Regulatory Affairs Director, Large Loads and Market Policy

As a member of our Government Relations department, you will be joining a team that advocates on behalf of NRECA members on federal legislative and regulatory matters and in national policy forums and develops and trains our grassroots to impact policies at the federal, state and local level. NRECA has the top policy brand reputation among trade associations in Washington, D.C. for the last 4 consecutive years.

Summary of Position

NRECA seeks an experienced and strategic policy professional to advance its work on issues at the intersection of large-load growth, wholesale electricity markets, and electric cooperative policy.

As electric demand growth accelerates due to data centers, advanced manufacturing, electrification, and other large energy users, electric cooperatives face new challenges and opportunities related to resource adequacy, transmission investment, generation planning, distribution infrastructure, reliability, and affordability. This position will help NRECA anticipate, assess, and influence policies governing how large new electric loads are integrated into the nation's electric system and how associated costs, reliability obligations, and infrastructure investments are allocated. This position requires 5 full days in office with flexibility offered at the discretion of management.

Key Responsibilities:

Large Load Policy

• Collaborate with NRECA government affairs experts to monitor, assess, and develop policy positions on large electric loads, including data centers, advanced manufacturing, and other high-demand customers.
• Analyze regulatory, market, and policy developments and their impact on cooperative generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
• Evaluate issues involving load interconnection, infrastructure investment, cost allocation, reliability, resource adequacy, and resource planning.
• Engage with member cooperatives to understand operational challenges and opportunities associated with serving large electric loads and incorporate those insights into advocacy efforts.
• Support development of advocacy strategies and policy recommendations aligned with cooperative needs and evolving federal and market policies.

Market Policy and Analysis

• Monitor and assess developments across organized wholesale electricity markets, including PJM, MISO, SPP, ERCOT, NYISO, ISO-NE, and CAISO.
• Evaluate market approaches to large-load integration, resource adequacy, transmission planning, interconnection reform, market design, and infrastructure investment.
• Identify emerging trends, compare regional market practices, and assess implications for electric cooperatives.
• Partner with NRECA's government relations team to develop policy positions on wholesale market, reliability, and resource adequacy issues.

Advocacy and Strategy Development:

• Support engagement with federal agencies, regional market operators, Congress, the Administration, and other stakeholders on large-load and market policy issues.
• Anticipate emerging policy issues and help position NRECA to influence outcomes proactively.
• Develop policy papers, issue briefs, comments, presentations, member resources, and other advocacy materials.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• 10+ years of relevant work experience demonstrating the ability to navigate emerging policy challenges where established frameworks and precedents may be limited.
• 7+ years written and oral policy advocacy in formal and informal agency and stakeholder proceedings.
• Experience building and working through coalitions and through outside consultants to advance advocacy goals.
• Bachelor's degree required.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• Juris Doctor, Master's or other advanced degree relating to area of responsibility preferred.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.
• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Salary Range: $186,000 - $230,000 annual salary

Final compensation determined by individual qualifications, experience, and internal equity.