Expert Product Manager - Grid R&D

Requisition ID # 158074 

Job Category: Customer Support / Operations 

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Engineering, Planning & Strategy

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

 

 

Department Overview

Join the R&D Operations team within PG&E’s Grid Research Innovation & Development (GRID) department and help us change the electric utility industry from the inside!

 

In 2022, PG&E articulated its True North Strategy (TNS), a bold breakthrough vision that charts a course toward achieving our purpose and climate commitments over the next 10 years. The mission of R&D Operations, where this role sits, is to ensure that PG&E can bring the technologies that support the TNS vision of a resilient, decarbonized, optimized energy system from conception to reality through a rigorous R&D practice. To do so, R&D Operations leads efforts like the creation of PG&E’s R&D Strategy Report, PG&E’s Innovation Summit and Innovation Pitch Fest.  

 

Our team also administers PG&E’s participation in California’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program. EPIC enables PG&E and other California organizations to test and pilot novel technology solutions to meet emerging grid needs. PG&E is currently running its 4th EPIC cycle and preparing for the 5th.

 

Finally, in addition to articulating what needs to be solved through the R&D Strategy Report and EPIC, R&D Operations is chartered with building PG&E’s capacity to identify, test, and deploy novel solutions and technologies to address these gaps. R&D Operations is developing an end-to-end R&D management practice (“R&D Playbook”) attuned to the nuances of early-stage product development to guide R&D efforts across the utility. 

 

Position Summary

The R&D Operations team is seeking a curious, tenacious professional to support the implementation and continuous improvement of the R&D Playbook, and to support matrixed teams across PG&E with the execution of R&D projects. See the “Responsibilities” section below for a summary of the expected scope of the role.

 

A strong applicant will be organized, motivated, and empathetic, with a strong track record of successfully driving implementation of complex projects. This position is best suited for someone who is customer- and operations-minded, can translate complex discussions into a checklist of clear next steps, and is enthusiastic about the rapidly evolving electric and gas grid technology landscape.

 

This position is based out of PG&E’s General Office in downtown Oakland, CA. The team has a hybrid work model primarily working remotely with the expectation of working from Oakland office several days per month based on business needs. In-person activities will focus on synchronous collaboration, affinity building, ideation, and planning activities. The role will require regular travel throughout PG&E’s service territory for go-sees and meetings.

 

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity. 

Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed between the entry point and the middle of the range, the decision will be made on a c