Water Power Policy and Engagement Analyst

Full-time
On-site
CO - Golden United States of America

Posting Title

Water Power Policy and Engagement Analyst

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Location

CO - Golden

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Position Type

Regular

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Hours Per Week

40

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Working at NREL

Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world’s energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems. We are trusted clean energy leaders, developing cost-saving solutions that make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities.

At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives: NREL's Mission and Vision.

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, is the nation’s primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The Water Power Deployment and Commercialization group within the Energy Conversion and Storage Systems (ECaSS) Center works on alleviating market barriers and enabling commercialization for marine energy and hydropower systems. Staff in Water Power Deployment and Commercialization have broad expertise in policy and regulatory analysis, STEM and workforce development, stakeholder engagement, and industry network development.

Water Power Deployment and Commercialization is looking for a full-time Water Power Policy and Engagement Analyst, who will work closely with teams in NREL’s crosscutting hydropower and marine energy programs to implement policy and market analysis, as well as stakeholder engagement for hydropower, marine energy, and hybrid systems. The candidate will be responsible for leading and contributing to collaborative research projects that support the analysis of enabling policies and market scenarios for hydropower and marine energy systems, particularly low impact hydropower and offshore energy systems for both grid and off-grid applications in small, community, and grid-scale demonstration and deployment opportunities.

Previous examples of some of the work in this area are Hydropower Supply Chain Gap Analysis (https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/88798.pdf) and Hydropower Investment and Public-Private Ecosystem Assessment (https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/88798.pdf) .

The specific activities that the researcher will work on include, but are not limited to:

  • Analyze federal, regional, and state level policies and incentives which may affect hydropower and ocean energy development
  • Contribute to regional hydropower and marine energy siting, permitting, and stakeholder engagement studies and related stakeholder resources, including as it pertains to community benefits identification and development
  • Identify the costs and benefits of hydropower and marine energy systems and determine end user needs
  • Develop and assess co-benefits of hydropower and marine energy in regions where development is being considered
  • Identify and engage with end users and partners who are interested in supporting the development of hydropower and ocean energy to benefit their local economies

To successfully support these activities, the ideal candidate should have experience researching and working with communities to integrate renewable energy systems that balance community needs with the sustainable energy systems within broader community ecosystems. Accomplishing the initiative objectives will require interactions between systems within the community ecosystem, including energy, economic, environmental, and social systems and considerations are balanced and addressed in any proposed solutions.

The ideal candidate will also have explicit familiarity with the barriers to market adoption for hydropower and marine energy systems. In addition, a proven history of successful project management, proposal development and engagement with tribal, local, and state government, as well as interest groups is required.

The researcher will perform the following activities:

  • Plan, document, and report results from research performed
  • Develop collaborations with tribal, local, and state governments, as well as interest groups, academia, public research entities, industry, and other stakeholders
  • Provide expert advice to commercial, academic, and government partners on water power technologies and hybrid systems
  • Present and publish work at domestic and international conferences and in journal publications
  • Support interaction with the Department of Energy and the hydropower and marine energy industries
  • Provide responsible project leadership as principal investigator
  • Contribute to achieving NREL business development goals
  • Collaborate regularly with Water Power and relevant technology and analysis team members across NREL


A Researcher IV will be expected to lead the activities listed above with minimal supervision and be able to delegate tasks appropriately to other team members. They should have in-depth expertise within the area of hydropower and/or marine energy research and substantial project leadership experience.

A Researcher III will be expected to contribute to the activities listed above with some supervision and be able to collaborate effectively with a broad group of interdisciplinary staff to achieve deliverables. They should have knowledge within the area of hydropower/and or marine energy research and some project leadership experience.

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    Basic Qualifications

    Researcher IV Level

    Relevant PhD and 4 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Master's Degree and 7 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 9 or more years of experience.

    Researcher III Level

    Relevant PhD . Or, relevant Master's Degree and 3 or more years of experience . Or, relevant Bachelor's Degree and 5 or more years of experience .

    * Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

    Additional Required Qualifications

    Researcher IV

    • Significant engagement experience as a lead for the betterment of communities specifically around technology adoption
    • Deep understanding of the interactions between energy systems and community ecosystems, related challenges and engineering problem solving and investigation techniques
    • Significant ability to work independently work and previous experience managing projects as in a lead capacity.
    • Experience collaborating with other National laboratories, Universities, and other governmental agencies that work in water power (e.g. FERC, USACE, USBR, DoD, Naval Research labs, etc.)
    • Advanced expertise in a lead capacity engaging with the regulatory bodies and processes for hydropower and marine energy.

    Researcher III

    • Proven engagement for the betterment of communities, preferably around technolody adoption
    • Understanding of the interactions between energy systems and community ecosystems, related challenges and engineering problem solving and investigation techniques
    • Ability to independently work and have some level of project management experience
    • Experience collaborating with other National laboratories, Universities, and other governmental agencies that work in water power (e.g. FERC, USACE, USBR, DoD, Naval Research labs, etc.)
    • Knowledge of the regulatory bodies and processes for hydropower and marine energy.

    Preferred Qualifications

    Researcher IV

    • Previous project management and budget adherence experience in a lead capacity.
    • Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a large dynamic team environment with evolving requirements and schedules
    • Expert knowledge of procedures and techniques for inventive problem solving and innovation
    • An impressive track record of publishing scientific and engineering work at international conferences through journal publications
    • Experience in a lead capacity with stakeholder engagement and outreach to local,state, and federal agencies

    Researcher III

    • Ph.D. or Master’s in Business or Policy, particularly at the intersection of renewable energy, social impact, and/or resource management.
    • Professional experience in community support and engagement.
    • Project management and budget adherence experience.
    • Ability to manage one's time with ability to manage multiple projects.
    • Some experience of presenting and publishing scientific and engineering work at international conferences and primarily through journal publications.
    • Ability to work effectively in a large dynamic team environment with evolving requirements and schedules.
    • Practical knowledge of procedures and techniques for inventive problem solving and innovation.
    • Experience with customer relations to understand needs and develop value-added solutions.
    • Experience with stakeholder engagement and outreach to local, state, and federal agencies.

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    Job Application Submission Window

    The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

    Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

    Job Profile: Researcher IV / Annual Salary Range: $97,800 - $176,000

    Job Profile: Researcher III / Annual Salary Range: $81,500 - $146,700

    NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

    Benefits Summary

    Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

    * Based on eligibility rules

    Badging Requirement

    NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.

    Drug Free Workplace

    NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

    If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

    Submission Guidelines

    Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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    EEO Policy

    NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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