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We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.
Job Description
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, is the nation’s primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The Water Power Deployment and Commercialization group within the Energy Conversion and Storage Systems (ECaSS) Center works on alleviating market barriers and enabling commercialization for marine energy and hydropower systems. Staff in Water Power Deployment and Commercialization have broad expertise in policy and regulatory analysis, STEM and workforce development, stakeholder engagement, and industry network development.
Water Power Deployment and Commercialization is looking for a full-time Water Power Policy and Engagement Analyst, who will work closely with teams in NREL’s crosscutting hydropower and marine energy programs to implement policy and market analysis, as well as stakeholder engagement for hydropower, marine energy, and hybrid systems. The candidate will be responsible for leading and contributing to collaborative research projects that support the analysis of enabling policies and market scenarios for hydropower and marine energy systems, particularly low impact hydropower and offshore energy systems for both grid and off-grid applications in small, community, and grid-scale demonstration and deployment opportunities.
- Analyze federal, regional, and state level policies and incentives which may affect hydropower and ocean energy development
- Contribute to regional hydropower and marine energy siting, permitting, and stakeholder engagement studies and related stakeholder resources, including as it pertains to community benefits identification and development
- Identify the costs and benefits of hydropower and marine energy systems and determine end user needs
- Develop and assess co-benefits of hydropower and marine energy in regions where development is being considered
- Identify and engage with end users and partners who are interested in supporting the development of hydropower and ocean energy to benefit their local economies
- Contribute to crosscutting energy justice focused initiatives surrounding hydropower and ocean energy development
To successfully support these activities, the ideal candidate should have experience researching and working with communities to integrate renewable energy systems that balance community needs with the sustainable energy systems within broader community ecosystems. Accomplishing the initiative objectives will require interactions between systems within the community ecosystem, including energy, economic, environmental, and social systems and considerations are balanced and addressed in any proposed solutions.
The ideal candidate will also have explicit familiarity with the barriers to market adoption for hydropower and marine energy systems. In addition, a proven history of successful project management, proposal development and engagement with tribal, local, and state government, as well as interest groups is required.
Basic Qualifications
Relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience. Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 9 or more years of experience. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Excellent leadership, communication, problem solving and project management skills. Ability to use various computer software programs.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Proven engagement for the betterment of communities, preferably around technology adoption
- Deep understanding of the interactions between energy systems and community ecosystems, related challenges and engineering problem solving and investigation techniques
- Demonstrated leadership and project management experience
- Experience collaborating with other National laboratories, Universities, and other governmental agencies that work in water power (e.g. FERC, USACE, USBR, DoD, Naval Research labs, etc.)
- Expertise with the regulatory bodies and processes for hydropower and marine energy.
Preferred Qualifications
- Ph.D. or Master’s in Business or Policy, particularly at the intersection of renewable energy, social impact, and/or resource management
- Professional experience in community support and engagement
- Project management and budget adherence experience.
- Excellent time management skills with demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple projects.
- Excellent writing, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Presentation and publishing of scientific and engineering work at international conferences and primarily through journal publications.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a large dynamic team environment with evolving requirements and schedules.
- Practical knowledge of procedures and techniques for inventive problem solving and innovation.
- Experience with customer relations to understand needs and develop value-added solutions.
- Experience with stakeholder engagement and outreach to local, state, and federal agencies.
Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
