Manager – SE Asia Utility Transition

Are you an experienced project manager and people leader with intense curiosity and drive? Are you willing to take risks by exploring and testing new ideas? Do you have the exceptional ability to structure and oversee analytic and strategic problem solving?  If yes, then join our growing team!  

We highly encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply! 

About RMI’s Global Energy Transition Finance Initiative

As an integrated team across RMI’s Carbon-Free Electricity (CFE) program, Finance program, and Global South program, our Global Energy Transition Finance initiative, supports utilities, financial institutions, project sponsors, and policymakers to develop innovative financial approaches to speed the coal to clean transition. Building on years of work to support the development and implementation of financial tools such as rate-payer backed securitization in the United States, in 2020, the Initiative produced How to Retire Early: Making Accelerated Coal Phaseout Feasible and Just, a first-of-its kind analysis of nearly 2,500 coal plants to determine the cost competitiveness of the global coal fleet with respect to clean energy. In 2021, RMI released a follow-on report, Financing the Coal Transition: Pragmatic Solutions to Accelerate an Equitable, Clean Energy Future, reviewing the current landscape of coal transition mechanisms and how to begin designing financial solutions to achieve maximum impact. This year, the team worked to support the development and implementation of Just Energy Transition Partnerships in South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam. We also worked to ensure environmental safeguards around energy transition finance through an engagement with the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero and the development of guidance released in RMI’s report Guidelines for Financing a Credible Coal Transition. These analyses describe RMI’s approach to reaching an effective, rapid coal phaseout, which focuses on the development of innovative financial approaches that simultaneously accelerate coal retirement, ramp-up clean energy investment, and support a just transition. 

Position Overview

RMI seeks a Manager to lead project and campaign work across the Global Energy Transition Finance team. A successful candidate for this position will excel in three key areas:

Team leadership: At RMI, you will have the opportunity to supervise 2-4 direct reports, as well as lead diverse project teams of 3-8 contributors of varying experience levels. Successful candidates will have demonstrated this skillset through a track record of people and project leadership.

Entrepreneurialism: At RMI, you will be expected to think creatively and critically about how your team and RMI as a whole can most effectively accelerate the decarbonization of global electricity systems. RMI empowers Managers and others on the team to be entrepreneurial and self-directed in defining approaches to achieving the team’s goals. Successful candidates will bring a track record of this kind of entrepreneurial work, and an eagerness to deploy that skill at RMI.

Energy sector expertise: At RMI, you will immediately plug into technical work on topics related to global electricity sector decarbonization. Competitive candidates will bring technical experience, networks, and expertise in one or both of the following content areas:

• Engaging and supporting utilities and the private sector to take bold action on decarbonization, including:
• Working at a utility or private company on clean energy deployment, , rates, or regulatory strategy;
• Leading direct engagements with utilities to explore, assess, and implement decarbonization pathways and evolved business models;
• Leading direct engagements with clean tech, clean energy, and other private sector companies to develop and deploy solutions and business models that can support rapid and equitable power sector decarbonization; and
• Energy transition management consulting.
• Engaging and supporting state utilities, governments, and consumer advocates in advancing regulation and utility oversight to accelerate an equitable, reliable transition to carbon-free energy, including:
• Serving as part of a government; and
• Leading direct consulting engagements with regulators or consumer advocates.

Core Responsibilities

• With senior guidance, shape projects from inception to implementation: determine change models, research methods, timelines, resource plans, communications plans, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Utilize a variety of project management techniques to ensure the high quality and timely execution of project deliverables.
• Drive thought leadership and research efforts.
• Structure and deliver compelling presentations and written products to bring new insights to the industry and partners.
• Coordinate closely with other SE Asia team members to act as the lead relationship manager with certain project partners and stakeholders, and use stakeholder input to prioritize project deliverables and modify timelines.
• Manage and support up to 4 direct reports, including writing project-level and biannual reviews for junior staff.
• Mentor and motivate project team members and resolve any issues throughout project life cycle.
• Lead and contribute to data-driven efforts and publications; in particular, identify trends and communicate relevant insights in a clear and compelling manner.
• Participate in cultivating and successfully converting business development for small and medium-sized projects.
• Lead engagements with utilities, key policymakers, and other decision-makers to communicate insights and influence the transition to clean energy.
• Contribute to external interviews, videos, and publications to share project insights.
• Support our development team and other team leaders to develop funding strategies.

