Director Regulatory, Carbon

Shell; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Shell is seeking a Director, Regulatory Carbon to lead regulatory strategy for North America from either Houston or San Diego, with remote work option. You will monitor evolving carbon programs (CA/WA/RGGI/Quebec), advise on commercial implications, and coordinate with trading teams to navigate regulatory changes and compliance across the Americas.

You will build relationships with regulators, trade associations, and policy makers, developing positions and advocating for competitive markets

Qualifications

• Legal authorization to work in the US on a full-time basis.
• Bachelor's degree or higher (Business or Law/Policy preferred).
• Minimum 10 years industry experience in carbon markets.
• In-depth knowledge of California WA RGGI Quebec cap-and-trade programs.
• Experience with RNG markets and clean fuel programs is a plus.
• Ability to translate regulatory developments into actionable commercial recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as regulatory advisor to Commercial team on regulatory drivers affecting portfolio performance.
• Monitor carbon market, regulatory, and political developments and communicate business impacts.
• Provide regulatory guidance to trading, origination, and power trading teams.
• Track policy developments across North American carbon programs and analyze impact on trading desk.
• Evaluate regulatory programs to assess impacts on allowances, offsets, RNG, and credits.
• Develop policy positions through regulatory proceedings and stakeholder engagements.
• Build relationships with regulators and industry groups to advance Shell Energy objectives.
• Oversee regulatory reporting obligations and training coordination.
• Prepare agency reports, permits, and licenses as needed.

Skills

Regulatory analysis

Carbon markets

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Policy advocacy

Regulatory reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Law/Policy background

Job description

California, United States of America

Job Family Group: Legal Jobs

Worker Type: Regular

Posting Start Date: October 5, 2026

Business Unit: Trading and Supply

Experience Level: Experienced Professionals

Job Description

What's the role

Shell is seeking a Director, Regulatory Carbon (also known internally as Regulatory Manager, Carbon) to join its team in Houston, Texas, or San Diego, California.

This role supports the SEAm Environmental Products Trading, RNG Origination, and Renewable & Energy Solutions businesses by monitoring market activities and regulatory changes, advocating externally for competitive markets, communicating regulatory updates and their impacts to commercial teams, advising on regulatory matters to facilitate commercial transactions within existing regulations across the Americas, and overseeing compliance obligations and reporting requirements.

This role is preferably based in Houston, Texas or San Diego, California, but can also be performed remotely. Relocation support will be offered to the successful candidate for this opportunity if they are moving from another city/state; as per our Shell relocation guidelines

Accountabilities

• Serve as the primary regulatory advisor to the Commercial team to understand Shell's commercial position and the key regulatory drivers that impact portfolio performance and risk. Be proactive in advising Commercial team of potential changes in regulatory landscape and coordinating with team to develop appropriate responses
• Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, and political developments affecting cap-and-trade carbon markets, clean fuel programs, RNG, and communicate business impacts to internal stakeholders. (Focus: 80% Carbon and 20% RNG/clean fuels)
• Provide regulatory guidance and market intelligence to the environmental products trading team, RNG origination, and power trading teams to support commercial decision-making and risk management
• Track and evaluate proposed and developing policy, legislative and market developments across major North American carbon programs (California cap-and-Invest, WA cap-and-Invest, RGGI, Quebec cap and trade) and provide timely analysis to support the carbon trading desk's positioning
• Evaluate proposed and developing regulatory programs across North America to determine potential impacts on carbon allowances and offsets, renewable natural gas, low-carbon fuel credits, environmental attributes, and related trading activities
• Develop and advocate policy positions through participation in regulatory proceedings, legislative processes, trade associations, and stakeholder engagements, in coordination with Corporate Relations and Government Relations teams
• Build and maintain relationships with regulators, policymakers, market administrators, industry stakeholders, and trade associations to advance Shell Energy's commercial and policy objectives. Serve on trade association and 501(c)(3) boards of directors, deriving benefits from memberships while coordinating advocacy efforts and building consensus within these groups
• Monitor regulatory reporting obligations and support the preparation, verification, and submission of required greenhouse gas reports
• Assess and coordinate implementation of new regulatory requirements, ensuring affected business teams understand compliance obligations and operational impacts
• Oversee carbon allowance and credit transfer activities in the United States and Canada, including associated reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Prepare and submit agency reports, permits, and licenses as needed
• Coordinate development of and work with others to provide regulatory training
• Review rules affecting implementation of projects being evaluated

What you bring

• Must have legal authorization to work in the US on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer
• Bachelor's degree or higher required (Business or Law/Policy or equivalent preferred)
• Minimum of 10 years industry experience in carbon markets
• In-depth technical and commercial understanding of carbon markets - California cap-and-Invest, WA cap-and-Invest, RGGI, and/or Quebec cap and trade
• Good technical and commercial understanding of clean fuel programs, RNG markets, and greenhouse gas accounting frameworks. Deep knowledge of existing and emerging regulations in U.S. and Canada. Familiarity of regulatory programs in Europe and Asia, including the ability to assess commercial implications of proposed policy changes is a plus
• Familiarity with greenhouse gas accounting methodologies, lifecycle carbon intensity frameworks, emissions reporting protocols, sustainability certification programs, and environmental claims requirements to support market participation and compliance is a plus
• Proven ability to translate complex regulatory developments into actionable commercial recommendations and identify opportunities that create competitive advantage
• Strong strategic thinking skills, including the ability to anticipate regulatory shifts and as