Utilities Senior Resource Planner

Senior Resource Planner

The City of Palo Alto invites applications for the position of Senior Resource Planner Career Opportunity.

City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is privileged to provide more than 25,000 customers with five municipal utility services: electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater, and fiber optics across a 26-square-mile service territory. CPAU manages 100% carbon neutral electric and gas portfolios and is a leader in innovative utility planning and community-wide electrification programs covering homes, commercial buildings, and vehicles.

We're seeking a Senior Resource Planner in the Resource Management Division (RMD) who wants to be an integral part of a team within a locally-owned utility that's dedicated to delivering cost-effective, dependable, and safe utility services. This position offers abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth, enabling you to make meaningful contributions while collaborating with passionate energy professionals.

This position supervises one or more Resource Planners, Associate Resource Planners, Assistant Resource Planners or interns. The primary focus of this role is electric, gas, and wastewater utility financial planning, including long-term financial forecasting, cost of service analysis and rate design. Depending on the candidate's experience and the evolving needs of the organization, this position may also contribute to water utility financial planning and water supply portfolio planning, as needed.

The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes:

• Expertise in Utility Financial Planning and Analysis:
  Proven experience developing and maintaining long-range financial forecasts, including revenue requirements, reserve analysis and policies, load forecasting, and scenario analysis for electric and gas utilities: experience with water and wastewater utilities is highly desirable.
• Cost of Service and Rate Design:
  Demonstrated expertise in cost-of-service studies, rate design, and rate implementation for utilities particularly electric and gas utilities; experience in water and wastewater cost of service and rate design is a plus.
• Energy Industry Knowledge:
  Strong understanding of the electric and natural gas utility sectors, including regulatory frameworks, market dynamics and key cost drivers; broader utility experience, including water and wastewater systems is valued.
• Policy Acumen:
  Familiarity with utility rate making principles, regulatory processes, and policies affecting utilities, including experience supporting rate cases or regulatory filings.
• Communication and Persuasion:
  Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Analytical and Modeling
  
  Skills:
  
  Proficiency in analyzing complex financial, operational and customer data, with strong proficiency in financial modeling tools (e.g., Excel or similar platforms). Strong ability to synthesize information to formulate strategic recommendations.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with governmental bodies, community stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Financial Planning and Rate-setting:
  Proficiency in utility rate making, including utility reserve analysis and policies, long-range financial planning, new rate structure development, and detailed cost-of-service studies.
• Adaptability and Initiative:
  Proactive and adaptable in a dynamic regulatory environment with the ability to manage multiple priorities and drive projects forward both independently and collaboratively.

Join us at CPAU and play a vital part in preserving the unique benefits of locally-owned utilities for the Palo Alto community, while making a lasting impact on regional sustainability and climate resilience!

Compensation (UMPAPA):
Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, .

Benefits:
The City offers a fantastic benefits package including:

• Option of a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off
• Hybrid work:
  Ability to work remotely and onsite (current policy allows for 2 days/week remote and 3 days/week on-site)
• Professional development:
  Tuition reimbursement, leadership training, and career growth opportunities
• Education benefits:
  Potential enrollment for dependents in the Palo Alto Unified School District (pilot program, subject to change)
• Childcare support: $10,000 in childcare subsidies (pilot program, subject to change)
• Commute benefits:
  Incentives for walking, biking and taking transit to work. The City of Palo Alto participates in the Clipper Bay Pass program (Employee Cost: $5 per month).
• Defined-Benefit Retirement Plan: with competitive pension benefits

To learn more about benefits, .

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• May supervise technical, clerical, and lead staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff is trained; and making hiring, termination and…