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Director of Cybersecurity & Reliability

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Company Profile

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade association for the solar and storage industry and represents more 1,000 member companies and 255,000 Americans working across the United States. SEIA is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy and is creating the framework for solar to reach 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. We work with our member companies and strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power.

SEIA does this by supporting pro-solar policies at the state and federal level, developing cutting-edge market research, hosting educational events and webinars, and serving as the voice of the solar and storage industry.

SEIA employees are passionate, forward-thinking leaders that start every day knowing that their work makes a difference. SEIA values diversity and fosters an inclusive, lively company culture that celebrates team success. The association has earned numerous awards for its work and company culture and was named by the Nonprofit Times as one of the “Best Nonprofits to Work For” in America in April 2022.

Position Summary

Solar and storage technologies play a critical role in ensuring U.S. energy independence and national security. Cybersecurity, grid reliability and performance of inverter-based resources have become top priorities for the industry as clean energy is deployed on the grid in record-breaking numbers every year. Solar plus storage systems have been shown to provide grid reliability services more quickly and more accurately than conventional resources. However, the power electronics aspects of these generating resources present new opportunities and challenges in terms of grid control, response to abnormal grid conditions, and cybersecurity.

As the grid undergoes these changes, SEIA is at the forefront of strengthening the solar and storage industries’ resilience to cyber and physical threats. SEIA is collaborating with industry stakeholders, national laboratories, Congress, the Administration and other security experts both to prepare for domestic and foreign cybersecurity threats, and to ensure that solar and storage remain reliable and safe energy resources as we transition to a clean energy economy.

The Director of Cybersecurity & Reliability reports to the Senior Director of Utility Regulation and Policy, works closely with the Vice President of State & Regulatory Affairs, and will act as SEIA’s technical and policy lead on SEIA’s Cybersecurity Working Group and Reliable Inverter Resources Task Force. The Director will broadly represent SEIA at NERC, FERC, the Department of Energy, the E-ISAC, and other industry, government, and stakeholder forums related to cybersecurity policy and inverter-based resource reliability and resilience. The Director will support SEIA’s Congressional Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and State Affairs departments with respect to proposed legislation, and with SEIA’s policy and communications teams to promote the industry’s message that cybersecurity must be incorporated into new devices, systems, and infrastructure, and that “security by design” is a core component of these systems.

Core Duties & Responsibilities

  • Advance public policy that positively impacts industry physical and cyber security, including reliable performance of inverter-based resources, supply chain issues, telecommunications, emergency preparedness and response, and other issues as required, through regulatory practice, legislative analysis, and development of policy positions, and by representing the industry and promoting its positions before federal regulatory agencies.
  • Educating SEIA members and actively engaging them in cybersecurity through culture changes, cyber informed engineering practices, focusing on "secure by design."
  • Collaborate with SEIA’s Communications team, Research team, Federal Affairs staff,  Technical Services team and SEIA members to help SEIA and committees develop and implement the necessary strategy to address relevant issues.
  • Recognize and quickly understand issues that significantly impact the industry (such as  the Colonial Pipeline, or NERC’s recent reports on low voltage ride-through) and provide information/data for SEIA to communicate industry viewpoint.
  • Identify, analyze, and highlight proposed regulations and legislation to identify areas of concern for the industry. Create advocacy and analytical documents on regulatory and legislative proposals.
  • Develop relationships and coordinate issues with allied trade and business organizations, as well as other third-party stakeholders, for the purpose of building broad support for relevant issues.
  • As necessary, work with industry representatives and SEIA’s Technical Services team on the development of standards and technical programs to help advance and promote safe operations and to realize advocacy wins.
  • Communicate with SEIA members, organize committee and working group activities, and respond to member company inquiries.
  • Support SEIA events, in particular the annual Secure Renewables event held in concert with Idaho National Lab.

Professional Experience, Education & Other Qualifications

  • A bachelor’s degree or higher. Technical degrees are welcome but not required. Strong analytic and communications skills are a higher priority than deep technical knowledge.
  • 5-10 years of experience in electric sector and/or cybersecurity policy development or related fields and disciplines.
  • Preference for candidates who can demonstrate experience working in or with the Congress and/or for an executive branch agency.
  • Excellent oral and written communications skills, for both expert and general audiences.
  • Ability to translate technical issues to policymakers, through both written materials and oral presentations.
  • Familiarity with applicable industry standards and positions, federal laws, regulations, policies and agency practices and procedures.
  • Working understanding of cybersecurity rules and regulations, bulk system and distribution interconnection processes and procedures, and inverter-based resource standards.
  • The ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team environment.
  • A strong work ethic and cheerful customer-service attitude in order to thrive in our fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Working Conditions

Work is in an office environment or in a remote-office environment that is suitably equipped with internet and telephone access.

Compensation Range

$115,000 - $135,000 annually, based on experience, and excellent benefits package.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirement to [email protected] with the subject “2022 Director of Cybersecurity & Reliability.” Submissions that are in the form of a single Word or PDF document facilitate review and are preferred.

Please name all files using the following format: "[name]_[document title]_SEIA." No calls please; direct applicants only, no search or placement firms.

Working at SEIA

SEIA values diversity, inclusion and equity within our organization and the promotion of these values across the solar industry. We strive to welcome different perspectives, identities, and backgrounds, regardless of job function in order to create a more resilient organization that supports a strong, equitable solar industry. SEIA envisions an industry that is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity. We aim to achieve this by encouraging openness and transparency about diversity issues and progress. We will develop strategies, programs, and tools that seek to equalize opportunities within SEIA and allow for discussing and sharing best practices within the solar industry.

SEIA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, homelessness, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. SEIA complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which we employ staff. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.