Principal Associate, Consulting

Principal Associate, Consulting

Location:

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Full-time, partially remote

Are you passionate about energy, economics, and the environment? Are you ready to harness your skills for positive change on behalf of public interest organizations? Synapse Energy Economics is a research and consulting firm specializing in economic and policy research, modeling, and analysis to provide energy sector solutions. Our work supports public interest clients including consumer advocates, environmental organizations, regulatory commissions, and state and federal agencies.

We produce expert reports and analysis for these clients and represent their technical interests in state and federal dockets and legal proceedings.

We are a high‑energy, forward‑thinking, collaborative group with a real passion for the public interest and sustainability. Synapse seeks an ambitious consultant with exceptional quantitative and writing skills and project management experience. Candidates should have advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and a demonstrated commitment to public interest issues such as sustainability, environmental justice, and consumer protection.

• Lead and manage projects and proposals (including budget, staff, and client management)
• Assess utility company modeling approaches, scenario definitions, input assumptions and related parameterization. Work collaboratively with team members to refine analyses and develop reports and testimony
• Perform economic and policy analysis, cost–benefit assessments, and resource valuations for the energy sector
• Clearly and succinctly summarize complex technical concepts to clients, regulators, and public audiences through papers, presentations, testimony, and meetings
• Defend analysis and refute opposing viewpoints and analysis
• Conduct electricity system modeling activities using industry‑standard production cost and capacity expansion software (including, but not limited to PLEXOS, EnCompass, Strategist, System Optimizer, PROMOD), as well as in‑house custom software tools
• Create, use, and maintain spreadsheet‑based tools and other analytical platforms to analyze energy technologies, programs, and portfolios

• Degree in Engineering, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Physical Sciences, or related field
• 10+ years of relevant industry work experience with a Master’s or Bachelor’s Degree, or 6+ years of relevant industry work experience with a Doctorate
• At least 2 years of project management and budget management experience in a consulting position or in a similar role
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• A strong desire to work on behalf of public interest clients in improving energy planning and policy
• Ability to work and communicate well in teams
• Ability to multitask and prioritize critical tasks and conflicting requirements

• State, federal, or provincial electric utility regulatory experience
• Expert witness experience: ability to develop persuasive arguments for testimony and reports based on analysis of quantitative and qualitative evidence

Synapse prides itself on its flexible and collaborative working environment. Many staff work in‑person in our Cambridge, Massachusetts office, while others are hybrid or fully virtual across the country. We support a hybrid work environment so our staff can find the right mix of support, collaboration, and flexibility.

• Generous and flexible PTO (35 days)
• Flexible work hours and holidays, and the ability to choose a schedule that works for you
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): a tax‑deferred retirement plan that offers employees a chance to be partial owners of Synapse
• Profit‑sharing bonuses
• Work‑life balance benefit: salaried employees are compensated for every hour worked over their standard full‑time work schedule at the end of the year
• 401(k) plan, including an employer safe‑harbor contribution of 3% of your annual salary regardless of individual contributions
• Life insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Collaboration:
  
  everybody contributes, asks…