Introduction

The Revenue Strategy team is excited to announce the opening of the Supervisor of Load Research and Forecasting position. In this position, you will be responsible for leading a group of subject matter experts in load data and load forecasting. You will be hiring and coaching staff, providing leadership to your team, while collaborating and proactively engaging with other peers, managers, and directors across SMUD to gather inputs relevant to the load forecast and ensuring work is completed by the deadlines.

As the successful candidate, you will demonstrate the ability to collaborate, drive change, adaptability to take on new responsibilities as they arise to develop load forecasting work related to new technologies like Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) that impact the clean energy vision and long-term load forecast, translate complex analytical work to simple to understand presentations and memos, and provide value to senior management and staff while keeping the bigger picture in view.

You will lead and be responsible for the development and completion of SMUD’s load forecasting scenarios including the modeling and integrating DERs, SMUD’s programs and the 2030 Zero Carbon Plan into the long term forecast of customers, system load, and energy sales at a system level, and by customer classes. You will be providing presentations to staff, directors, executives, and the SMUD Board. The role also requires creating long-term forecasting outlooks in support of the 2030 Zero Carbon Plan and playing an integral part in the Revenue Strategy and Enterprise Strategy teams, being a trusted advisor in supporting SMUD’s strategic initiatives and clean energy vision. You will oversee and manage the development of load forecasting work for a third-party community choice aggregation entity.

You are a confident and collaborative leader who can build relationships, and drive change management. You will have the opportunity to engage with several key areas across SMUD, become the single point of contact and expert on all things load forecast, and play a highly visible role in SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Plan. You will lead, motivate, embrace the One SMUD approach, develop team members, allocate resources, coordinate the necessary training, and ensure results are delivered and aligned with expectations, strategic initiatives and the 2030 Zero Carbon Plan.

You will stay current in industry policies, regulatory frameworks, pricing structures, market trends and industry approaches regarding customer usage, demand, load forecasting, DERs and programs impacting future electricity usage by rate class.

You will be a key stakeholder and advisor as SMUD explores and conducts research on the next generation of advanced metering infrastructure, new technologies and programs to address load management, and more innovative rate designs and dynamic pricing.

This position works closely with the Pricing team and Enterprise Strategy, supports SMUD’s public rate proceedings, including providing rate presentations to SMUD employees, the public and the SMUD Board. You will provide team leadership to ensure organizational goals are communicated to the team and the group direction is consistent with the enterprise strategy.

NOTE: This position is posted until a sufficient number of qualified applications are received. This posting may close any time after December 10, 2022. For immediate consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Purpose

To plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the activities of Load Research and Forecasting including conducting system load, class load, market research, program evaluation, and ad hoc research studies.

Nature and Scope

Leads in the development, implementation and managing of department goals, objectives, policies and priorities in partnership with the department management; selects, trains, mentors, motivates, evaluates and develops subordinate personnel and ensures that department strategic objectives and priorities are achieved and coordinated with other departments.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement department goals, objectives, policies, procedures and metrics.
• Plan, organize and direct work activities including load research, data collection and load/survey analysis.
• Organize, implement and direct operation activities, while maintaining a successful culture of compliance, employee engagement and safety.
• Direct, oversee and participate in the preparation of load profiles and energy, demand and customer forecasting for implementation of various pricing alternatives. Assigns work activities, projects and programs; monitor workflow; review and evaluate work products, methods and procedures.
• Prepare the Load Research & Forecasting budget; assist in budget implementation; participate in the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; administer the approved budget.
• Oversee local, state and federal regulatory compliance activities related to area of assignment.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Education

Required Experience Qualifications

Seven (7+) or more years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in designing, evaluating and developing energy, demand and customer long term forecasts for resource planning, financial performance and economic and statistical analysis.

If no bachelor's degree, at least eleven (11+) years of relevant experience is required.

Knowledge Of

Principles and practices of Load Research and Forecasting· Principles and practices of resource planning and analysis· Pertinent local, State, Federal rules, regulations and laws· Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment· Principles and practices of research analysis and management· Principles and practices of budget development, implementation, and monitoring· Principles and practices of supervision, training and performance evaluation· Principles and practices of work safety.

Skill To

Organize, implement and direct department operations/activities, while maintaining a successful culture of safety and compliance On a continuous basis, analyze budget and technical reports; interpret and evaluate staff reports; know laws, regulations and codes; observe performance and evaluate staff; problem solve department related issues; remember various rules and procedures; and explain and interpret policy Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals Gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion Interpret and apply SMUD and department policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Supervise, train and evaluate personnel Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

Desirable Qualifications

• Ability to understand SMUD’s load data from Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and familiarity with datasets and interval load data.
• Knowledgeable in electric utility load research and forecasting, class load studies; open and committed to learn the use of software Matrix ND and SMUD’s internal datasets.
• Knowledgeable and willing to learn market trends of the local economic activity, key economic indicators and statistical information need to model load forecasting scenarios.
• Adaptable to changing business environments and willingness to take on new responsibilities and challenges as we make progress toward achieving the 2030 Zero Carbon Plan.
• Ability to explain and present complex technical topics to non-technical stakeholders in an understandable manner, including presentations to staff, senior management, and the Board.
• Experience with databases, SAS, SAP, Power BI Reports, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Skilled with building effective teams, managing ambiguity, flexible and adaptable to new situations and change in priorities, building collaborative relationships, delivering results, and optimizing the diverse talent and skills of the team.