Principal Analyst - North America Load Forecasting

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Role Purpose

The Principal Analyst – Load Forecasting will lead the development and implementation of Wood Mackenzie's long-term load forecasting capabilities for the US and Canada power markets. This critical role will focus on operationalizing a robust load forecasting model and process that serves as a foundational input to our long-term fundamental power market outlooks. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing econometric demand forecasts at the state/province and zonal level, ensuring accuracy and consistency across our coverage area. The Principal Analyst will serve as Wood Mackenzie's subject matter expert on electricity demand fundamentals and will collaborate closely with internal teams forecasting discrete demand sources (e.g., data centres) to deliver a comprehensive, integrated view of future load growth.
 

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain sophisticated, scalable and automated econometric models that capture the key drivers of US and Canada electricity demand, including economic growth, weather patterns, energy efficiency, electrification trends, and structural changes in consumption patterns

• Own the end-to-end load forecasting process, from data collection and quality assurance through model development, validation, and integration with Wood Mackenzie's Long-Term Power Market Outlooks

• Collaborate with internal research teams forecasting discrete demand sources (data centres, electric vehicles, industrial electrification, etc.) to ensure proper integration in total demand forecasts

• Produce regular load forecast updates aligned with Wood Mackenzie's publication cycle, providing transparent documentation of methodology, assumptions, and changes from prior forecasts

• Author analytical insights and research on electricity demand trends, structural shifts in consumption, and implications for power market fundamentals

• Provide expert guidance to clients on load forecasting methodology, assumptions, and outlook through inquiries, presentations, and special consultations

• Present research findings at industry conferences and client events, establishing Wood Mackenzie as a thought leader in power demand forecasting

• Continuously improve forecasting capabilities by incorporating new data sources, methodologies, and market intelligence to enhance forecast accuracy and granularity

About You

Required Qualifications:

• 5-7 years of direct experience in long-term electricity load forecasting, preferably within a utility, ISO/RTO, regulatory agency, research or consulting environment where you developed and maintained operational forecasting models

• Demonstrated expertise in econometric demand modelling, including understanding of key load drivers, regression techniques, time-series analysis, and forecast validation methods

• Strong programming and automation skills with proficiency in Python, R