Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist

Quality Technology Services; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Quality Technology Services seeks a Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist to advance the electric reliability compliance program for our data-center footprint. You will monitor NERC, FERC, and Regional Entity developments, translate requirements into actions, and lead RSAWs, procedures, and audit readiness materials for company-owned electrical infrastructure.

You will design role-based training, coordinate with Legal and SMEs, and maintain evidence, controls, and reports for ongoing readiness

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, power systems, energy, public policy, regulatory affairs, business, law, communications, information systems, risk, compliance, or related field.
• Minimum five years of progressive experience in electric utility, regulatory compliance, energy policy, grid operations, or related field.
• Experience interpreting complex regulatory or technical requirements and producing clear recommendations.
• Experience developing compliance procedures, internal controls, training materials, or audit documents.
• Ability to manage multiple proceedings and deadlines with sound judgment.

Responsibilities

• Own regulatory monitoring and standards-development coverage; evaluate requirements and tariffs affecting data centers and electrical infrastructure.
• Represent QTS in external meetings; prepare briefing materials and document decisions, deadlines and milestones.
• Maintain regulatory horizon trackers, external-engagement records, and proposed-obligation register.
• Coordinate detailed reviews with Legal and SMEs; translate conclusions into actionable requirements.
• Prepare regulatory updates, impact assessments, and action trackers for leadership.
• Lead drafting of RSAWs, NERC procedures, evidence matrices, and control narratives for review.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Policy analysis

Regulatory reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Who we are:

As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be.

Who You Are: (Job Summary)

The Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist independently performs recurring regulatory-intelligence activities and advances the development of the electric reliability compliance program for QTS. The role monitors and interprets developments from NERC, FERC, Regional Entities, RTOs/ISOs, utilities, state utility commissions, and industry groups; represents QTS in assigned external forums; assesses potential impacts; and converts emerging requirements into clear recommendations and implementation actions. The position also leads development of compliance procedures, RSAWs, internal controls, SME training, evidence requirements, and audit-readiness materials for company-owned electrical infrastructure.

What You Will Do: (Job Responsibilities)

• Own assigned regulatory monitoring and standards-development coverage; evaluate emerging requirements, enforcement trends, tariffs, protocols, and utility activities affecting QTS data centers, large computational loads, interconnections, or company-owned electrical infrastructure.
• Represent QTS in assigned external meetings, workshops, committees, working groups, and stakeholder proceedings; prepare positions and briefing materials in coordination with the Senior Manager, and document decisions, deadlines, milestones, and commitments.
• Maintain the regulatory horizon, standards-development trackers, external-engagement records, and proposed-obligation register; prioritize material developments and recommend review or action.
• Perform preliminary applicability and impact assessments, coordinate detailed review with Legal and technical SMEs, and translate approved conclusions into implementation requirements for affected functions and assets.
• Prepare decision-ready regulatory updates, issue briefs, comment and ballot recommendations, impact assessments, action trackers, and leadership materials.
• Lead drafting and maintenance of RSAWs, NERC Compliance Procedures, evidence matrices, compliance narratives, process maps, controls, and implementation plans for review and approval.
• Design and deliver role-based training, workshops, job aids, and working sessions for SMEs, control owners, evidence providers, and affected personnel.
• Define and maintain obligations, controls, ownership, frequencies, due dates, evidence requirements, dependencies, and testing attributes in the Internal Controls database or GRC platform.
• Lead evidence-quality reviews, readiness assessments, self‑assessments, mock audits, corrective‑action tracking, and remediation follow‑up; escalation ineffective or overdue controls and material program risks.
• Develop repeatable compliance processes and maintain organized, controlled, and auditable records that support sustained readiness and continuous improvement.

What You Will Need to Be Successful: (Required Qualifications, Education, Experience, Certifications)

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, power systems, energy, public policy, regulatory affairs, business, law, communications, information systems, risk, compliance, or a related field, or equivalent directly relevant experience.
• Minimum five years of progressive experience in the electric utility industry, regulatory compliance, energy policy, grid operations, transmission, generation, state utility commissions, data center infrastructure, government affairs, legal or regulatory support, or another closely related field.
• Experience interpreting complex regulatory or technical requirements, assessing organizational impacts, and producing clear recommendations for technical and leadership audiences.
• Experience developing compliance procedures, internal controls, training materials, audit work papers, evidence requirements, RSAWs, compliance narratives, or comparable controlled documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple proceedings, deadlines, stakeholders, and workstreams while exercising sound judgment and escalating material issues.
• Strong written, verbal, facilitation, and relationship‑management skills; proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, and similar information‑management tools.
• Ability to travel up to 25%, or as needed, for regulatory meetings, stakeholder forums, utility engagements, conferences, audits, and QTS site activities.

Nice to Have: (Preferred Qualifications, Education, Experience, Certifications)

• Direct experience with NERC, FERC, a Regional Entity, RTO/ISO, reliability coordinator, transmission provider, electric utility, state utility commission, re