FERC License Program Manager

Overview

Position

Description:

Tacoma Power is seeking an accomplished and strategic Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) License Program Manager to lead the next chapter of our hydropower licensing and compliance program. This is a pivotal role within Tacoma Power’s long-term renewable energy strategy. The position ensures continued regulatory compliance, successful relicensing, and the responsible stewardship of projects that provide nearly half of the region’s clean, affordable power.

Reporting to the Assistant Section Manager for Natural Resources, this position serves as Tacoma Power’s principal authority on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) matters. The Program Manager oversees all phases of hydropower licensing—new, ongoing, and transitional—while guiding a team of subject matter experts, consultants, and cross-disciplinary partners. Through steady leadership and sound judgment, this position shapes policy, drives multi-agency collaboration, and reinforces Tacoma Power’s reputation as a trusted environmental steward and regional energy leader.

Your Leadership Impact:

Strategic Direction: Shape the course of Tacoma Power’s hydropower relicensing and compliance programs, aligning technical excellence with long-range policy, financial, and operational goals.

Regulatory Stewardship: Serve as Tacoma Power’s primary liaison with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Division of Licensing and Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance (DHAC), ensuring every commitment is met with accuracy, transparency, and integrity.

Collaborative Leadership: Build and sustain strong relationships with executive leadership, tribal governments, regulatory agencies, and community partners to develop balanced, sustainable solutions that advance Tacoma Power’s mission and values.

Legacy Building: The strategies led by this position will influence how Tacoma Power generates and manages hydropower for decades to come, shaping energy affordability, environmental outcomes, and public trust across our region.

Program Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Lead Tacoma Power’s hydropower licensing and compliance program, providing strategic oversight for four active licenses and guiding upcoming relicensing, surrender, and transfer efforts.
• Develop and carry out long-term strategies that align licensing and compliance activities with Tacoma Power’s mission, financial priorities, and environmental commitments.
• Partner with executive leadership and the Senior Management Team to shape policy direction, address complex regulatory challenges, and ensure decisions are well-informed and defensible.
• Oversee program budgeting, forecasting, and staffing to ensure resources support long-term goals and regulatory obligations.

Regulatory Negotiations & Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent Tacoma Power in high-level negotiations with federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as well as environmental and community organizations.
• Build cooperative, transparent relationships with regulators and policymakers to develop and implement license terms and operational agreements that balance reliability, affordability, and environmental stewardship.
• Act as Tacoma Power’s primary liaison with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, including its Division of Licensing and Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance (DHAC).
• Monitor federal and regional policy developments that may affect Tacoma Power’s hydropower operations and adapt strategies to stay ahead of evolving requirements.

Operational Oversight & Compliance Excellence

• Direct all monitoring, reporting, and implementation efforts required by hydropower license conditions to ensure full and timely compliance.
• Maintain robust systems for tracking, documentation, and reporting that support transparency, audit readiness, and long-term institutional knowledge.
• Collaborate closely with the Dam Safety Workgroup and internal partners to ensure consistency and alignment across compliance and operational activities.
• Oversee payments to tribes and agencies, ensuring accuracy, accountability, and adherence to contractual commitments.

Leadership, Culture & Team…