SJCE launched service to residents and businesses in February 2019 and now serves more than 350,000 residential and commercial customer accounts. The Department’s Customer Programs Division implements a portfolio of 13 decarbonization programs with a $10M annual budget spanning building, transportation, distributed energy resources, and affordability, with a focus on ensuring equitable access and benefits for all customers.
The Department is seeking a Principal Manager of Decarbonization Programs (Principal Power Resources Specialist) to lead the development, implementation, continuous improvement, and evaluation of SJCE’s customer programs. This role will oversee delivery of programs that support customer adoption of clean energy technologies, shape load to reduce system costs, and improve the customer experience, while advancing the City’s climate goals and ensuring programs are accessible and beneficial to environmental justice communities. The role will also support the development of programs and strategies that serve commercial customers, strengthen key account relationships, and support long-term customer retention and load growth, including emerging large-load customers such as data centers.
This position reports to the Deputy Director of Account Management, Marketing, and Customer Programs in the Energy Department.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Lead the Customer Programs Team, overseeing day-to-day program implementation, performance, and continuous improvement across SJCE’s portfolio;
• Oversee implementation of the SJCE Programs Roadmap, ensuring programs are delivered effectively, aligned with market conditions, and responsive to customer needs;
• Oversee all aspects of program delivery, including contracts, budgets, timelines, and coordination with implementers, while identifying opportunities to streamline processes and improve operational efficiency;
• Improve the customer journey across programs by reducing barriers to participation, simplifying processes, and coordinating closely with other teams including Marketing, Account Services, Finance, Legislative Affairs, and Regulatory Affairs;
• Incorporate demand flexibility and load management strategies into program design and implementation to grow SJCE’s demand side resource;
• Oversee program performance and evaluation, including development of metrics, tracking of participation and outcomes, and analysis of customer savings, greenhouse gas reductions, and load impacts;
•Oversee the management of consultant and implementer performance, ensuring accountability, compliance, and high-quality service delivery;
• Oversee compliance with regulatory and funding requirements, including CPUC-funded programs;
• Partner with internal teams and City departments to align programs with broader City priorities, including Climate Smart San José, building electrification, and transportation electrification;
• Collaborate with marketing and community engagement team members to develop and implement outreach strategies that build awareness, foster trust, and incorporate community feedback into program design and delivery;
• Lead engagement with community organizations, industry partners, utilities, and other CCAs to support program implementation and innovation;
• Serve as a subject matter expert on customer programs, including participation in regulatory proceedings and development of policy recommendations;
• Prepare reports and presentations for City Council, executive leadership, and external stakeholders;
• Effectively manage a team of staff, consultants, and partners.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate brings strong experience in implementing and managing customer-facing energy programs, with a focus on delivering measurable results and improving the customer experience. They have a deep understanding of electrification and demand-side management programs and are skilled at translating program design into effective, scalable implementation. navigating large, complex organizations. They are also adept at navigating large, complex organizations and can effectively navigate complex stakeholder environments, build alignment across teams and partners, and advance initiatives within public sector processes.
This candidate is a systems thinker who can manage complex programs while identifying opportunities to improve processes, reduce customer friction, and increase participation. They are comfortable working across functions, aligning program design, marketing, and operations to deliver a seamless customer experience.
The ideal candidate has experience incorporating load flexibility and demand-side strategies into programs, and understands how customer programs can support grid reliability, reduce costs, and advance climate goals. They bring strong analytical skills, are data-driven in evaluating program performance, and are able to adapt programs based on market conditions and customer behavior.
This role requires a collaborative and pragmatic leader who can manage multiple priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment with high visibility and evolving priorities.
The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:
•Job Expertise– Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies, federal/state rules and regulations. Demonstrates knowledge and experience with community energy programs, energy markets, renewable energy contracts and technologies.
•Analytical Thinking– Approaches problems or situations using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
•Collaboration– Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
•Communication Skills– Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills, displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Fiscal Management– Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
•Leadership- Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
•Political Skill - In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.
• Project Management- Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.
•Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness.
•Vision/Strategic Thinking - Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization’s vision and values; understands how an organization must change in light of internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared vision with others and influences others to translate vision to action.