(Agile1)Operations Data Analyst, Expert

Mindlance; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Provided equipment

Job summary

Mindlance is seeking a Business Data Analyst to advance assessment and valuation of flexible load resources and integrate them into planning and operations. The role collaborates with utility planning, engineering, and load management strategy to translate insights into actionable load management solutions.

The position emphasizes developing analytical tools, dashboards, and executive-ready materials to support strategic decisions and DER valuation.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities to develop criteria and methodologies for incorporating flexible load resources into planning scenarios by working with planners to identify areas with overloads, reliability issues, and operational risks.
• Connect with experts to understand available data sources and develop strategies that support the efficient management and application of that data to inform key decision-making.
• Support the development of executive and board-level materials by synthesizing analytical findings, insights, and recommendations for key stakeholders and decision makers.
• Support regulatory strategy, proceedings, stakeholder engagement, and DER valuation discussions with the CPUC, CEC, California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and other stakeholders.
• Leverage research and analysis to provide insights to planning and operations professionals on cost-effective ways to use flexible load resources to solve grid constraints.
• Develop dashboards, visualizations, and executive-ready materials that translate complex technical and financial analyses into actionable recommendations.

Job description

MSP Notes:

Hybrid is ideal (~2x per month), but we are open to fully remote for good candidates

TOP THINGS:

• Analytical proficiency
• model building experience
• penchant for action

EQUIPMENT:

• Client laptop and client phone will be provided

Department Overview

The Strategy and Innovation (S&I) team is focused on enabling an electrified, clean-energy 2040 with affordable rates for our customers through innovation and partnerships that deliver transformative, scalable solutions to interlocking utility challenges; electrification of vehicles and buildings to achieve beneficial electric load growth that delights customers; and electric load management solutions to support load growth while mitigating infrastructure and procurement spend.

In 2022, Client articulated its True North Strategy (TNS), a bold, breakthrough vision that charts a course over the next 15 years toward achieving our purpose and climate commitments. The Load Management Strategy & Policy (LMS&P) team leads the ongoing development and deployment of the TNS Supply & Load Business Plan, including crafting, implementing, and refining plans to move strategy into action. In this capacity, the team directs the company’s strategy, policy, market development, solutions design, and alignment of current and future solutions in support of the Load Management strategy.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work headquarters in Oakland.

Position Summary

The Business Data Analyst is responsible for advancing the assessment and valuation of flexible load resource opportunities and integrating them into transmission, distribution, and energy procurement planning and operations processes to unlock new flexible capacity and delay, or eliminate, the need to expand existing infrastructure, construct new power lines, or procure additional energy supply. The successful candidate will work closely with professionals in utility planning and engineering organizations, solutions design, and load management strategy to provide insights on the optimal placement and orchestration of distributed energy resources (DERs), as well as how to incorporate, evaluate, and scale the use of flexible load resources in Client’s planning processes and operations.

Job Responsibilities

Strategy

• Identify opportunities to develop criteria and methodologies for incorporating flexible load resources into planning scenarios by working with planners to identify areas with overloads, reliability issues, and operational risks.
• Connect with experts to understand available data sources and develop strategies that support the efficient management and application of that data to inform key decision-making.
• Support the development of executive and board-level materials by synthesizing analytical findings, insights, and recommendations for key stakeholders and decision makers.
• Support regulatory strategy, proceedings, stakeholder engagement, and DER valuation discussions with the CPUC, CEC, California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and other stakeholders.

Analysis

• Leverage research and analysis to provide insights to planning and operations professionals on cost-effective ways to use flexible load resources to solve grid constraints.
• Design and execute field studies and planning analyses to validate the firmness, duration, and magnitude of load relief, rate impacts*** and financial outcomes delivered by DERs.
• Develop an inventory of technical requirements to inform future load management program design and regulatory filings aligned with Client’s True North Strategy.
• Support the development, enhancement, and application of analytical tools, including complex techno-economic modeling, forecasting, data analysis, and program evaluation, to help inform Client's internal load management and DER strategy.
• Gather, evaluate, and manage market, financial, regulatory, and other relevant industry data to support DER valuation and cost-effectiveness analyses.
• Develop dashboards, visualizations, and executive-ready materials that translate complex technical and financial analyses into actionable recommendations.

Project and Change Management

• Serve as a liaison between the LMS&P and Transmission and Distribution planning teams to integrate learnings into Client’s planning, procurement, and business processes to leverage flexible resources at scale.
• Conduct benchmarking studies and use relevant industry data to support program and strategy development. Serve as the point person for cross-utility benchmarking and industry initiatives.
• Collaborate with valuation and strategy leads to develop and apply DER valuation methodologies, including project planning, tool deployment, progress tracking, and stakeholder communications.
• Coordinate with internal teams, external vendors, aggregators, and industry partners to