Additional Responsibilities

The Manager will be responsible for a growing portfolio of energy in Southeast Asia, with a focus on Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Responsibilities include supporting and mentoring staff based in Southeast Asia and managing partner relationships. The Manager will oversee projects focused on clean power solutions to displace fossil fuels and corporate leadership for decarbonization.

Required Skills

• Familiarity with the electricity industry, including understanding of key trends and stakeholder landscape. Expertise in one or more of the following specific areas is preferred:
• Renewable energy procurement and project development.
• Demand flexibility, renewable energy, and/or energy storage business models, regulatory structures, pricing/rate designs, and policy environments.
• Transmission development and/or policy.
• Utility regulation and law, and associated regulatory policy.
• Wholesale electricity market design and operations, and related policy environments.
• Integrated resource planning and related topics including capacity expansion modeling and production cost modeling.
• Distribution system modeling and analysis, including hosting capacity, avoided cost concepts, and impacts of electrification.
• Utility financial analysis and modelling.
• Stakeholder process design and management in the context of electricity system planning and operations or utility programs.

Required Qualifications

• At least 6+ years of relevant professional experience in related fields, such as utility regulation, utility strategy, climate or energy advocacy, business, law, or other fields relevant to the decarbonization of electricity systems.
• Experience managing direct reports.
• Excellent time management, organization, entrepreneurship, and drive.
• Demonstrated track record in a project-based work environment.
• Experience in renewable energy, grid planning, power systems planning or utility economics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience working in management consulting, electric utility industry, electric regulatory agencies, or campaign-based organizations.
• Experience working with utilities, regulators, DER service providers, regional grid operators, and/or other NGOs in the electricity sector.
• Experience working directly with policymakers, regulators, and/or other key electricity system decision makers, ideally in a Southeast Asian market.
• Effective presentations to audiences in a variety of cultural and institutional settings.
• Language skills in Bahasa, Tagalog, or Vietnamese.
• A graduate degree.

Additional Qualifications

• Ability to travel 20–30% (once public health conditions allow)
• Excellent work references
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Experience leading projects that involve quantitative analysis

Location

We are a remote-ready company with team members around the globe. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado, and Basalt, Colorado. It is highly preferred that this role be based in Southeast Asia. This will be discussed further through the interview process.

We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one-time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies.

We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in-person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Important Note: As a U.S. federal contractor, RMI must comply with requirements outlined in Executive Order Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This Executive Order requires that all federal contractors and subcontractors mandate and verify that all U.S. based employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are based in the U.S., you will be required to provide proof of full vaccination status as a condition of employment. You may request accommodation for medical or religious reasons. If you are based outside of the U.S., this requirement does not apply.  

Compensation

RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. Typically, new Managers join at the minimum to mid salary range of $103,000-$121,000. You would also have an additional 10% bonus target!  

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package adjusted to regional norms, including (for U.S. employment): 

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 403b retirement options (up to 5% match immediately)
• Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability
• Professional and personal development (including LinkedIn Learning access)
• Generous paid time off
• Parental leave
• Work from home and commuter allowance

Diversity

Increasing the diversity of thought, perspectives, ideas and opinions within RMI is a critical change element supporting our long-term sustainability and mission to build a clean, prosperous, and secure energy future.     

This Ensures That We

We strive for a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of ability, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, veteran status, socioeconomic class, educational attainment or other social identities—is critical to the success of each RMIer and collectively as an organization.

• Have the different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
• Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating others with dignity, respect and appreciation enabling them to feel welcomed, supported and valued.
• Effectively connect, communicate and build long-lasting relationships with decision makers, stakeholders and constituents within diverse communities.   

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.        

About RMI

RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.