City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Austin Energy Deputy General Manager of Regulatory, Communications, Compliance, and Legal Services

Reporting to the General Manager, and operating with a high level of autonomy, this position provides leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for the Austin Energy (AE) Regulatory Affairs, Governmental Relations, Communications and Marketing, Compliance Programs, Records Management, Community Engagement, and Environmental, Health and Safety, and Legal Services functions. This position has responsibility for overseeing the electric utility’s activities in regulatory and compliance proceedings.

1. Is responsible for the overall leadership and direction of AE regulatory, compliance, and communications functions.
2. Develops and implements AE’s legislative strategies that support the interests and positions of the utility at State and Federal levels by working closely with the City’s Intergovernmental Relations Office.
3. Develops, implements, and maintains an integrated communications plan that supports crisis communications and strategic direction; enhances brand recognition; and informs, engages, and educates employees and all categories of stakeholders.
4. Develops and implements strategies designed to ensure adherence to all applicable market protocols, reliability standards, regulations, operating permits, records management, health and safety requirements, and environmental compliance as required by various agencies such as including with the Public Utility Commission (PUC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Texas Reliability Entity (TRE), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulatory agencies and applicable Federal, State and Local laws.
5. Oversees effective and efficient planning, management, and development of AE regulatory, compliance, and communications functions workforce with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
6. Coordinates the development and implementation of occupational health and safety programs across AE that foster a strong and supportive safety culture.
7. Directs or serves as a formal liaison for AE in all matters of interest with governmental and regulatory agencies, boards, councils, and commissions.
8. Advises the General Manager and other executives on matters pertaining to legal, regulatory, compliance, and communications functions and ensures all functions are operating together effectively to achieve the strategic initiatives and goals.
9. Coordinates AE’s participation in industry organizations and ensures appropriate representation in stakeholder committees, task forces, and working groups.
10. Provides strategic direction informing AE’s legal positions related to utility operations, transactions, and regulatory filings working closely with the City Attorney and Law Department/Utilities Division Chief.

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

• Knowledge of Local, State, and Federal laws, regulations, and ordinances affecting the utility.
• Knowledge and expertise in the areas of electric industry as they relate to regulatory, compliance, and communications functions.
• Knowledge of strategic business planning, reengineering, organizational change strategies, and performance measurement to achieve business excellence.
• Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of equity, including experience in applying equity frameworks to established laws, ordinances, and long-standing practices.
• Skill in developing flexible and adaptable strategies to achieve organizational goals by understanding the organizational capabilities and external market conditions, the regulatory environment, and technological advancements.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with City employees, City Council, the media, and the public.
• Skill in creating customer value and addressing evolving customer needs.
• Ability to design short- and long-term strategies/programs that are scalable and efficient in a large and complex organization.
• Ability to meet customer expectations.
• Ability to implement current best practices of leadership and management through training and maintaining an engaged work environment; develop staff to act with a focus on the future, be adaptable, overcome resistance to change, and execute with a sense of urgency.
• 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 develop, implement, and administer goals, objectives, and procedures for providing effective and efficient services for AE and the City of Austin.
• Ability to work with, and coordinate between, multiple City departments and internal business units to meet goals and objectives.
• Ability to make decisions and develop innovative approaches to deal with frequent change or unexpected events and to handle conflict and uncertain situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; develop and deliver public presentations.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Public Affairs, Communications, or in a field related to the job.
• Minimum eight years of experience with progressively increasing responsibilities relevant to the electric utility industry, including four years of experience which were in an executive capacity.
• Graduation from an accredited law school.

Admission to the State Bar of Texas