Senior Manager, Texas Clean Affordable Power

Environmental Defense Fund; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Manager, Texas Clean Affordable Power at Environmental Defense Fund leads EDF’s regulatory advocacy in Texas, primarily before ERCOT and the PUCT, to advance decarbonization, affordable energy, and grid reliability. The role collaborates with legal staff, economists, and external partners to shape policy and engage stakeholders.

Based remotely or hybrid from Texas with a strong preference for Austin, this role requires deep knowledge of Texas energy markets, excellent communication

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant professional experience with at least 4 years in ERCOT and/or PUCT.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s, JD, or PhD may substitute for up to 2–4 years.
• Proficiency with ERCOT and PUCT procedural rules and conventions.
• Experience with Texas energy issues and stakeholder engagement; ability to build consensus.

Responsibilities

• Set, manage, and advance project goals for utility regulatory advocacy.
• Draft administrative comments advocating for priorities.
• Conduct complex research and prepare analyses for internal and external audiences.
• Develop and assess policy proposals aligned with EDF priorities.
• Collaborate to develop effective communications on clean energy advocacy.
• Represent EDF at conferences and hearings.
• Mentor junior staff and manage outside counsel.
• Support fundraising and donor relationship activities.

Skills

ERCOT experience

PUCT experience

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory advocacy

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree or JD/PhD substitutions

Tools

ERCOT procedures

PUCT rules

Job description

Location

This position may be based remotely or hybrid out of one of EDF’s U.S. offices with a strong preference for candidates based in Austin, TX.

Duration

This is a two-year fixed term position with full benefits and the possibility of extension.

Program Overview

EDF’s U.S. Legal & Regulatory team engages in strategic regulatory advocacy and litigation to achieve clean and healthy air, drive clean energy progress, and ensure a stable climate for all. We envision a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the public health and environmental challenges we face, and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. The U.S. Legal & Regulatory team works primarily out of the Washington, D.C., Boulder, CO offices and remotely.

Our Clean Affordable Power program advances our mission by advocating before state public utility commissions and other state and regional bodies for clean, affordable energy solutions that benefit consumers, bolster electric grid resilience and reliability, and deliver health and climate benefits. We work with experts across EDF, and with a broad range of partners including industry, community organizations, consumer advocates, and regulators, to secure practical energy system progress. We seek to modernize electric utility planning and rate design to accelerate clean energy deployment and reduce the need for new fossil fuel investments; promote cost-effective and efficient electric grid development that unlocks clean energy resources; advance clean transportation solutions; and move toward a clean future for natural gas utilities.

Texas is a priority for EDF’s energy advocacy due to its significant power sector emissions, rapidly growing electric loads, exceptional potential for clean, low-cost electricity generation, and immense untapped energy efficiency reserves. EDF seeks to leverage these opportunities to ensure the development of a clean, affordable, reliable, and resilient energy system in Texas.

Overall Function

The Senior Manager, Texas Clean Affordable Power leads EDF’s regulatory advocacy in support of clean energy in Texas. This primarily comprises representing EDF before ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), in collaboration with legal staff, to advance EDF’s policy positions with respect to generation sector decarbonization, efficient end‑use electrification, and energy affordability. This position also supports EDF’s legislative advocacy related to clean energy, particularly with respect to Texas. Subject‑matter areas of focus include utility forecasting and planning; grid infrastructure build‑out; leveraging distributed energy resources; load flexibility and demand response; grid reliability and resiliency; vehicle and building electrification; and electricity rate design. In addition to engaging with administrative agencies, this position will also work with external and internal partners to develop strategy, refine policies, generate thought leadership, and leverage external communications to support and amplify clean energy advocacy across the country.

This position will report to the Director & Senior Attorney, Clean Affordable Power in Legal & Regulatory.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with directors and attorneys across the EDF U.S. Region team, and others when applicable, to set, manage, and advance project goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics for our utility regulatory advocacy.
• Draft administrative comments advocating for relevant priorities.
• Conduct complex research and prepare complex analysis and formal and informal written materials, for internal and external audiences, on legislative and regulatory issues facing Clean Affordable Power and relevant teams.
• Develop and critically assess policy proposals in alignment with and in support of established priorities and strategies.
• Collaborate with internal EDF partners to develop and implement effective communication strategies to build public understanding about clean energy infrastructure.
• Influence decisionmakers through official comments and stakeholder engagement.
• Understand policymaking process requirements in Texas and ensure that our advocacy campaigns account for these processes.
• Ensure utility regulatory priority policies are reflective of the best legal, economic, and technical expertise at EDF.
• Represent EDF at critical external venues, including conferences and hearings.
• In partnership with legal staff, retain and manage outside counsel in legal engagements.
• Oversee production of policy‑relevant analyses and factual testimony, including by EDF internal experts as well as external consultants.
• Build, grow and maintain relationships with strategic partners, including environmental justice and community‑based organizations.
• Work with diverse coalitions to achieve strategic objectives.
• Support fundraising, including contributing to proposals, growing relationships with donors and foundation officers, tracking and reporting progress, and other functions.
• Coordinate and collaborate across EDF and multidisciplinary teams to ensure success and alignment with strategies, goals, and objectives.
• Participate in advancing EDF Organizational Effectiveness and Culture (OEC) goals so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in ways that align with EDF values.
• Mentor junior employees, fellows, interns, etc. as applicable.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant professional experience, including at least 4 years of ERCOT and/or PUCT practice, and a Bachelor’s degree required. Experience in both ERCOT and non‑ERCOT regions of Texas preferred.A Master’s degree or equivalent may substitute for up to 2 years of relevant experience; J.D., Ph.D., or equivalent may substitute for up to 4 years of relevant experience.
• Proficiency with ERCOT and PUCT procedural rules and conventions.
• Familiarity with major energy issues facing Texas (e.g., data centers and load growth, electrification of end‑uses, electric distribution and transmission system planning, renewable generation, electricity market design, energy affordability etc.), and ability to substantively engage therewith.Experience interfacing with a range of stakeholders, including community leaders, companies, industry trade associations, and policymakers with the ability to garner consensus between disparate groups.Ability to deploy and integrate science, law, economics, and advocacy tools to initiate and win positive environmental change.Ability to recognize and build on political opportunities for progress.Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to effectively communicate comprehensive subject matter expertise and technical and policy findings to colleagues, policymakers, other stakeholders and allies, journalists, and the general public.Demonstrated ability to effectively manage programs.Ability to work well both independently as well as collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic environment spread across multiple time zones.Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time, as needed.Proactive, detail-oriented, and organized.Ability to adapt to frequent change and prioritize effectively under constant deadline pressure.Excellent strategic thinking skills and judgment.Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.

  We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

  Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

  110,000 - 118,000 USD