Energy Markets & Utility Planning Manager- (Hybrid/Remote)

ICF Olson; United States; Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 184,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a Manager to lead energy markets work, focusing on power systems, resource planning, and regulatory strategy in the U.S. This hybrid role in Reston, VA or remote requests strong delivery and leadership across client engagements.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in power markets or energy consulting, with proven ability to guide long-term planning tools and communicate results to executives and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in power markets, utility planning, or energy consulting.
• Experience leading projects and teams for utilities or power sector clients.
• Ability to communicate complex analyses to technical and management audiences.

Responsibilities

• Grow client relationships by identifying opportunities and contributing to scopes of work and proposals.
• Lead client-facing projects connecting long-term planning and market analysis to utility decisions.
• Translate modeling results into clear recommendations for planning and regulatory audiences.
• Mentor junior staff and manage day-to-day project direction.
• Develop external-facing content and participate in industry events to share insights.

Skills

Client relationship management

Project leadership

Communication skills

Regulatory analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in energy systems, engineering, or economics

Graduate degree is a plus

Job description

Title: Manager – Energy Markets & Utility Planning

Location & Travel: This position is based in Reston, VA (hybrid) or U.S. remote. Travel is expected for client meetings and select industry events. Join our team as a Manager supporting high-impact work in U.S. power markets, utility planning, and regulatory strategy. We are looking for a strong industry professional with experience at a utility or in consulting who can lead projects and teams in applying long-term planning tools (e.g., capacity expansion and production cost models) to help clients solve business challenges related to resource strategy, transmission, market exposure, and utility investment decisions. This individual should bring a thoughtful point of view on industry issues, communicate clearly with clients and stakeholders, and help grow our work through strong delivery, leadership, market insight, and external engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Business development & client relationships: Help grow client relationships by identifying opportunities, contributing to proposals and scopes of work, and building credibility through strong delivery, sound judgment, and a practical understanding of utility business needs.
• Thought leadership: Develop and contribute to external-facing content and industry conversations through conference participation, articles, workshops, webinars, and other activities that demonstrate a clear point of view on utility economics, market design, implementation challenges, and related power market issues.
• Client delivery & advisory: Lead client-facing projects that connect long-term planning and market analysis to utility decisions, including resource strategy, procurement, market exposure, and investment choices across generation, transmission, and demand-side resources. Work with clients and internal teams to frame business problems, guide analytical approaches, and develop practical recommendations that reflect both market realities and implementation constraints.
• Technical translation: Apply and interpret long-term planning tools and production cost models, help shape scenarios and assumptions, and translate complex analytical results into clear recommendations for planning, regulatory, and business audiences.
• Team leadership: Lead and mentor junior staff, support day-to-day direction of project teams, and contribute to high-quality deliverables, while continuing to deepen technical, market, and client leadership skills.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in energy systems, engineering, economics, or a related field; graduate degree is a plus but not required provided relevant experience exists.
• 10+ years of experience in power markets, utility planning, or energy consulting.
• Prior utility or consulting experience applying long-term planning tools and production cost models to power system planning questions is required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead work for utilities and other power sector clients on planning, market, or regulatory questions, with comfort engaging both technical and management-level audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to help grow client relationships, contribute to proposals and other market-facing activities, and pair strong client delivery with sound commercial instincts in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead project tasks or workstreams, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and support the development of more junior staff.
• Experience with integrated system planning and utility resource decision-making is a plus.
• Experience using and interpreting long-term planning, production cost, and related market modeling approaches to support strategic decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to turn complex analyses into clear and compelling client narratives.
• Experience supporting regulatory proceedings, including filings, testimony development, discovery support, or expert analysis.
• Experience with long-term economic transmission planning, load forecasting, scenario planning, or probabilistic/stochastic modeling is a plus.

Pay Range

Pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: $108,476.00 - $184,409.00 Nationwide Remote Office (US99). There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position.

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO policy. We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation, please email [e-mail] and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Read more about workplace discrimination rights or our benefit offerings which are included in the Transparency in (Benefits) Coverage Act. Candidate AI Usage Policy At ICF, we are committed to ensuring a fair interview process for all candidates based on their own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is not permitted. This policy is in place to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the interview process. However, we understand that some candidates may require accommodation that involves the use of AI. If such an accommodation is needed, candidates are instructed to contact us in advance at [e-mail]. We are dedicated to providing the necessary support to ensure that all candidates have an equal opportunity to succeed.