Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Policy Analyst, Research & Industry Strategy

at Smart Electric Power Alliance

🏢 About Smart Electric Power Alliance

The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is a unique nonprofit at the forefront of the clean energy transition, specifically focused on practical, equitable solutions for a carbon-free grid. Unlike purely advocacy organizations, SEPA works directly with utilities, regulators, and industry to bridge policy with implementation, making it an ideal place for someone who wants to see their analysis translate into real-world impact. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven team that values collaboration and tangible progress toward a resilient energy future.

About This Role

This Senior Policy Analyst role is central to SEPA's research and industry strategy, requiring you to monitor, analyze, and communicate complex state-level energy policies on topics like distribution planning, wildfire mitigation, and virtual power plants. You'll directly influence industry discussions and policymaker decisions by synthesizing regulatory dockets and legislative activities into clear insights, while also managing projects and supporting member engagement through SEPA's Working Groups. Your work will directly shape how utilities and regulators approach the transition to a carbon-free, equitable energy system.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with monitoring state regulatory updates on topics like wildfire mitigation or flexible interconnection, then analyzing a docket to draft insights for an upcoming SEPA brief. You could spend midday collaborating with colleagues via video calls to shape agendas for a Working Group discussion, followed by editing a blog post to make complex policy accessible for utility members. The day often ends with tracking project milestones in a management tool and preparing talking points for a webinar on energy equity.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Smart Electric Power Alliance

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Smart Electric Power Alliance Is Looking For

  • Has 2-4 years of hands-on experience navigating state utility regulatory dockets (e.g., at a PUC, utility, or energy nonprofit) and understands legislative processes, not just theoretical policy knowledge.
  • Demonstrates specific familiarity with SEPA's core focus areas like distribution system planning, resilience, wildfire mitigation, or flexible interconnection, ideally through past projects or publications.
  • Is a strong writer and communicator who can translate technical regulatory details into accessible content for blogs, briefs, and presentations tailored to both industry and policymaker audiences.
  • Can independently manage small projects using tools like Asana or Trello, with experience tracking outcomes and supporting team coordination in a remote or collaborative setting.

📝 Tips for Applying to Smart Electric Power Alliance

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific state-level policy work—mention states you've covered, docket numbers you've analyzed (e.g., California's SB 100 proceedings or New York's REV dockets), and tangible outcomes like reports or recommendations you produced.

2

In your application materials, use keywords from the job description like 'distribution system planning,' 'virtual power plants,' 'regulatory dockets,' and 'Working Groups' to show you understand SEPA's niche focus.

3

If you have a Master's in energy policy or a related field, emphasize how your thesis or coursework directly relates to SEPA's priorities (e.g., equity in grid resilience or wildfire mitigation policies).

4

Show remote work competence by mentioning experience with collaborative tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software) and self-directed project delivery, as this is a full-time remote role.

5

Reference SEPA's recent publications or initiatives (e.g., their work on decarbonization pathways or utility transformation) to demonstrate you've researched the organization and can contribute immediately.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Explain your direct experience with state-level energy policy analysis, citing examples like how you monitored legislative bills or synthesized regulatory comments for a specific topic like wildfire mitigation or flexible interconnection.', 'Highlight your ability to communicate complex policy to diverse audiences, such as by describing a blog post, white paper, or presentation you created that made technical details accessible to industry stakeholders.', "Connect your background to SEPA's mission of a carbon-free, equitable energy system, showing how your past work aligns with their focus on practical, collaborative solutions (e.g., through utility engagement or equity initiatives).", 'Mention any experience supporting member-driven groups or working groups, emphasizing skills in agenda-setting, discussion facilitation, and driving engagement strategies.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review SEPA's recent reports and white papers (e.g., on their website under 'Resources') to understand their research focus, such as studies on distribution planning or wildfire mitigation, and note how they frame policy recommendations.
  • → Explore SEPA's Working Groups (e.g., listed on their site) to see which ones align with this role's topics, like resilience or interconnection, and understand how they engage members in discussions.
  • → Look into SEPA's partnerships and events, such as webinars or annual conferences, to grasp how they communicate with industry stakeholders and policymakers, which will inform your approach to external communications.
  • → Investigate SEPA's stance on equity in energy policy by reading their mission statements or blog posts, as this is a core value mentioned in the company description and likely integral to the role.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through your process for analyzing a state regulatory docket on a topic like virtual power plants—how do you identify key issues, synthesize stakeholder comments, and develop recommendations?
2 How would you approach writing a blog post for SEPA's audience about a recent policy trend, such as state-level resilience mandates after wildfires, to make it engaging for both utilities and policymakers?
3 Describe a time you managed a small policy project independently, from scoping to delivery. What tools did you use, and how did you ensure it met deadlines and outcomes?
4 SEPA emphasizes equity in the energy transition. How have you incorporated equity considerations into your past policy analysis or project work, especially in areas like customer program design?
5 How do you stay updated on state-level energy policy developments, and what sources or networks do you rely on to monitor legislative and regulatory activities?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't mention state-level policy experience or SEPA's specific focus areas (e.g., only discussing federal policy or unrelated energy topics).
  • Overemphasizing advocacy or theoretical policy work without concrete examples of analyzing regulatory dockets, writing for industry audiences, or managing projects in a remote setting.
  • Failing to demonstrate knowledge of SEPA's mission or recent initiatives, which could suggest a lack of genuine interest in the nonprofit's unique role in the energy sector.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Smart Electric Power Alliance!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →