Public Policy Intern

Ava Community Energy is seeking a Public Policy Intern for an 8- to 10-week paid internship in Oakland, CA, from mid-June to mid-August. The role involves engaging in regulatory and legislative activities related to electricity procurement, analyzing legislation, and drafting reports. Candidates should be post-secondary students with a passion for green energy and familiarity with the legislative process. The company values diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds.
About Ava Community Energy

Ava Community Energy (Ava) is a Joint Powers Authority comprising Alameda County and its incorporated areas, and the cities of Lathrop, Stockton, and Tracy. Ava’s charter is to provide its customers with low carbon, cost-effective electricity that integrates innovative energy products and maximizes local benefits through the development of local solutions, ranging from increasing access to rooftop solar to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles.

Culture and Commitment to Diversity

Ava believes in a vibrant culture that supports and nurtures a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission. We foster a culture of open communication, responsibility, curiosity, accountability, and teamwork. We want creative problem solvers that are excited to work in an entrepreneurial environment and grow our organization!

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of our service area’s rich culture and communities. We welcome a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and skills.

We strongly encourage people of all characteristics to apply and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type based on age, religion, color, gender identity or expression, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics, and those with a disability as protected by federal, state and local laws.

Position Summary

This is an 8- to 10-week paid internship that runs from mid-June to mid-August. Participants will work approximately 40 hours per week on a variety of regulatory and legislative activities. This internship provides participants with an opportunity to engage in state and federal policy-making processes related to electricity procurement and related industries. Interns will become familiarized with California energy policy at both the state and federal level, wholesale electricity markets, retail electric service, electric transmission and distribution systems, distributed energy resources, and other diverse renewable sources.

Position Details

Essential Duties And Responsibilities
• Provide summaries and analyses of actions by regulatory agencies and of proposed legislation
• Draft research reports for Ava policy team based on current legislative proposals or regulatory proceedings
• Participate in meetings with internal and external regulatory, legislative staff, and stakeholders
• Coordinate across departments within Ava to develop and implement regulatory and legislative strategies
• Draft and support regulatory filings and comments with policy team members
• Draft and support the submission of Ava Board materials
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Student in good standing at a post-secondary institution
• Experience with Google and Microsoft productivity applications. Knowledge of Microsoft Office, including MS Word, and MS Excel
• Passion for green energy solutions
• Baseline familiarity with state/federal legislative process and/or regulatory proceedings
• Willingness to collaborate across departments and disciplines

Working Conditions and Stipend

The hourly rate for this position is $30 per hour. Primarily in-office/home-office desk work, with some trips to regulatory/legislative offices.

This position will be based in Ava headquarters in Oakland, near BART. Ava's team has a hybrid approach inclusive of in-office and remote work. This role is expected to go into the office on Tuesday, Thursday, and the first Wednesday of the month.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ava is dedicated to reasonably accommodate an applicant for known physical or mental disabilities so that the applicant may participate in the application process. We will engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with any employee with a known physical or mental disability to identify potential reasonable accommodations, if any, to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their position.
• General office environment is primarily sedentary work which requires the following physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, reaching, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, repetitive motions, talking, hearing and visual acuity.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• The noise level is usually moderate.

Licenses/Certificates
• Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver’s license or the ability to provide alternate transportation and a safe driving record.

Working at Ava Community Energy

Ava is committed to complying with applicable laws, including the Americans with Disability Act and Fair Employment and Housing Act, ensuring equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. Ava prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), genetic information or characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Ava strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment (exemptions will be evaluated by legal counsel).

The information contained herein has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The information also does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.