VP, US Policy & Regulatory Strategy

About us

At National Grid, we are investing over $90bn over five years in our networks in the US and the UK, with a range of ground-breaking projects to expand our networks. We operate across six business units in the US and the UK, with group revenue around $25bn.

Our strategy is focussed on delivering the brilliant basics to lead on performance, driving big shifts to define our future, and building our delivery credibility to drive disciplined growth.

We are now recruiting for a VP US Policy & Regulatory Strategy, to be responsible for developing the regulatory strategy and policies for the US operations alongside the National Grid plc corporate strategy and US business plan.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the SVP-US External Affairs, the leader of this function will work with leaders across the business to develop and implement a regulatory work plan that enables US operations to achieve their business and financial goals, and will be responsible for driving change in our whole regulatory approach. The role leads a team of six direct reports, with a total team of 21 people, and with direct budgetary responsibility of around $3m.

The postholder will lead on major policy initiatives, comment filings, and policy proceedings across New England, New York, and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The role has overall accountability for providing regulatory, policy, business, and legislative guidance and trend analysis; customer affordability analysis; and pricing and policy analysis, which will inform corporate strategy and the business planning functions on what is achievable in the US.

The leader will also interact with company teams working on regulatory proceedings before different regulatory commissions to provide a strategic partner and lead a team that develops new regulatory options for implementation.  The individual oversees key policy and regulatory components of balancing customer needs in a sustainability-focussed company, future of electric and heat strategies, carbon policy initiatives, resource adequacy, infrastructure development, and large load issues, and is responsible for the execution of all strategic policies.

The role will require an individual to think about the future 3-4 years from now, creating mechanisms to change things ahead of time, and translating this into business deliverables, acting as the bridge between theory and what can be done in practice.

Key Accountabilities

Customer Strategy

• Provide insights into current and emerging customer needs and expectations to shape business and regulatory strategy
• Develop strategies to address customer needs and create value for customers from a regulatory point of view
• Integrate business and regulatory strategy, policy, and technology trends to set strategy for specific new customer offerings (e.g., ‘smart home’)
  
  

Regulatory Strategy

• Develop strategies in response to business and regulatory strategic questions
• Craft overarching regulatory strategy, integrated into operating companies’ rate cases and FERC filings, and serve as regulatory strategy liaison to major initiatives
• Develop new business models and policy in response to the changing landscape
• Shape regulatory framework on issues such as performance-based ratemaking (PBR) and incentives, rate design, and utility growth areas (e.g., storage, heat electrification, geothermal, transmission, large loads, resource adequacy, and distribution interconnection)
• Engage externally for insights on business and regulatory strategy and on relevant topics

Policy

• Lead on key regulatory matters in major policy proceedings, comments, and related filings across multiple states (core New England, New York), FERC, and different ISO/RTO jurisdictions
• Work closely with Group Strategy, US Policy, and Legislative Affairs teams, driving a coherent approach to energy / climate policy across all areas of Strategy and providing detailed policy analysis and positions
• Develop and own internal analysis and insights on regulatory and policy pathways to achieve net zero
• Develop and own external messaging / presence on National Grid regulatory strategy
• Develop and build partnerships to augment our own learning and perspectives and support two-way stakeholder engagement
• Facilitate academic partnerships in line with our core policy priorities

Regulatory Strategy Execution

• Work closely with the wider strategy / policy teams, develop and execute on plans that translate the regulatory strategy into regulatory proposals in regulatory and policy proceedings related to our operating companies in NE and NY, and at FERC and other regulatory jurisdictions across North America
• Work closely with NE, NY, and FERC pricing teams to develop and file innovative rate designs that align with our rate design strategy
• Support the wider organization to implement / execute on approved programs
• Provide regulatory strategy input into development of new programs, pilots, etc. to ensure alignment with business and regulatory strategy
• Build and maintain close relationships with external stakeholders who are critical to the success of regulatory strategy execution, including peers and organizations (e.g. NARUC)

Candidate Profile

• Strong understanding of regulatory strategy, with the ability to see how decisions made affect future outcomes
• Significant regulatory and stakeholder management / engagement experience, able to build relationships and connections across the whole industry and with regulators
• A track record of operating in leadership roles within regulated utilities
• Credibility and gravitas to lead at senior levels in this area, and the ability to speak publicly as a face of the company
• Experience serving as a policy witness in government and regulatory proceedings on various subject matters
• Demonstrated ability to understand, analyze, and set priorities on a broad range of issues
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics / Finance / Business / Accounting / Mathematics / Engineering / Public Policy / Planning / History / Political Science, or a comparable skillset with progressive relevant work experience; Master’s or Juris Doctor degree preferred

More Information

Location: the role can be based in either Boston, New York, or Washington DC, with travel across the US.

Salary: $230k-$346k base salary, plus commensurate benefits.

The role will close for applications on Thursday 22nd October at 7pm ET.