Planning & Development Specialist, Sr

Position Description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation's largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle’s electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Seattle City Light is seeking an energy‑savvy program manager for its Customer Energy Solutions (CES) division. CES manages the longest continuously operating municipal energy conservation initiative in the country. We are currently hiring a Senior Program Manager (P&D Spec. Sr.) to lead our cross‑functional teams to ensure that defined business goals and objectives are met.

The Solutions Design and Management unit in CES is responsible for designing and managing our portfolio of customer‑facing energy programs. If you are flexible, a system thinker, excel in collaboration, and have an aptitude for technical learning, you will be successful in this role. You will serve as program manager for one or more program offering customer‑facing products and services. Program Managers are responsible for overlaying the CES program management and life‑cycle framework onto assigned work.

Assignments for this position may focus on energy efficiency, flexible loads, customer renewables or electrification programs.

This position reports to an Energy Management Analyst Supervisor.

• Manage energy programs for customers across various sectors.
• Apply standard program‑management tools to facilitate the stage‑gate workflow process and to ensure consistency in design thinking and documentation.
• Incorporate the voice of the customer into program design through stakeholder engagement.
• Stand‑up and lead matrixed, cross‑functional teams responsible for the program design, development, build‑out, launch and implementation.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on the performance and effectiveness of programs in implementation phase.
• Manage the ongoing needs of the program including identifying and implementing changes that address gaps or pain points, risks, program effectiveness, and progress towards goal.
• Select and manage external consultants. Establish scopes of work and selection criteria. Ensure performance, receipt of deliverables, accuracy of invoices and other related tasks throughout the life of the agreement.
• Enable programs to excel in customer service by establishing the needs of the end‑user and service providers, researching and defining programs and measures, keeping abreast of industry best practices, and identifying markets and channels.

Requires three years of experience in planning and research related to land use, urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation; or other work directly related to City planning and development activities; and a baccalaureate degree in planning, urban design, environmental studies, public administration or related field (or a combination of education and/or experience and/or training which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

• Work is typically performed in an office environment.
• Requires working nights to attend meetings and hearings.

You must hold a current valid state issued driver's license from any US state to be verified prior to start date. Out of state license holders will be required to obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.

• Demonstrated experience and success with formal program management and life‑cycle management processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams in a multi‑discipline matrix organization.
• Demonstrated ability to positively influence program stakeholders and integrate the voice of the customer.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental and economic equity in design and delivery of services.
• Ability to work collaboratively with limited supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain effective working relationships with…