Grid Architect, Chief Location Oakland, California;

I'm Interested (https://careers.pge.com/job/Oakland-Grid-Architect%2C-Chief-CA-94612/1031982100/?feedId=306700)

Requisition ID # 147400

Job Category: Customer Support / Operations

Job Level: Director/Chief

Business Unit: Engineering, Planning & Strategy

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

POSITION SPECIFICATION Chief, Grid Architect

Company

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a subsidiary ofPG&E Corporation (http://www.pge-corp.com/) (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, our 23,000 employees deliver safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy to nearly 16 million people throughout our Northern and Central California service area, stretching from Eureka to Bakersfield and from the Pacific Ocean to the Sierra Nevada.

More than anything else, we are driven by our responsibility for public and workforce safety—including the recognition that every single PG&E employee is a public safety leader.

At the same time, PG&E is at the forefront of changes in the utility industry to support the transition to a cleaner energy economy. We’re ranked among the nation’s cleanest utilities and are active in shaping clean energy policies at the state and national levels. A key part of our mission is to address the challenges of climate change on behalf of the communities we’re privileged to serve.

Evidence of our mission is visible in our Community Wildfire Safety Program, created in 2018 in response to a series of extreme weather events driven by climate change. This program, which includes precautionary measures in response to 2017 and 2018 wildfires that will help further reduce wildfire threats and strengthen our communities for the future, is continually being evaluated and adjusted to meet the changing needs of California.

Due to potential liabilities stemming from the 2017 and 2018 wildfires, both the corporation and the utility filed for Chapter 11 reorganization on January 29, 2019 and emerged in June 2020. More than ever, PG&E is in a process of rebuilding – the way that the company works, its infrastructure, and its internal structures. At the forefront of all of this rebuilding is a focus on continuing to support those communities that have been affected by the wildfires.

As the Company pushes forward on its path to reinvention and innovation, a new board and a new leadership team will be at the helm. PG&E strongly believes that the future of the company will be driven by exceptional leaders who believe in the mission at hand.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Employer that actively pursues and hires a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability status, medical condition, protected veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the job.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. The assigned work location will be within the PG&E Service Territory.

Position Summary

PG&E is looking to architect the distribution grid of the future that pushes the boundaries of controllable loads and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). We are investing in the development of technologies that enable such capabilities to orchestrate resources that can optimize the utilization of the distribution grid while reducing the need for utility and customer investments that might otherwise be required to support the electrification and decarbonization goals of California.

While PG&E is implementing a centralized Distribution Energy Management System, the successful candidate will look to help develop the system architecture and technical capability requirements that combines both centralized control management system with a de-centralized, edge computing architecture for managing through a constrained network. This centralized-control/de-centralized edge architecture will span from the customer’s panel all the way to the local transmission system.

The successful candidate will develop a technical architecture vision, identify current technology capabilities as well as gaps. The Chief will create a product development roadmap for areas that can be immediately implemented vs. those that need to be developed via Research and Development.

A strong applicant will be highly organized and motivated, with a strong track record of success in building consensus and managing many moving parts within matrixed teams. The Chief will partner very closely with both a wide variety of internal stakeholders (electric planning, electric operations, customer, load management, energy supply, labor, regulatory, etc.), external technology partners, and external agencies and industry organizations (e.g. CPUC, CEC, EPRI, EEI, ARPA-E, etc.).

Reporting Relationship

Reporting to the Senior Director, Grid Innovation and Research & Development, this Chief position will grow the function and over time evaluate the need to build a team in order to pilot technologies needed to build out the feeder of the future.

Salary

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity. Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed towards the middle or entry point of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.​

A reasonable salary range is:

Bay Area

Minimum Base Salary: $155,000

Mid Base Salary: $210,000

Maximum Base Salary: $265,000

California

Minimum Base Salary: $147,000

Mid Base Salary: $200,000

Maximum Base Salary: $252,000

Location

This position is based out of PG&E’s General Office in downtown Oakland, CA. The team has a hybrid work model primarily working remotely with the expectation of working from Oakland office several days per month minimum. In-person activities will focus on synchronous collaboration, affinity building, ideation, or planning activities. Most day-to-day work (individual and collaborative) will be performed remotely. The role may also require occasional travel other PG&E facilities throughout the PG&E service territory.

