Senior Associate, Utility Ratemaking - Carbon-Free Electricity Program

Position Overview: RMI's Electricity Program seeks a Senior Associate to advance work on utility ratemaking, cost allocation and related regulatory issues across the electricity system. The Senior Associate will help regulators, consumer advocates, utilities, and other stakeholders evaluate how utility costs, investments, benefits, and risks are allocated and how those choices affect customer rates and affordability, utility incentives and financial outcomes, and broader regulatory objectives. The role may support work involving bulk-power and distribution systems, large load growth, utility finance, customer affordability, distributed energy resources, and other emerging regulatory priorities. The Senior Associate will work at the intersection of regulatory strategy and quantitative analysis and will independently advance substantial research and analytical workstreams. This role is well‑suited for someone who is both analytically rigorous and externally oriented, with an interest in facilitating conversations and advancing real‑world change. This role will report to a Manager in RMI’s Electricity Program.

Core Responsibilities: Lead and contribute to research and analysis on utility cost allocation, ratemaking, and related regulatory issues. Review utility filings, commission orders, stakeholder comments, legislation, and other relevant sources to identify key issues and implications for RMI’s work. Translate regulatory and policy developments into structured analytical questions, assumptions, scenarios, and sensitivities; conduct or contribute to quantitative analysis and collaborate with quantitative modelers and subject‑matter experts to evaluate assumptions, interpret results, and communicate decision‑relevant findings, limitations, and tradeoffs. Independently manage assigned research and analytical workstreams, including planning, coordination, first drafts, meeting preparation, and follow‑through; proactively identify gaps, risks, and strategic questions requiring project leadership attention. Support engagements with regulators, commission staff, consumer advocates, utilities, policymakers, and other stakeholders by developing briefing materials, synthesizing perspectives, documenting decisions and next steps, and leading selected discussions with senior guidance. Utilize a variety of project management techniques to ensure the high quality and timely execution of project deliverables as an individual contributor.

Required Qualifications: 4+ years of relevant professional experience in fields such as utility regulation, ratemaking, energy consulting, utility finance or planning, consumer advocacy, public policy, law, or quantitative analysis relevant to the electricity sector. Excellent time management, organization, entrepreneurship, and drive Demonstrated track record of independently owning substantial tasks or workstreams in a project‑based environment. Quantitative fluency and comfort working with financial and ratemaking analyses, including the ability to structure calculations, evaluate assumptions, conduct scenario or sensitivity analysis, and interpret results. Strong grounding in utility cost allocation, including familiarity with cost‑of‑service analysis, allocation methods, customer impacts, and relevant regulatory tradeoffs. Ability to review and synthesize complex regulatory filings, commission decisions, stakeholder proposals, technical studies, and related materials. Ability to translate regulatory and policy questions into structured research and analytical approaches. Quantitative fluency and comfort working with spreadsheets, financial or ratemaking analyses, and model outputs. Advanced model‑building expertise is not required, but candidates must be able to assess assumptions and interpret analytical results. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distill complex regulatory and technical information into concise, audience‑appropriate materials. Strong organization, judgment, attention to detail, and follow‑through.

Preferred Qualifications: Direct experience working in electric utility industry, consulting, or electric regulatory agencies. Experience working with utilities, regional grid operators, regulators, commission staff, consumer advocates, distributed‑energy‑resource providers, community‑based organizations, policymakers, or other electricity‑sector stakeholders. Advanced programming expertise is preferred but not required. Expertise or experience in one or more of the following areas: Utility finance and accounting, revenue requirements, or other economic and financial issues facing regulated utilities. Cost allocation, cost‑of‑service analysis, or rate design issues associated with load growth, electrification, demand flexibility, distributed energy resources, or large customers. Distribution system planning, investment, grid modernization, or distributed energy resources. Regulatory process design that supports inclusive and collaborative decision‑making.

Visa Sponsorship: Please note: At this time, RMI is not able to sponsor employment visas or hire candidates who require visa sponsorship to work in the United States. All candidates must have current, independent authorization to work in the U.S. without present or future sponsorship from RMI. We will update our hiring pages if this status changes. 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. This role can be located from anywhere in the continental United States. 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). Compensation At RMI, we prioritize fairness in our pay practices. Salaries are determined based on a mix of experience, market benchmarks, and internal equity across similar roles. The salary range of this position is $84,000-$103,000. New hires typically start toward the lower end of the range, depending on experience and alignment with the role’s scope. In addition to base salary, this position includes an annual bonus target of 5% and eligibility for merit‑based increases, which are tied to both individual and organizational performance. Benefits Medical, dental, vision insurance 403b retirement match with immediate vesting Group life, AD&D, and short‑and‑long‑term disability Optional voluntary life, AD&D and accident plans Health savings or flexible spending accounts Fertility and hormonal health support Mental health and wellness support Comprehensive leaves of absence (including generous parental leave) Generous paid time off and sick leave Paid sabbatical leave Regional holidays with at least one extended break in each geography Work from home and home technology allowances Learning & development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning and an annual individual professional development budget) Potential for bonuses and merit increases Discount marketplace (gym memberships, pet insurance, etc.) Hybrid / remote work options Team retreats and geographic meetups Rewards and recognition programs Diversity We know that the diversity of our teams makes us stronger as an organization, and RMI is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity as outlined in U.S. federal law. We prohibit discrimination against applicants, interns, and employees on the basis of any legally recognized basis, including but not limited to: age (40 and over), race, color, sex, pregnancy (including lactation, childbirth, or related medical conditions), religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender expression/identity, uniformed service member status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other applicable status protected by applicable law. RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you have any questions or issues with your application submission, please submit a ticket: Support Form RMI is an independent nonprofit, founded in 1982 as Rocky Mountain Institute, 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 climate pollution at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; Abuja, Nigeria; and Beijing.