Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager na Energy Trust of Oregon

Position: Regulatory Policy and Utility Relations Sr. Advisor

Reports to: Government and Stakeholder Relations Lead

Compensation*: Competitive starting salary: $96,100 - $123,00 commensurate with skills and experience, Full Pay Range: $96,000 - $150,000

Employment Classification: Exempt, Full-Time

Application Deadline: 12/19/25

Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible, position is open until filled

Office Location: Portland Metro Area, Oregon, USA

BACKGROUND

About Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development. We serve Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista, and SW Washington customers of NW Natural. Year over year Energy Trust is recognized as one of the 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon.

Our Vision

Clean, affordable energy for everyone.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We recognize the lack of diversity in our industry, and we actively seek to address it with our hiring and retention practices as well as our values. We believe every person and their lived experience is integral to building a vibrant culture and delivering effective services to all customers we serve. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.

Our Location

Energy Trust provides a range of work location options, including remote, hybrid and in-office work. We are open to candidates who live throughout Oregon and Washington. The Regulatory Policy and Utility Relations Sr. Advisor is expected to report to the Portland office on a quarterly basis, at minimum, and will lead a combination of virtual/hybrid and in-person meetings.  The ability to travel to meetings on an as needed basis in Portland, Salem and other Pacific Northwest locations, where Energy Trust funding entities are located, is expected. This position may occasionally be called on to represent Energy Trust in public settings, meetings and events across Energy Trust service area during and outside standard work hours.

What We’re Looking For:

 The Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager is a key contributor to Energy Trust’s organization-wide efforts to ensure productive and responsive relationships with regulatory agencies, utilities and other entities providing funding, oversight and coordination commitments for programs and services delivered by Energy Trust. A significant focus of this position will be to serve as a formal liaison with the Oregon Public Utility Commission, Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista. This role may also serve as an organizational liaison for additional entities that establish funding for Energy Trust through grants and contracts, such as state and federal agencies and foundations.

The Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager will coordinate with Energy Trust staff in all parts of the organization and engage executive and senior managers, as needed, to prepare and represent Energy Trust in meetings with regulators and funders, ensure the organization understands the needs and perspectives of these stakeholders, collaborate productively with others to fulfill requests, and resolve critical issues. This role will support effective joint work and collaboration with Oregon Public Utility Commission and utilities by: meeting regularly to stay informed about  priorities and coordinate activities, facilitating connections between Energy Trust executives, subject matter experts and their counterparts at funding entities, using internal systems and processes that support effective coordination, hosting and facilitating discussions, monitoring the status of commitments and ensuring follow through, and communicating effectively within the organization and with funding and regulatory entities.

Based in the Communications & Customer Service (CCS) Group, the Sr. Regulatory and Utility Relations Manager works closely with the CCS Director and other members of the Executive Team, as well as colleagues in CCS, Energy Programs, Finance, Planning, Innovation and Development, and all other areas of the organization. As a member of the CCS Government and Stakeholder Relations team, this position enhances public understanding of Energy Trust’s purpose and role, supports access to information, and upholds the organization’s commitment to transparency and accessibility.

This individual reports to the Government and Stakeholder Relations Lead.

What You’ll Do:

