Project Manager/ Project Mgr II/ Sr. Project Mgr, Electric Grid

NYSERDA; New York (NY); On-site; USD 82,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

NYSERDA, a leader in energy planning and grid innovation, seeks a Project Manager to plan, develop and manage interventions that accelerate grid-enhancing technologies. You will work with a broad set of stakeholders to overcome market barriers and attract private capital for scalable solutions.

The role supports the Power Grid Innovation team, overseeing contracts, budgets, and performance reporting while traveling 10–20% of the time across New York State.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant experience in the electricity sector or a related field.
• Preferred: Master’s degree and 4 years of experience in the electric grid sector.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in a related field enhances qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement high-impact interventions that leverage financing opportunities for grid modernization efforts.
• Identify market barriers and opportunities through analysis, research and industry engagement.
• Work closely with the department of public service and utilities on grid flexibility interventions.
• Manage implementation of initiatives, monitor initiative performance and provide recommendations grounded in analysis and feedback.
• Oversee consultants and contracts including statements of work, budgeting and invoicing.
• Prepare reports on program performance for internal/external audiences.

Skills

Project management

Electric grid sector

Stakeholder engagement

Budgeting

MS Office

Salesforce

Tableau

Asana

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Tableau

Asana

Job description

As a leader in advancing New York’s energy transition, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a credible, objective and trusted partner in energy planning and in deploying new innovative technologies to build an affordable, abundant, reliable, and clean energy system. NYSERDA works with stakeholders statewide, including residents, business owners, developers, community leaders, local government officials, universities, utilities, investors, entrepreneurs, and more, to develop, invest, and foster conditions that:

• Attract the private sector capital investment needed to expand New York’s clean energy economy.
• Advance solutions for using clean energy at a large-scale in New York.
• Enable New York’s communities and residents to benefit equitably in the clean energy transition.

Job Overview

The Project Manager/ Project Manager II/ Sr. Project Manager - Power Grid Innovation will have an integral role in planning, developing and managing interventions and strategies that overcome market barriers, encourage private capital investment and accelerate the advancement, scale and adoption of grid enhancing technologies. The interventions span the entire grid from transmission lines to the grid edge to enable a high performing system that is required for the evolving load and generation sources.

The NYSERDA Power Grid Innovation R&D team consists of experienced R&D professionals that invest in power grid innovation including feasibility assessments, applied research studies, product development, and pilots and demonstrations. The existing portfolio includes over $100 million in investments across transmission, distribution, storage, and other innovations that broadly support energy flexibility and deliverability. The team will invest an additional $80 million over the next 5 years on the most critical grid challenges.

The Project Manager/ Project Manager II/ Sr. Project Manager will be expected to travel approximately 10-15% of professionally committed time to meet with team members, stakeholders and potential partners. This position will report to the Program Manager, Power Grid Innovation.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement high-impact interventions that leverage financing opportunities for grid modernization efforts.
• Identify market barriers and opportunities through analysis and research and industry engagement
• Work closely with the department of public service and utilities on grid flexibility interventions.
• Manage implementation of initiatives, monitor initiative performance and provide recommendations grounded in analysis and market feedback to optimize interventions for greater impact.
• Oversee the work of consultants and contractors including writing statements of work, issuing contracts, budgeting, and invoicing.
• Oversee formal reporting of program performance (internally and externally, support the accounting of corporate metrics and strategic planning). Periodically prepare reports on technology development to inform public officials and other interests about the status of technological advancements. Reports must present information concisely and convey technical information in a form that is understandable to non-technical readers
• Represent NYSERDA at meetings and events with external stakeholders
• Contribute to a team culture of openness and collaboration
• Actively manage a broad range of technical projects, contactors and budget with a clear focus on commercialization/adoption.
• Research, track and analyze policies at the state, regional, federal, and global level on topics relevant to transmission and distribution system planning and operations. Apply understanding of the state of development of enabling technologies to program implementation strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve program creation and delivery by collaborating with internal and external stakeholders and benchmarking program activities against other entities having similar programs and/or mandates
• Develop solicitations offering public funding in support of smart grid technologies (advanced sensors, diagnostics, models, communications, and controls) and related process and business practices that promote improved grid performance and market transactions
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities as assigned
• Ability to demonstrate respect, equity and inclusive behavior and practices of a diverse workforce and community.
• Perform all job responsibilities with respect, fairness, consistency, and inclusion.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have demonstrated experience in the electric grid sector.
• Project Manager (Salary range $81,858 - $137,206 )
  • Required: Bachelor's degree and 5 years' experience of relevant experience in the electricity sector or a related field.
  • Preferred: Master’s degree and 4 years of experience in the electric grid sector
• Project Manager II (Salary range $97,874-$137,206)
  • Required: Bachelor’s degree and 6 years of relevant experience in the electricity sector or a related field.
  • Preferred: Master’s degree with 5 years of experience in the electric grid sector.
• Sr. Project Manager (Salary range $120,471-$152,238)
  • Required: Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of relevant experience in the electricity sector or a related field.
  • Preferred: Master’s degree with 6 yearsof experience in the electric grid sector
• Experience with new technology development and/or implementation
• Proficiency with MS Office packages and knowledge of Salesforce, Tableau, Asana
• Travel Requirements: 10 to 20% travel across New York State – for project and site visits as well as meeting with team members

Preferred Qualifications

• Location preference: Albany
• 10 years of experience in the electric grid sector.
• Genuine passion for issues related to energy, environment, and sustainable economic development
• Experience with transmission and distribution planning, regulation, or analysis - working with distributed system operators (DSO), integrating innovation into power systems (planning and operations), electric systems components at a utility or component vendor or research organization (e.g., laboratory, university).
• Dealing with investigation, evaluation, testing, and/or adoption of innovative power system technologies.
• The decision-making considerations in demand side market design, grid flexibility, and utility planning and operations.
• Power grid needs for operations, metering, telemetry, and settlements.
• Exemplary project management skills with the ability to set priorities, develop and execute on a workplan, balance research, analysis, a stakeholder engagement with pragmatism, and an action-bias to deliver activity in the market
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability with a proactive and collaborative style
• Ability to analyze information and data to think holistically through complex problems with technical and non-technical components
• Ability to work independently and cross-functionally with other teams
• Top‑open presentation and interpersonal skills that resonate with audiences of different backgrounds; the ability to communicate persuasively, concisely and unambiguously in speech and writing