Sr Manager - State Policy and PUC Relations

Electric Reliability Council of Texas; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 173,000 - 238,000; Full time

Job summary

Electric Reliability Council of Texas in Austin seeks a Senior Director of State Policy to lead a team coordinating ERCOT's policy initiatives before the PUC and Texas Legislature, providing data-driven analysis and strategic guidance to the General Counsel and Executive leadership.

This role requires monitoring legislation, managing stakeholder relationships, and delivering executive-level briefings and impact analyses to support policy development and governance.

Qualifications

• Requires minimum 10 years job-related work experience and 3 years in a management or leadership role.
• Prefer progressively responsible experience in the Texas electric utility market and experience interacting with the Texas PUC.

Responsibilities

• Research, analyze, and synthesize state policy matters; deliverables must be accurate, timely, and aligned with priorities.
• Oversee development of executive briefings, presentations, and analytical materials with data-driven cost implications.
• Coordinate with General Counsel, Executive Team, and external stakeholders to support policy development with a comprehensive market view.
• Lead planning and continuous improvement of policy programs and governance processes.
• Review materials for Board, Executive Team, and PUC to ensure data-driven decisions; escalate concerns as needed.
• Monitors PUC open meetings, hearings, and dockets; keeps leadership updated.
• Coordinate with Legal to track policy projects and filings, manage workload, escalate as needed.

Skills

Policy analysis

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory affairs

Executive briefing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics/Political Science/Journalism/Law/Business

Master's degree in Economics/Political Science/Journalism/Law/Business (Preferred)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career. ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

JOB SUMMARY

Manages and directs a team responsible for coordinating ERCOT's policy initiatives, working with internal subject matter experts (SMEs) to provide ongoing communication and advisory support on state policy matters before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Texas Legislature. Supports the General Counsel organization and the Director of State Policy in maintaining and coordinating ERCOT's relationship with the PUC. Directs team workflows and resource allocation to ensure internal stakeholders and regulatory bodies have access to well-organized, data-driven information on the context, details, and implications of key state policy matters. Oversees analysis and monitoring of relevant Texas legislation, PUC rulemakings, ERCOT stakeholder activities, and market protocol and procedure changes. Effectively communicates and manages project milestones and quality standards, coordinating closely with leadership and state policy attorneys within the General Counsel department. Leads team development through mentorship, coaching, and performance management, and serves as the primary escalation point for complex or sensitive assignments. Exercises broad independent judgment in managing day-to-day team operations, while proactively keeping leadership informed of matters requiring executive direction or decision-making.

JOB DUTIES

• Manages and directs team efforts to research, analyze, and synthesize state policy matters, ensuring deliverables are accurate, timely, and aligned with General Counsel and organizational priorities.
• Exhibits strong verbal and written communication skills to oversee development of executive-facing briefings, presentations, and analytical materials, ensuring content is data-driven and clearly articulates the costs, benefits, and implications of potential ERCOT Board, PUC, and stakeholder actions.
• Directs team coordination with the General Counsel organization, Executive Team, and external stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive, well-informed market view supports comprehensive policy development.
• Leads planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of programs, projects, and processes supporting deliberation on key policy issues, decision sequencing, and effective governance.
• Reviews materials prepared for Board, Executive Team, and PUC consideration to ensure alignment with data-driven decision-making standards; escalates concerns to General Counsel as appropriate.
• Oversees team monitoring of PUC Open Meetings, work sessions, legislative hearings, and relevant state policy dockets, ensuring timely, accurate updates to General Counsel and Legal department.
• Partners with Legal department to direct tracking and reviewing of state policy projects and PUC filings, assigning team workload and escalating matters requiring General Counsel attention.
• Coordinates across the Executive Team and ERCOT staff to ensure delivery of sound impact analysis and implementation guidance in support of key policy development issues.
• Manages team participation in internal ERCOT meetings and oversees special assignments, ensuring appropriate staffing and successful delivery of outcomes.

EXPERIENCE

Requires minimum 10 years job-related work experience and 3 years in a management or leadership role in excess of degree requirements. Minimum years of job-related experience can include time in leadership roles. Prefer progressively responsible experience in the Texas electric utility market and experience interacting with the Texas PUC.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's Degree: Economics, Political Science, Journalism, Legal Studies, Business Administration, Communications (Required) Master's Degree: Economics, Political Science, Journalism, Legal Studies, Business Administration, Communications (Preferred) or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields is required

The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time.

#LI-IV1 ; #Hybrid

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range: $173,000 - $238,000

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities.

ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan. The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future.

The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path. Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT. The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups.

The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers. The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering.

The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.