• Serves as primary liaison and relationship manager for Oregon Public Utility Commission.
• Serves as liaison and primary contact for staff of utilities, government agencies, and may also for other established funders with formal coordination channels to Energy Trust.
• Maintains regular communications and meetings with the Oregon Public Utility Commission and utilities.
• Conducts proactive outreach to staff of utilities, government agencies, and other established funders with formal coordination channels to Energy Trust.
• Stays informed on current areas of joint work, operations and engagements that involve OPUC, utilities and other funding entities. Works with internal subject matter experts, functional leads, process owners and leadership to ensure OPUC, utility and funding entities are engaged appropriately in Energy Trust budget, planning, metric development, reporting and contracting processes.
• Maintains knowledge on matters of importance to OPUC, utilities and funding entities; draws on this knowledge to inform and advise internal discussions and planning. Seeks input from OPUC, utility and funding entity liaisons as needed to inform Energy Trust decision-making.
• Monitors Energy Trust strategic, multi-year and annual priorities and briefs funding entities on changes to plans and new areas of focus. 
• Sets expectations appropriately with OPUC, utilities and funding entities when responding to inquiries and requests for support outside of planned areas of joint work.
• Collaborates with counterparts at funding entities to share information, track on joint work plans, resolve issues and monitor needs, positioning content experts and leadership to represent information as appropriate.
• Briefs executives and senior staff to inform them of key issues and concerns and shares knowledge relevant to escalated issues. Advises operational management team and others based on knowledge of funding entity interests.
• Monitors commitments and deliverables – coordinating people and resources within the organization as needed to ensure assignments are made and commitments are complete.
• Plans and facilitates meetings in coordination with funding entities to ensure joint purposes are accomplished in alignment with stated goals in funding agreements.
• Ensures that Energy Trust leadership and staff understand developments that could potentially impact the organization’s work with funding entities.
• Serves as an Energy Trust spokesperson in organizational meetings, utility forums, community meetings and OPUC meetings. 
• Participates as a member of the Energy Trust Government and Stakeholder Relations team and provides relevant insights and information to support outreach, stakeholder relations, policy services and community engagement activities interfacing with funding entities and joint objectives.
• Contributes to and utilizes internal systems, process and documentation to support consistent communication, collaboration and information sharing internally and with funding entities.
• Identifies relevant utility, OPUC and funder relations activities for Energy Trust staff participation. 
• Undertakes other assignments on behalf of the Energy Trust, as assigned.
• Performs all functions of the job in a safe manner.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• This position may supervise staff.
• Authority to make work assignments to other staff as needed, in coordination with their supervisors or through work agreements, to fulfill commitments to funding entities.
• Hire and direct the work of external contractors, suppliers and/or vendors.

Requirements

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience relevant to responsibilities described above, such as in program management, public administration, natural resources, business, technical fields or another relevant field.
• 10 years of experience in utility regulation and regulatory policy settings or utility roles that interact with planning and regulatory processes with input to strategy and decision-making in those settings.
• Minimum 6 years of experience specific to energy efficiency or renewable energy in a program, policy, planning or regulatory setting
• 4 years of experience leading strategic initiatives and advising executives on strategy and decision-making involving multiple functional areas of an organization
• 6 years of experience supervising staff
• Deep knowledge of public utility commission role and purpose is essential, preferably by interacting with the Oregon Public Utility Commission and/or Oregon utilities. 
• Experience organizing and clearly presenting information to public, business and government audiences, including as an organizational representative in public settings
• Demonstrated skill in engaging people from a variety of backgrounds, facilitating teamwork, and negotiating solutions among parties with diverse needs and interests.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, facilitation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently and with a team, synthesizing complex topics and for a range of audiences, including executive and senior level colleagues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.
• Must be a proactive professional who is able to perform in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and be flexible and responsive to changing context, needs and opportunities.
• Must be able to interact with a diverse workforce and be comfortable working in culturally diverse settings and groups.

The above information is designed to outline the major functions and position requirements of this job. It does not identify all tasks that may be expected, nor address the performance standards that must be maintained.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:  

 
  Please submit your resume and a cover letter that shares your interest in this role:  

 Check out our current openings at the Energy Trust’s website www.energytrust.org/About/careers.

Benefits

What You’ll Get:

• Health/dental/vision insurance
• Employer sponsored and paid life/disability
• 401(k) with a company contribution of 6% of your salary after 90 days of employment
• TriMet pass
• Access to health and dependent FSA/HSA accounts
• Generous paid vacation, holidays and sick days
• Paid volunteer hours
• Employee assistance program
• Career advancement opportunities
• Great colleagues and culture
• Flexibility to work from home and/or an office space at the Portland, OR location 
• Work from home laptop provided
• Read more about our benefits here

All offers of employment are conditional pending the successful completion of a background check (which may include employment verification, education verification, criminal history, motor vehicle record) and reference checks.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that candidates from certain demographics are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification—for example, women and People of Color. At Energy Trust we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace—if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. 

Energy Trust of Oregon is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, mental and physical disability, political affiliation, union membership, status as a parent, military or veteran status or other non-merit based factors. We will provide reasonable accommodation throughout the application, interviewing and employment process. If you require reasonable accommodation, contact us. Energy Trust of Oregon is an E-Verify employer. This policy is applicable to all phases of the employment relationship, including hiring, transfers, promotions, training, terminations, working conditions, compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Energy Trust is committed to pay equity. Energy Trust is committed to fair employment practices and non-discrimination, including pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class (race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation) in the payment of wages or screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. We determine salary by completing a review of your application materials to evaluate your related education, experience and training.

*Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, and certifications in the pay equity assessment to determine equitable salary placement. Candidates should expect compensation offers within the starting compensation range. The full pay range is included to show the earnings potential for this position with sustained high performance.  

www.energytrust.org