Job Responsibilities

• Develops the technical grid architecture vision and corresponding regulatory and customer scaling strategies to enable orchestration of loads and DERs for optimization of a constrained network

• Performs market research and enables partnerships with technology vendors to understand current capabilities and identification of gaps in developing a product and R&D roadmap over time

• Drives alignment across internal work groups to develop an enterprise DER technology strategy, technology roadmap customer programs that would be required in order to take advantage of this technical capabilities and the supporting policy positions.

• Oversees the implementation of the product portfolio strategy, through the product lifecycle, including management of existing products in the market, development of new products, and revisions to existing product or improve efficiency of delivery.

• Responds to regulatory data requests, investigations, compliance and regulatory audits and customer inquiries.

• Works to address the needs of customers and develops comprehensive solutions/offerings that address complex needs across all customer segments.

• Develops and executes organizational strategy into business plans and metrics to drive accomplishment of goals and metrics while gaining alignment and resonance with line of business SMEs and executives.

• Identifies and understands customer needs and problems, industry landscape, and risks and opportunities.

• Plans and develops case strategy with key internal or external stakeholders.

• Oversees on-going and strategic customer-based research for the entire company by executing and providing actionable insights and drivers of satisfaction to support LOB business and company goals.

• Manages the product development cycle with specific milestones and the involvement of all stakeholder departments.

• Acts as a subject matter expert and thought leader and applies extensive unique experience.

• Identifies the developmental needs of others, and coaches and mentors others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Leadership Qualities

PG&E expects its leaders to conduct themselves with the highest ethics and integrity and to embody specific leadership qualities.

Strategic Mindset

• Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.

• Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.

A Leader in the Community and Industry

• Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

• Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Demonstrates Safety Leadership

• A safety champion in words and deeds with respect to both employee and public safety.

• Maintaining an environment of open dialog and free of retaliation.

Influences and Inspires

• Using various communications that convey a clear understanding of the needs of different audiences.

• Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related dynamics.

Optimizes Team Performance

• Building teams with a strong-identity who apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

• Creating a climate where people are developed and motivated to do their best to help the organization.

Values Diversity and Creates Inclusion

• Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.

Fiscally Responsible

• Interpreting and applying understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

• Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.

Leads Ethically and in a Compliant Manner

• Sponsoring and sustaining a high integrity speak-up corporate culture which prioritizes ethics, safety and compliance.

• Building on necessary level of industry, company and subject-matter expertise, including laws and regulations.

Provides a High Level of Customer Service

• Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.

Background Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelors Degree in Business Admin., or job-related disciplines such as engineering, computer science, behavioral science; or equivalent experience such as product development in grid edge technologies or distributed management systems, or energy technologies and energy systems.

• 12+ years of job-related experience or equivalent

• 4+ years of leadership experience

• Experience with standard business operations software applications – Microsoft Office, Excel, etc.

Desired

• Masters Degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline or equivalent experience

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal to effectively develop and deliver executive level presentations and articulate vision, goals and strategies to internal and external audiences.

• Broad knowledge of electric utility construction, maintenance, resource planning, regulatory compliance, system inspections and safety best practices.

• Familiarity with California utility regulations, regulatory processes and policy context

• Demonstrated experience in project, product, or program management in the context of utility operations, IT systems or DER product deployment

• Experience leading cross cutting programs or technology deployments, with a focus on emerging/innovative technologies and creating new process & structure for rapid scale-up

• Demonstrated ability to be creative, versatile, efficient and productive in the face of ambiguity and change

• Conveys strong leadership in communications, interpersonal relationships, and influencing/collaborating with various levels of employees and leaders.

• Strong business and financial acumen to effectively develop and manage large capital budgets, expenses, and variances.

• Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

• Understanding the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.

• Ability to use compelling arguments to gain the support and commitment of others.

I'm Interested (https://careers.pge.com/job/Oakland-Grid-Architect%2C-Chief-CA-94612/1031982100/?feedId=306700)