City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Government and Regulatory Relations Director

This position is responsible for managing, drafting, coordinating, responding to, and leading all staff and efforts for State and Federal legislation and State regulatory activity related to electric utilities for Austin Energy (AE) and the City of Austin.  

1. Develops and promotes AE’s legislative program with the State legislature and its various committees in coordination with the City.
2. Develops, recommends, and implements legislative strategies and coordinates legislative and regulatory activities in coordination with the Intergovernmental Relations Office and with other Local, public, and private sector entities.
3. Represents AE’s interests and positions before Federal and State governmental bodies in coordination with the Intergovernmental Relations Office. This includes coordinating and meeting with legislative and executive staff on issues impacting municipally-owned electric utilities.
4. Identifies strategic risks and opportunities for AE by monitoring State and Federal legislative and regulatory activities.
5. Prepares status reports on legislative, regulatory, and other assigned projects; and provides regular briefings to executive management.
6. Produces written analyses, position papers, and other advocacy materials on policy matters of importance to AE.
7. Directs AE’s activities and relations, including rulemaking and contested case proceedings, with the Public Utility Commission, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Executive Branch, Congress, and other regulatory bodies as needed.
8. Provides regulatory guidance on AE’s rates and base rate review proceedings.
9. Represents AE’s interests and positions to utility industry associations, including the American Public Power Association, Large Public Power Council, and Texas Public Power Association.
10. Directs regulatory role on AE’s Incident Command team during emergency events and coordinates with the Intergovernmental Relations Office for state and federal elected officials notification on emergency issues.
11. Provides leadership insight and concepts in public and community relations activities.
12. Represents AE before various formal and informal stakeholder groups requesting information about regulatory or governmental issues impacting AE.
13. Coordinates department-wide activities and projects that require regulatory support or approval.
14. Manages and coordinates with internal and external attorneys, consultants, and subject-matter experts on a range of issues and manages AE’s federal-issue consultants.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of legislative and governmental processes.
• Knowledge of regulatory processes and rules impacting AE.
• Knowledge of electric utility industry trends.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws.
• Knowledge of the ERCOT market
• Knowledge of governmental (Federal, State, and Local) relationships.
• Knowledge of electric utility emergency operation plans
• Knowledge of the concepts of equity, including experience in applying equity frameworks to established laws, ordinances, and long-standing practices.
• Skill in analyzing relevant data and developing sound theses.
• Skill in negotiating acceptable conclusions in competitive environments.
• Skill in coordinating complex projects in a changing industry.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Skill in planning and organizing.
• Ability to use an equity lens and framework to create inclusive, diverse, and safe workplaces and community programs.
• Ability to manage diversity, understand inclusion, and work with diverse communities or populations to build constructive and effective relationships.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals and groups of varied interests and backgrounds.
• Ability to use available hardware/software for data collection, analysis, and presentation preparation.
• Ability to problem solve and conduct policy and issues analysis.
• Ability to research; gather and analyze data; assess, summarize, and present findings.
• Ability to work on various products for data collection, analysis, and presentation.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.

• Graduation with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration or a related field, plus seven (7) years of government relations, legislative, or regulatory utility experience, including two (2) years of experience which were in a lead, program lead, or supervisory capacity.
• Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for non-lead or non-supervisory experience up to a maximum of two (2) years.