Director, Regulatory Compliance-NorthStar Clean Energy

NorthStar Clean Energy decarbonizes the economy by providing clean energy and carbon management solutions to utility, municipal, commercial, and industrial customers enabling them to meet their sustainability and business goals. Additionally, we own and operate natural gas assets throughout the United States. To learn more about NorthStar Clean Energy, please visit www.northstarcleanenergy.com.

This position is with NorthStar Clean Energy, a CMS Energy company, and is not a position of employment with Consumers Energy.

The Director, Regulatory Compliance, is responsible for overseeing regulatory compliance obligations and strategy as it relates to plant operations for all of NorthStar Clean Energy. This includes gas and biomass generating facilities, renewable energy sites (solar, wind and battery storage) and carbon sequestration projects. This person provides management, oversight, direction, interpretation and implementation of regulatory procedures and processes for regulations that relate to compliant plant operations, and cost effective reliability. This person also manages risk assessments and environmental protection initiatives ensuring the operations at each location are carried out in adherence with applicable internal policies and local, state, and federal laws. This person will collaborate closely with internal project teams, such as development, engineering, and construction management, as well as external teams including environmental consultants, engineering firms, and legal counsel. Additionally, this person will engage with external stakeholders, including state and federal resource agencies to ensure that all environmental regulations and guidelines are met.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide oversight and management of the implementation of the NERC regulatory compliance program and the Environmental compliance program. This includes directing the evaluation of NERC Standard's requirements appropriate for each plant relating to topics such as generator operation, plant protection systems, substation and transmission interconnections as well as participating in the permitting process for plant operations related to air emissions, water discharges, and waste disposals.
• Lead and/or support team members in discussions with regulators on the local, state, national and federal level. Create strong relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and business partners to gain full understanding of compliance requirements and business standards to address risks in a collaborative way. This includes oversight of the coordination with regulatory agencies for assessments, audits, self-certifications, requests for information, self-reports, non-compliance mitigations, and interacting expectations.
• Manage and develop the Regulatory Compliance Team in a way that ensures that all employees have the support needed to excel in their position, develop in their career, and contribute to a high performing workplace. This includes defining team training requirements that maintain the necessary skills for all team members with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Organize reporting obligations and provide direction for regulatory agencies such as: Federal Communications Commission, state Public Service Commissions, FERC, Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration, Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Electric Code, and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Direct business planning and development of programs such as emergency response/business continuity planning.
• Manage internal assessments of processes, procedures and documentation for regulatory adherence, communicate results and lead/assist in the development and implementation of corrective action plans.
• Oversee compliance assurance tracking system, internal controls, corrective/preventive actions, and records management/retention process to ensure site compliance with regulatory requirements and corporate policy. Identify potential compliance gaps and develop remediation and mitigation plans.
• Participate and coordinate with CMS Energy, compliance department, internal audit, legal and associated Consumers Energy Accountable Authorities for reporting, policy and internal controls.
• Perform other duties as assigned or may be necessary.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Deep understanding of the renewable energy industry, power plan operations, and the regulatory landscape for each. Knowledge of carbon capture is also preferred
• Expert knowledge of compliance regulations including Federal Communications Commission, state Public Service Commissions, NERC, FERC, Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration, Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Electric Code, and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
• Knowledgeable in Environmental permitting process and compliance principles.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, operational processes, and risk management principles
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple compliance projects concurrently
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills
• The ability to communicate complex compliance issues clearly both verbally and in writing and to all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated ability to lead a high-performing team with very little oversight
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization and to build collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field required
• Master's Degree in Engineering or related field preferred
• Educational specialization preferred in Electrical Engineers and Power Operations preferred
• Certified Energy Compliance Manager (CECM) preferred
• 10+ years of experience with utility scale gas/turbine generators, boiler/steam turbine generators, transformers, and substation interconnection equipment with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience) required.
• 10+ years of applicable regulatory experience required.
• Must have experience leading a team in the energy regulatory space.

Working Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; and use hands and arms to operate a computer. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and move up to ten pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Corporate/home office - 80%, Field visits - 10%, Offsite business travel - 10%

Employee is expected to work at Corporate office at least 3 days/week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday), excluding supervisor approved out-of-office duties
Most work can be performed in an office environment, however the employee must also perform physical inspections at generating facilities.

The employee may encounter the following while performing the essential functions of this job:

• Moderate climbing may be required via stairs, and ladders to access equipment.
• Site environments may be dusty or dirty at times
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The noise level on a construction or operating site is often loud.
• Individual must have the ability for travel to various sites throughout the United States including overnight trips as needed.

Why should you join our team?

At NorthStar Clean Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at NorthStar Clean Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women's Advisory Panel (WAP), Women's in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capable, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.