With over 1,000 members, including 650+ utilities serving approximately 70% of US electric consumers (and counting), the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) helps utilities, technology innovators, state and federal energy regulators, consumer advocates, and other clean energy stakeholders progress actionable solutions towards a carbon-free energy system while ensuring equitable access for all. We are seeking a Vice President of Research & Industry Strategy (R&IS) to amplify our reach, impact, and recognition through a highly strategic approach to thought leadership that bridges technical innovation with policy foresight. Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer and leading a team of about 20 subject matter experts, you will further establish SEPA as the go-to resource for credible insights that will guide critical decisions of industry leaders, policymakers, and regulators.
To achieve SEPA’s ambitious vision, we must evolve our R&IS department from a consulting-focused approach to a more proactive, strategic model to support our membership and the broader clean energy industry. Your leadership will transform the R&IS team into a collaborative, mission-aligned powerhouse that integrates thought leadership, member engagement, and research across SEPA’s six major issue areas: resilience, transportation, emerging technologies, policy, energy storage, and energy equity and inclusion. This includes establishing a clear vision for strengthening engagement with SEPA members via working groups, developing and supporting innovative and thought-leading projects focused on implementing clean energy solutions, guiding the strategy for convening the right stakeholders to identify and address challenges, and leading high-quality, member-focused research and analysis on issues, regulations, technologies, and policies.
Internally, you’ll be a key advisor to the Executive Team, work closely with department VPs to develop and execute a strategy to grow SEPA’s influence and impact, and lead the Research Advisory Council. Externally, you’ll represent SEPA at industry events and with policymakers, as well as engage with industry leaders, regulators, consumer advocates, customers, and other stakeholders to educate, foster collaboration, and drive progress in our nation’s evolution to a clean energy future.
How You’ll Make an Impact
Your work in this role has the potential to shape the direction of the clean energy industry and public policy for decades to come. Success will be demonstrated through improved member satisfaction, increased industry recognition, and measurable influence on policy and regulatory decisions. Key focus areas include:
- Team Leadership and Development. Inspire and empower the R&IS team to connect their work to SEPA’s mission and see the possibilities for the broader impact of their contributions. Create a collaborative, high-performing environment by setting clear expectations, setting and monitoring KPIs, and providing opportunities for professional development. Encourage cross-functional collaboration to break down silos and maximize SEPA’s organizational strengths.
- Thought Leadership. Raise the quality and impact of SEPA’s thought leadership efforts by ensuring technical accuracy and relevance for a range of audiences (utilities, industry, regulators, legislators, policymakers, advocates, customers, and other energy stakeholders). Identify, research, and address emerging trends and deliver impactful written products and insights that support members and advance the greater clean energy industry.
- Member Engagement. Strengthen SEPA’s relationships with its members by embedding R&IS efforts into key working groups, signature events, and collaborative forums. Work with members to identify their needs and ensure projects deliver real-world value in a way that enhances industry leadership and visibility.
Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits
- This role offers a remote working environment with the option of a Washington, DC, co-working space. Travel is required for industry events, all-hands events, Executive Team meetings, and department retreats.
- The budgeted salary range for this position is $220K – $240K. We offer an outstanding benefits package, including fully paid health, dental, vision, and HRA; Flexible Spending Account; fully paid short & long-term disability; life insurance; 24 days of PTO; travel assistance; 401(k) with 4% employer match; telecommuting reimbursement; professional development reimbursement; employee assistance program; health and wellness reimbursement; clean energy reimbursement; and pet insurance discounts.
- We walk the walk on DEI. Creating diversity in the energy industry is just as important to SEPA as diversity in our workforce. Our goal is to ensure our workforce reflects the organizations we serve and that our staff is engaged.
Responsibilities
Organizational Strategy and Leadership
- Participate in SEPA’s ongoing strategic planning process and contribute to the development of strategic goals and objectives.
- Guide the evolution of R&IS functions to align with SEPA’s mission and vision, ensuring consistency with the strategic plan and organizational success metrics.
- Design and lead cross-functional research and member-based efforts to explore solutions to forward the clean energy transition, with a focus on creativity, member value, and thought leadership.
- Collaborate with leaders of other departments within SEPA to ensure coordination between teams and mission alignment with a focus on transparency, communication, member service, and organizational culture.
- Represent SEPA at industry events.
- Participate in SEPA’s Board of Directors meetings as appropriate.
Department Strategy and Leadership
- Lead the R&IS annual planning process to identify specific projects that leverage staff expertise and address members’ needs. Manage the day-to-day operations of the department.
- Promote a culture of excellence, high performance, and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality. Mentor and develop R&IS staff using a supportive and collaborative approach. Set objectives and establish priorities, create accountability, and monitor and evaluate results. Provide and support professional development opportunities.
- Ensure that R&IS products and services are of the highest quality, reflect a consistent voice, and demonstrate SEPA’s expertise and insights. This includes meticulously reviewing all written work products to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with SEPA’s standards, recognizing their critical role in representing the team’s professionalism and impact.
- Identify key trends in the clean energy evolution and determine how these relate to SEPA’s mission and vision. Share insights with the R&IS team and executive leadership.
- Lead SEPA’s Research Advisory Council.
- Lead R&IS collaboration with other teams, including Programs & Events and Marketing & Communications, to develop and present work products, updates, and insights at signature SEPA events and meetings, with member working groups, and through a range of channels, including social media, webinars, panel discussions, expert papers, etc.
- Coordinate closely with the Development team to identify and apply for funding opportunities that are consistent with SEPA’s mission, vision, and expertise.
- Develop and manage the R&IS budget, carefully evaluating return on investment from staff time and expenses. Contribute to revenue diversification efforts.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of experience in the power sector and/or energy industry, with a preference for regulatory and policy experience at the state and/or federal level. Deep understanding of the clean energy transition and the role energy companies play in achieving decarbonization goals at the sector, state, regional, national, and international levels.
- Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop a complex, remote, and diverse team.
- Track record as an author on clean energy topics, including white papers, peer-reviewed publications, and proposal development.
- Experience as a presenter in delivering thought leadership at industry events and conferences and providing testimony before legislative or regulatory commissions.
- Demonstrated success in delivering complex projects that address multifaceted issues, interfacing with senior executives, and working effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Subject matter expertise related to utilities, renewable energy, emerging clean technologies, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, or grid resilience programs.
About SEPA
The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is a nonprofit organization that envisions a carbon-free energy system that is safe, affordable, reliable, resilient, and equitable. SEPA concentrates on the following areas to maximize impact: Transportation Electrification, Energy Storage, Resilience, and Emerging Technologies, Policy and Energy Equity & Inclusion. The search for equitable and inclusive energy solutions and a desire to provide members with key policy insights across these areas animates our work.
SEPA delivers value to our members through research, education, events, working groups, peer engagements, and member projects. We facilitate collaboration, develop innovative strategies and guidance to inform discussions about technology development and deployment and supportive regulatory and policy interventions. We seek to provide actionable solutions for our members and partner organizations.
Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.
