Director of Power Origination

About MCEMCE is a not-for-profit public agency that has set the standard for clean energy in our communities since 2010. We provide more renewable power at stable rates, and deliver cutting-edge energy programs to residents and businesses across four Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano. Our team, drawn from all walks of life, embodies a shared passion for environmental stewardship and community service. You’ll work alongside dedicated professionals innovating and collaborating to make our communities more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable.

We value a range of experience. Even if you feel that you do not meet all of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Application materials will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About The Power Resources TeamThe Power Resources team is responsible for building a portfolio of clean resources to meet the needs of customers and the reliability of the grid. This team focuses on meeting MCE’s ambitious renewable energy and greenhouse gas free (GHG-free) goals. The Power Resources team negotiates and manages MCE’s Power Purchase and Energy Storage Agreements and Feed-in Tariff program. In addition, the team maintains a direct relationship with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) in its Scheduling Coordinator functions and projects. The effective work of this team has allowed us to reinvest in renewable energy projects within MCE’s service area that create family-sustaining green-collar jobs.

As a Director of Power Origination, Power ResourcesAs a Director of Power Origination you will be a leader in sourcing, negotiating, and structuring complex contracts. You will manage a team within the Power Resources department committed to delivering value for our portfolio of assets. You will be responsible for a wide range of energy procurement activities for supply of Greenhouse Gas-free energy (GHG-free), Asset Controlling Supply (ACS), and renewable energy. Reporting to the VP of Power Resources, you will be responsible for leading negotiations, contract origination, and securing renewable energy resources for MCE. You will play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with developers of renewable energy and storage projects and MCE’s various consultants and trading partners.

Key Responsibilities (Illustrative Only)* Manage complex energy contracts, resolve contracting issues, monitor counterparty performance, validate invoices and Renewable Energy Credits.

• Negotiate with counterparties complex, structured, and often long-term energy, and resource contracts.
• Ensure the Power Resources team is structuring transactions in a manner which meets all policy objectives, compliance, and legal requirements, and produces best value for ratepayers.
• Monitor CAISO market participation.
• Partner with the VP of Power Resources to develop procurement strategies and execute those strategies to meet agency targets.
• Provide oversight for valuing energy products in a robust and defensible manner and accounting for market innovation and changing technologies.
• Lead the administration of the Request for Offer processes (RFOs), MCE’s Open Season procurement process, ongoing correspondence with counterparties, contract development and performance tracking and preparation of informational material for the MCE Board and public regarding power resources.
• Coordinate the administration of MCE’s Feed-in Tariff programs and developing strategies to accelerate local renewable generation development within policy guidelines and budgetary constraints.
• With the help of outside consultants may be responsible for evaluating and acquiring generation assets for MCE.

Essential Duties***Power Supply Contracts Lead negotiations with counterparties for new energy contracts, master agreements and confirmations. Ensure transactional terms are beneficial to MCE and meet risk guidelines.

• Manage and mentor power procurement managers who will track and manage the entire contract lifecycle, from contract execution, adherence to guaranteed milestones in the developmental and operational stages and will administer and enforce contractual terms through the life of the contract.
• Partner with VP of Power Resources to produce new and innovative ways of building MCE’s power resource portfolio.
• Develop materials to facilitate Board review of potential supplier agreements including staff reports, supporting information, and presentation materials.
• Maintain current knowledge of regulatory/ legislative trends and changes as well as current and future market conditions.

Invoice Management and Validation* Receive, file, and process invoices in a timely and accurate manner ensuring accurate charges and credits have been applied.

• Review and validate CAISO charges as provided for in the contract.
• Resolve, or provide support in resolving invoice and billing issues.

Other Duties* Prepare materials for MCE staff to facilitate policy discussions related to procurement and resource planning.

• Oversee or lead the administration of Request for Offers (RFOs), the open season process and the assessment of unsolicited offers.
• Oversee or lead the evaluation of offers by thoroughly understanding MCE’s open positions and long and short-term procurement strategy.
• Lead or provide support for MCE’s annual Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), working with departments across the agency.
• Lead or assist in the preparation and presentation of information and recommendations to assist MCE staff and Board in assessing and identifying ‘best fit’ market opportunities for MCE.
• Lead and provide recommendations on strategy for the contracting of capacity to meet the CPUC and CAISO’s Resource Adequacy compliance requirements on a monthly and annual basis.
• Assist in managing MCE’s renewable energy certificate accounts within the WREGIS system.
• Understand the impacts of agency-wide programs and initiatives, key of which are MCE’s Net-Energy-Metering, Energy Efficiency, and Electric Vehicle programs.

Ability To* Be thorough and detail-oriented in all written and oral communications.

• Manage multiple priorities and quickly adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced dynamic environment.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all persons encountered during the performance of duties.
• Take responsibility and work independently, as well as work as a team member.
• Exercise sound judgment, creative problem solving, and commercial awareness.

Compensation & BenefitsCompetitive compensation package offered, based on candidate experience along with generous benefits and perks, including fully paid premiums for health insurance, parental leave, dependent care subsidies, student loan repayment, and employee wellness program. Starting range for a Director of Power Origination is $155,113- $208,380****Application ProcessAs a part of the application process for the Director of Power Origination recruitment, all candidates must submit a resume and answer all of the applicable questions within the application. As we narrow to our top pool of applicants, candidates moving through the recruitment process may participate in an initial all in one audio/phone interview, Face to Face Crossteam Panel Interview, Interview with External Energy Consultants, Face to Face Executive Interview.

Work Environment

MCE offices support an environment that is accessible to those with reduced mobility. We are happy to provide more details if asked. MCE makes reasonable accommodations of any known physical or mental limitations for qualified applicants with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs, and other conditions protected by applicable law. MCE strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace. To that end, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment for all employees.

MCE is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.