Job Description

Posting number: 202601773

Department: Energy Department

Job classification: Power Resources Specialist, Senior

Posting type: Open

Categories: Program Management

Summary

San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José’s local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José’s Energy Department. Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local benefits, and increased transparency and accessibility. SJCE serves more than 350,000 customer accounts, and has contracted for more than 1 GW of power.

Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact on the fight against climate change. SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing the City’s climate action plan, Climate Smart San José. Thanks to SJCE, San Jose has one of the cleanest energy mixes of any large city and offers a 62% renewable product and a 100% renewable product.

Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. We center equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in our work. The department also hosts active staff-led Culture and Racial Equity committees, and has won awards for its education and outreach work with Spanish and Vietnamese-speaking communities.

For more information about San José Clean Energy, please visit: www.sanjosecleanenergy.org.

Examples of duties

The Department’s Customer Programs team implements a portfolio of 13 decarbonization programs with a $10M annual budget spanning buildings, transportation, distributed energy resources, and affordability and a focus on ensuring equitable access and benefits for all customers.

The Energy Department is seeking to fill one (1) full-time Manager of Building Electrification Programs (Senior Power Resources Specialist) position for the Account Management, Marketing, and Customer Programs Division.

The Manager of Building Electrification Programs will lead the strategy, implementation and continuous improvement of SJCE's award-winning building electrification and building energy efficiency programs in support of the Programs Roadmap. This role will oversee day-to-day delivery of programs that support customer adoption of clean energy technologies, advance equitable access to decarbonization for residential and commercial customers, and help build out SJCE's future program offerings over the next several years. This role will also provide direction for scaling program funding, including pursing building electrification project financing offerings as well as driving SJCE’s efforts to secure external funding. This position supervises two staff members supporting building electrification programs and reports to the Principal Manager of Decarbonization Programs (Principal Power Resources Specialist) in the Energy Department.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide strategic direction and oversight to the EcoHome portfolio of programs that includes EcoHome Rebate, EcoHome Payment Plan, EcoHome Network, and EcoHome Contractor Install Bonus. Provide program reporting, manage program contracts and budgets, amend program offerings and design as needed, and coordinate with the marketing team to deliver programs to customers;
• Provide strategic direction and support staff members to launch a renter-focused portable heat pump pilot and a commercial technical assistance program in fiscal year 2026-2027;
• Support development and growth of the electrification workforce, developing program offerings and engaging key stakeholders;
• Ensure building electrification programs are delivered effectively, aligned with market conditions and local and state regulations, and responsive to customer needs;
• Serve as a subject matter expert on building electrification, providing technical support for program implementation and design as well as supporting educational campaigns;
• Represent SJCE in working groups with other community choice aggregators, City departments, and industry stakeholders to support program implementation and innovation as well as responsiveness to upcoming regulations;
• Track federal, state, and local funding opportunities that align with SJCE's near-term and long-term programs, and lead SJCE's efforts to apply for and secure such funding;
• Participate in advocacy for funding opportunities that arise through the California Public Utilities Commission and California Energy Commission;
• Present to the City Council, Community Advisory Commission, and other stakeholder groups as needed;
• Supervise and support two staff members, providing direction, mentorship, and performance management.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate brings strong experience designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating building electrification, distributed energy resources, and/or energy efficiency programs for residential or commercial customer segments, and a track record of successfully securing grant funding. They are a skilled, strategic, and highly motivated individual with creative problem-solving and long-term planning skills, comfortable operating in a fast-paced team environment with multiple concurrent high-priority projects.

This candidate exercises good judgment, initiative, and vision, and works effectively with both internal staff and outside stakeholders. They are adept at navigating regulatory processes and public sector program requirements and can translate program strategy into effective day-to-day implementation while keeping an eye toward SJCE's longer-term Programs Roadmap and team growth.

The ideal candidate has a solid grounding in building electrification technologies and market development and stays current on emerging federal and state funding mechanisms and policy developments that could benefit SJCE's programs and customers.

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

• Job Expertise – Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies, federal/state rules and regulations. Demonstrates knowledge and experience with building electrification, energy efficiency, and demand-side programs.
• Analytical Thinking – Approaches problems or situations using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
• Collaboration – Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
• Communication Skills – Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Fiscal Management – Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
• Initiative – Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promote job performance.
• Political Skill – In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
• Problem Solving – Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of the problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions that achieve the desired outcome.
• Supervision – Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
• Vision/Strategic Thinking – Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization's vision and values; understands how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared vision with others and influences others to translate vision to action.

Qualifications

Education

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Economics, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Law, Natural Resources, Statistics, or related field to utility business.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in energy resources operations, planning, purchasing, scheduling, or contract negotiations.

Acceptable Substitution

None

Required Licensing (such as driver’s license, certifications, etc.)

Possession of a valid State of California driver’s license may be required

Form 700 Requirement:

This position required a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

THIS IS A HYBRID POSITION, REQUIRING PART OF THE WORK WEEK TO BE ONSITE IN THE DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE OFFICE. The hybrid work schedule may change due to the department’s business needs in the future.

Supplemental information

Salary Information:

Senior Power Resources Specialist is $147,005.04 - $180,070.80.

This range includes an approximate five (5%) ongoing on-pensionable pay. Actual pay shall be determined by the candidate's qualifications and experience.

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application maybe deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews. If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Adrienne Barreto at adrienne.barreto@sanjoseca.gov.