Principal Product Manager

PG&E; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 144,000 - 244,000; Full time

Job summary

PG&E’s GRID department seeks a Principal Product Manager to coordinate Gas RD&D investment plans, liaise with regulators, and advance EPIC and Gas RD&D initiatives. The role is hybrid, located in Oakland, CA, with compensation reflecting Bay Area ranges.

The successful candidate will oversee select EPIC and Gas RD&D projects, mature the team’s innovation practice, and ensure regulatory compliance across complex program requirements. Requires strong analytical and stakeholder skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field
• 10 years of job-related experience
• MBA or advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

• Portfolio Planning: facilitate ideation, prioritization, and strategic alignment.
• Regulatory & External Coordination: coordinate with CPUC; prepare for deep dives and filings.
• Project Oversight: oversee 1–2 key projects; governance and value realization.
• Process Alignment & Improvement: enhance governance and procedures for new regs and tech roadmaps.

Skills

Portfolio planning

Regulatory coordination

Stakeholder management

Project oversight

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor of Arts or Science in Business, Economics, Marketing, Psychology, or related

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Department Overview

Join the Innovation Strategy & Programs (IS&P) team within PG&E's Grid Research Innovation & Development (GRID) department and help us change the electric utility industry from the inside!

In 2022, PG&E articulated its True North Strategy (TNS), a bold breakthrough vision that charts a course toward achieving our purpose and climate commitments over the next 10 years. The mission of Innovation Strategy & Programs (IS&P), where this role sits, is to ensure that PG&E can bring the technologies that support the TNS vision of a resilient, decarbonized, optimized energy system from conception to reality through a rigorous R&D practice. To do so, IS&P leads PG&E's R&D Strategy, by maintaining an R&D Strategy Report in line with our TNS objectives and conducting large scale Innovation Summit and Innovation Pitch Fest events to bring our strategy to life and build coalitions with external stakeholders.

Our team also leads PG&E's Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) and Gas Research, Development & Demonstration (Gas RD&D) programs which are collectively funded at around $25M/year and together represent one of the nation's biggest and most advanced utility R&D functions. These programs enable PG&E and other California organizations to demonstrate novel technology solutions to meet emerging energy system needs and achieve the state's ambitious energy policy goals.

Position Summary

The Principal Product Manager on the IS&P team will be responsible for a range of functions related to EPIC and Gas RD&D. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating the development of PG&E's annual Gas RD&D investment plans. They will also serve as the primary point of coordination with our Gas RD&D regulators and other internal and external stakeholders and ensure PG&E's compliance with a myriad of program requirements. The Principal Product Manager will also be responsible for helping to mature the team's overarching practice of innovation, to create greater impact for both the EPIC and Gas RD&D portfolio and directly oversee a subset of our highest-impact EPIC and Gas RD&D projects.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The work location is Oakland, CA.

PG&E is providing the full salary/pay range for this position. The actual amount paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, and geographic location. The range to reasonably expect will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the range. The final decision will be made on a case‑by‑case basis related to the factors above. This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E's discretionary incentive compensation programs.

Bay Area Minimum: $144,000.00

Bay Area Midpoint: $194,000.00

Bay Area Maximum: $244,000.00

Job Responsibilities

• Portfolio Planning
  • Facilitates project ideation, prioritization, project selection, and strategic alignment
  • Supports project teams in creating robust project concept proposals and business plans including documentation of scope, timeline, budget, benefits, risks/mitigations and programmatic compliance requirements. This also includes performing benchmarking, vendor and technology due diligence, and facilitating alignment on project objectives, scope, use‑cases, etc.
  • Influences enterprise innovation strategy and future R&D investment priorities
• Regulatory & External Coordination
  • Serves as the primary point of coordination with the CPUC for the Gas RD&D program
  • Leads the preparation for, and facilitation of, program deep dives and other meetings with the CPUC
  • Represents PG&E at formal workshops with the general public
  • Leads the development of content for formal regulatory filings such as PG&E's annual Gas RD&D plans, leads annual reporting to the CPUC, and manages data requests.
  • Ensures compliance with the myriad of CPUC requirements over the Gas RD&D program
  • Coordinates with the CEC and other California utilities to maintain alignment across portfolios and identifies and acts on any opportunities for collaboration and portfolio synergies during program execution.
• Project Oversight
  • Directly oversees 1-2 key projects within PG&E's EPIC and Gas RD&D portfolios
  • Enables project teams to successfully develop and implement projects through strong, client-oriented support service and centralized governance.
  • Embeds in program team to drive business value by developing and applying a sound technical understanding of projects, awareness of technology landscape/benchmarking, stakeholder and organizational dynamics, and program requirements.
  • Facilitates alignment of all internal (and external where appropriate) stakeholders, including senior leadership throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Facilitates closure/completion of projects including production of project closeout documentation.
• Process Alignment & Improvement
  • Establishes and oversees improved processes that support compliance with any new regulatory requirements
  • Establishes and oversees improved processes that support the transition of successful R&D projects into technology roadmaps and investment plans for broader technology integration and deployment
  • Identifies opportunities to improve and streamline R&D governance processes and procedures and leads teams to implement changes. Develops documentation outlining procedures and guidelines for the department and for project teams.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Business, Economics, Marketing, Psychology, or related, or equivalent experience.
• Job-related experience, 10 years

Desired:

• Master in Business Administration, Public Policy, Engineering or other advanced degree
• Utility experience and/or understanding of gas and electric system operations, including familiarity with utility information and operational technology systems
• Familiarity with program management including governance, compliance, roles & responsibilities, methodologies, processes and procedures
• Track record in executing grant applications and managing grant‑funded program
• Experience scaling emerging technologies from pilot to operations
• Consulting experience
• Strong demonstrated capability in constructing business cases for executive leadership
• Demonstrated strong work ethic and exceptional levels of accountability, self‑drive, and business judgment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort using AI tools (i.e. Microsoft CoPilot) to enhance clarity and efficiency
• Strong analytical and technical skills in Excel, PowerPoint, Word
• Familiarity with information technology implementation and/or systems development and implementation lifecycles from both a technical (IT) and functional (business) perspective