Policy Principal - Central

About Advanced Energy United

Advanced Energy United educates, engages, and advocates for policies that allow our member companies to compete to repower our economy with 100% clean energy. We work with decision makers at every level of government as well as regulators of energy markets to achieve this goal. The businesses we represent are lowering consumer costs, creating thousands of new jobs every year, and providing the full range of clean, efficient, and reliable energy and transportation solutions. The U.S. market for advanced energy products and services reached nearly $375 billion in 2022. Together, we are united in our mission to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy in the United States.

If you’re an entrepreneurial, innovative, analytical and thoughtful person looking to make an impact in the clean energy space, United might be the perfect place for you to share your talents. Team members at United are given the trust and responsibility to make big things happen, and myriad opportunities to learn new skills, explore new issue areas, and work with a broad cross section of the clean energy community. Being a team member at United also means working with a talented and diverse group of people, some who bring decades of experience spanning advocacy, philanthropy, clean tech, government and more—and our collaborative approach means we get to learn from each other, expert and novice, every day. And while our organization is fully remote, we are proud of the people-focused culture we have built and the connectedness of our team.  

We work on serious issues, take our mission seriously, but never take ourselves too seriously.

Position Description

United seeks an enthusiastic, smart, innovative Principal with a background in issue advocacy and/or coalition building at the state level to join our policy and campaign team. The principal will work with United team members to develop and implement multi-year strategies and initiatives designed to achieve policy successes at the state level that will accelerate the clean energy transition while expanding markets for the advanced energy industry. The Principal will craft and execute creative strategies to: enact pro-advanced energy policies in key states in our Central Region, primarily Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan with secondary focus on  Wisconsin and Texas; educate and build support for advanced energy technologies and policies among key decision-makers within states; engage in regulatory proceedings in states; support and advocate for the implementation of the state and federal laws by state regulatory and executive agencies; defend existing advanced energy policies; and educate and activate policymakers and executive agency staff on regional solutions needed to achieve 100% clean energy. The principal will also lead, execute and/or support United’s regulatory engagements in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Candidates will need to have the ability to travel to meet with United members, coalition allies and stakeholders, and public officials.   

Key Skills for Success 

Have A Mind for Policy: Market opportunities for the advanced energy industry are driven by policy. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of regulatory processes but also some knowledge of legislative processes. Experience in energy and utility policy is a bonus but not completely necessary. 

Be Small “p” Political: Recognizing opportunity, understanding power dynamics, and building coalitions to seize policy opportunities is a key to success for creating a policy environment that allows advanced energy to thrive. The ideal candidate doesn’t need to have an extensive background in politics but does need to know how legislative and regulatory systems work and be able to recognize whether an issue is better addressed in the regulatory or legislative arena. A candidate should be excited about engaging in the politics of the policy-making process and building rapport and relationships with agency staff and decision makers. 

Project Management Skills & a Drive to Get Things Done: The ideal candidate must have the ability to keep multiple projects organized and on track, communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, and the drive and sense of urgency to advance policies while simultaneously navigate relationships with various types of entities (legislators, regulators, staff of decision