candidates hired at the manager level have more independent responsibilities, including leadership and coordination for some of the tasks listed above.
For research and policy analysts/managers, salaries typically begin at $65,000-$80,000, depending on experience and geographic location.
Grid Strategies is not actively recruiting research and policy analysts/managers but regularly reviews cover letters and resumes on a rolling basis.
Not actively recruiting: Senior Staff
Grid Strategies is always open to inquiries from individuals with a significant amount of relevant experience and a vision for bringing that experience to our firm. In some cases, Grid Strategies may have project opportunities that are suitable for immediate assignment to senior staff; in other cases, new senior staff bring ideas and relationships to the firm.
Candidates with experience working for or with state regulators are especially encouraged to apply – Grid Strategies (and other similar firms) are currently turning away projects due to a lack of staff with experience in leading state regulatory engagements.
For senior staff, compensation arrangements are negotiable.
Grid Strategies is not actively recruiting senior staff but regularly reviews cover letters and resumes on a rolling basis. Be sure to highlight your specific expertise and skills in a cover letter as well as your ability to bring existing relationships with you to the firm.
Should you work for Grid Strategies?
Grid Strategies is a small team doing big things. Our team combines dedicated and experienced experts with junior staff who are passionate about building a career in the electricity industry and bring creativity and a can-do attitude to their work.
Curiosity about the electricity industry and the clean energy transition is the number one requirement. Successful candidates should be prepared to make decisions and move forward despite uncertainty. They will work with diverse people and organizations and should bring a professional attitude to their work relationships. Strong reading comprehension and numerical, digital, and media literacy will all be necessary.
Successful candidates will have a front-row seat to how policy ideas are developed, tested, advocated for, and implemented. They will develop familiarity with the electricity policy ecosystem and build a network that extends far beyond the firm. They will contribute meaningfully to policy that makes headlines and changes the trajectory of the energy transition.
In addition to competitive salaries, Grid Strategies offers health, dental, and vision insurance; three weeks of paid vacation, plus all federal holidays, and the week off between Christmas and New Year’s; flexible sick leave; home-office expenses reimbursement; and an annual professional development stipend.
Diversity and inclusion:
Candidates with various levels of education and experience can be expected to succeed at Grid Strategies. Grid Strategies encourages people who are excited to work on ensuring affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity and love an intellectual challenge to apply, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds and identities. If you require accommodations during the application process due to a disability or any other reason, reach out to us.
How to apply:
Send your resume and cover letter to Gretchen Kershaw, Chief Operating Officer at gkershaw@gridstrategiesllc.com.