Utilities Program Services Manager presso City of Palo Alto, CA

About the Department

Are you driven to make a positive impact on the environment? 

Join the Resource Management Division at City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) and embark on a rewarding career!

As a Manager of Utilities Program Services, you will play an integral part in helping the Palo Alto community reach its ambitious goal to achieve 80% reductions in carbon emissions by 2030. Extraordinary effort will be required to help residents and businesses make the necessary changes for a sustainable future. Depending on the selected candidate’s background and organizational priorities, this position may take charge of one of several critical program areas:

• Residential Programs – Lead the residential team focusing on single-family homes, promoting electrification, energy efficiency, and water use efficiency. You’ll support residents in transitioning to sustainable home systems that reduce carbon emissions and conserve resources.

• Multi-Family and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Drive decarbonization strategies for multi-family residential buildings and oversee initiatives to expand electric vehicle charging access. This includes integrating water and energy efficiency into building upgrades to maximize environmental benefits.

• Commercial and Industrial Programs – Lead the commercial team working with small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large commercial and industrial customers, to reduce energy and water use, advance electrification, and support sustainability practices tailored to each sector’s needs.

Utilities Program Services is well-resourced, with eight program administrators, two key account representatives, and support staff including a business analysist and administrative assistants. Additional analytical support is provided by Resource Planners. You will directly supervise 3-4 staff members and will manage teams working on cross-divisional projects. 

Funding for programs includes $3.7 million per year from a Public Benefits surcharge, approximately $1.5 million per year from the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, funding from the Electric and Gas Cap and Trade programs, and grant funding. Additional resources are being investigated to expand building electrification programs.

Ideal Candidate

CPAU is seeking a candidate with the vision and management skills to guide Utilities Program Services in an environment of rapid change within the utility industry. Traditional energy efficiency, while still critical, is now competing with community interest in reducing carbon in vehicles and buildings, interest in on-site generation and storage for resiliency, and the growing need to introduce more flexibility into the utility’s loads to manage the variability of the grid’s growing renewable fleet.

We are seeking a leader who is:

• Excited to help the community achieve its goals by developing effective relationships and partnerships both inside and outside the organization;
• Experienced in supervising and managing employees;
• Proficient in creating and implementing customer-focused programs related to energy and/or sustainability, including negotiating contracts with 3rd party program operators;
• Well-versed in utility energy efficiency and/or energy technologies like electric vehicles, solar systems, energy storage, and demand response;
• Knowledgeable about marketing and communications; and,
• Comfortable with cost-effectiveness evaluation methodologies.

Benefits: The City offers a fantastic benefits package that includes affordable healthcare plans, generous retirement packages, paid parental leave, convenient commuter programs and more!
Compensation (UMPAPA): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here.

Position Duties

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

• Develops and implements marketing plans to promote the efficient use of resources to the City of Palo Alto retail customers.
• Develops and implements programs to market utility services within the City of Palo Alto consistent with utilities’ goals and objectives.
• Promotes, implements, and coordinates demand-side management programs to fulfill City goals.
• Supervises the residential, commercial, institutional, industrial and Key Customer programs.
• Directs the daily activities of professionals and technical staff (plus agency or temporary staff) in the development, implementation, and operation of programs to market the Utilities’ services and to promote the efficient use of supply resources.
• Prepares and submits proposals appropriate to obtain grants and/or other funds to promote efficient resource use of utilities customers.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• Possession of a bachelor's degree in engineering, economics, business, marketing or a closely-related field from an accredited college or university; and,
• Eight years of related experience in a utility or business organization including project management, public affairs, marketing and supervision.

Note: A Master’s degree in business, marketing or other related field
 
Special Requirement:

• Valid California driver’s license

Other Qualifications

The Selection Process:

• Recruitment status notifications will be sent via email or text (please enroll in text alerts when applying).
• Updates can also be found on your governmentjobs.com account.
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time. 
• The screening process for this position may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.