Job Description & Details
This is a 12-month hybrid contract role managing utility demand response programs in San Diego. It is a solid gig if you know your way around energy regulations, vendor payouts, and cross-functional utility ops, but keep in mind you will be stepping up for on-call weekend shifts during the summer season.
What You'll Actually Be Doing
You will spend your days keeping complex demand response operations running smoothly while juggling stakeholder meetings across IT, marketing, and policy teams. A lot of your time goes into validating vendor and participant payments, digging into performance data to fix operational bottlenecks, and pitching in on regulatory filings. During the peak demand response months from May through October, you will also rotate onto an on-call schedule to handle live events, meaning occasional weekend coverage is part of the deal.
The Core Tech Stack
You need deep fluency in demand response administration and utility regulatory frameworks, backed by at least five years of project management. The team relies heavily on your ability to analyze program data, audit financial and vendor payments with strict accuracy, and translate operational metrics into clear regulatory reports. Knowing how to interface with IT and supply management systems to streamline program design is non-negotiable here.
Interview Expectations
Expect the hiring team to present a scenario where a demand response event triggers unexpectedly and a key vendor payment validation is flagged for discrepancies right before a regulatory filing. They want to see how you troubleshoot under pressure, maintain compliance, and communicate across departments without dropping the ball. Another common line of questioning will test your experience with utility commission guidelines and how you handle conflicting priorities from marketing and policy stakeholders.
Application Advice
Make sure your resume leans heavily into hard metrics around program administration, regulatory compliance, and financial auditing. Sprinkle in exact keywords from the job description like "demand response program administration," "regulatory filings," and "vendor payment validation" so you clear the automated ATS screeners. Frame your past project management experience around continuous process improvement and cross-functional alignment rather than just general task tracking.