Regulatory Affairs Director

Position Summary:

Lead NRECA expert and advocate for all matters pertaining to the assigned area of responsibility. Responsible for engaging with, informing, and educating internal and external audiences and members on related issues.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Advocacy
• Anticipates internal and/or external policy and regulatory issues and recommends strategies to improve NRECA service excellence and reduce impacts on NRECA and its members.
• Solves unique and complex problems that have a broad impact on NRECA and its members, using conceptual and innovative thinking to develop solutions.
• Engages with NRECA members to develop consensus on priority needs and policy positions.
• Works independently, with minimal guidance, within general functional policies and industry guidance related to area of responsibility to impact the direction and resource allocation for regulatory program, project, and services for NRECA and its members.
• Contributes to the development of a strategic plan to enable NRECA to act proactively, to get out ahead on key issues, and to focus resources relating to area of responsibility to best meet members’ short-term and long-term needs.
• Consistent with the strategic plan, and using all resources and advocacy paths available, directs and participates in all agency, court, media, and other policy advocacy relating to area of responsibility.
• Manages outside counsel and consultants, as assigned.
• Personally advocates and negotiates, with minimal guidance, technical and substantive issues directly with senior policy makers and staff.
• Builds, manages, and actively participates in various external and internal committees, subcommittees, and coalitions with other stakeholders, as assigned, to represent NRECA and its members’ interests.
• Assists with selecting witnesses and/or preparing testimony, white papers, and/or talking points, with minimal guidance, to be used during Congressional hearings, agency meetings, and other external communications by NRECA and its members.
• Builds and maintains relationships in the policy community and industry in order to enhance own and NRECA’s reputation, access, and advocacy efforts.
• Builds recognition as technical expert with NRECA and field of responsibility.

Member Education

• Responsible for informing and educating members about issues arising in area of responsibility in order to help them comply with laws, regulations and/or mandatory industry standards and adjust their business activities consistent with industry and policy trends.
• Helps set the agenda for, attends, and participates in Annual, Regional, and other NRECA meetings as appropriate, and provides advice and consultation to the NRECA Board, NRECA Standing and other committees.
• Contributes consistently to the Regulatory Bulletin, the Regulatory Looking Ahead, Week Ahead, Notes, Issues to Watch, REMagazine, and all other resources that have been or may be developed to keep NRECA staff and NRECA members informed about activities relating to area of responsibility.
• Continuing Education
• Possesses specialized depth and/or breath of expertise pertaining to area of responsibility and has broad knowledge of other regulatory issues.
• Builds in-depth knowledge about the members’ business needs, policy positions, and internal politics.
• Works continuously to maintain, enhance, and expand knowledge of membership and area of responsibility.
• Coordination and Communication:
• Leads project teams to achieve milestones and objectives for projects with notable risk and complexity, includes developing the strategy for project execution.
• Communicates complex ideas, anticipates potential objections, and negotiates with others, often at internal and external senior levels, to influence decisions.
• Works closely with colleagues in Government Relations, Communications, Business and Technologies Strategies and others in the building, to enhance efforts on responsibilities 1-3 and to support others’ efforts on related issues.
• Keeps NRECA leadership and management and NRECA membership informed on issues relating to area of responsibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

Direct Reports To This Position

None

Qualifications

Formal Education Required:

Juris Doctor, Master’s or other advanced degree relating to area of responsibility, or 10 years of related work experience with federal/state agencies or industry related to the assigned area of responsibility.

Experience And Certifications Required

• 7 years of experience working at or with the federal and/or state agency or industry relating to the assigned area of responsibility.
• 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.
• Experience working effectively as a member of a team to bring diverse skills to advocacy efforts.
• Experience at a trade association and with electric cooperatives is preferred.
• Experience advocating on issues within the assigned area of responsibility also preferred.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required (as demonstrated by prior work experience):

• Knowledge of the electric utility industry, the electric cooperative sector, and the legal framework governing the regulation of the electric utility industry.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and multiple projects at various stages of development using effective organization skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work with a wide variety of people to foster cooperation in sharing information and materials.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively to achieve advocacy goals of the members.
• Ability to lead people and foster collaborative skills and consensus building while operating in a fast-moving environment.
• Ability to effectively interact with others and work in a team environment and providing follow-up when needed.
• Ability to define issues, establish facts and draw valid conclusions and apply to work environment.
• Ability to be persuasive, negotiate, and collaborate with individuals at all levels inside and outside of the organization.
• Ability to anticipate internal and or external business challenges and/or regulatory issues; recommends process, product or service improvements.
• Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, with a diverse membership, employees, stakeholders and/or government officials in a clear and precise manner.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office tools (i.e., Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point) in the day-to-day essential duties of the job.
• Ability to operate various office equipment such as personal computer, copier, printer, fax machine, 10-key adding machine, and multiple line telephone.
• Ability to provide service excellence by building relationships, being resourceful, responsive and respectful.

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.

Additional Requirement

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail [email protected] or call: 703-907-5992 – NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call 402-483-9275 – NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

EEO is the Law. The law requires NRECA to post a notice describing the Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination. For information regarding your legal rights and protections, please click on the following link: EEO is the Law and EEO is the Law Supplement .

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

E-Verify. As a Federal Contractor, NRECA is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify .