Description

Position Description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation's largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

Seattle City Light is seeking a transportation-electrification-focused program manager to join the Customer Energy Solutions (CES) division. CES operates the nation's longest-running municipal energy conservation initiative, with a portfolio spanning energy efficiency, renewable energy, demand response, and transportation electrification. Within CES, the Solutions Design & Management unit leads the design and management of this portfolio, and we are hiring a Senior Program Manager to lead our public charging program.

If you are flexible, a system thinker, excel in collaboration, and have an aptitude for technical learning, you will be successful in this role. You will serve as the program manager for one or more offerings that deliver customer-facing products and services. Program Managers are responsible for applying the CES program management and lifecycle framework to their assigned work, ensuring consistency, clarity, and disciplined execution. Assignments for this position may also focus on energy efficiency, flexible loads, or customer renewables.

This position reports to the Energy Planning Supervisor.

Job Responsibilities

Program Managers oversee customer-facing programs across all stages of a lifecycle framework —discovery, design, build, implementation, and exit. Assignments for our Senior Program Managers are complex and often high-priority for the City. Each may lead one or more cross-functional teams to deliver work across these stages, ensuring programs remain aligned with strategy and achieve defined business objectives. Program Managers are responsible for engaging internal and external stakeholders, ensuring design and tactics support strategic intent, vetting key decisions with leadership, and confirming that programs deliver on their intended goals. The Senior Program Manager in this role will:

• Manage transportation electrification programs across multiple customer sectors within the portfolio.
• Apply program-management tools to support stage-gate decisions and ensure consistent design thinking and documentation.
• Incorporate customer voice into program design through structured stakeholder engagement and leveraging internal resources.
• Lead and align cross-functional teams through program design, development, build-out, launch, implementation, and other portfolio priorities.
• Ensure alignment to strategic outcomes for all program offerings.
• Monitor and evaluate program performance, reporting on effectiveness and progress toward goals.
• Manage ongoing program needs by identifying and implementing improvements that address gaps, risks, customer pain points, and operational challenges.
• Select and manage external contracts, including developing scopes of work, establishing selection criteria, overseeing performance, verifying deliverables, and ensuring invoice accuracy.
• Enable excellent customer experience by defining end user and service provider needs, researching program measures, tracking industry best practices, and identifying markets and channels.
• Navigate and advocate for EV technologies in partnership with internal engineering teams and other stakeholders.
• Support load management and DSM initiatives as part of the broader portfolio.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Requires three years of experience in planning and research related to land use, urban economics, human services, environmental issues, conservation; or other work directly related to City planning and development activities; and a baccalaureate degree in planning, urban design, environmental studies, public administration or related field (or a combination of education and/or experience and/or training which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class).

Work Environment/Physical Demands

• Work is typically performed in an office environment.

License, Certification and Other Requirements

You must hold a current valid state issued driver's license from any US state to be verified prior to start date. Out of state license holders will be required to obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Energy management expertise across efficiency, distributed generation, electrification, decarbonization, and load management.
• Transportation electrification mastery including EVs, charging technologies, and grid-connected infrastructure.
• Technical fluency in charging networks, grid connectivity, and demand-side management strategies.
• Experience with demand-side management program tactics, design, procedures, guidelines, and rules.
• Program and life cycle management proficiency with demonstrated success delivering complex initiatives employing strong planning, communication, and documentation.
• Strategic program design including developing business cases, program plans, and decision-support materials.
• Cross-functional and stakeholder leadership with the ability to influence outcomes and elevate customer voice.
• Relationship-building excellence across internal teams, consultants, trade allies, and community partners.
• Experience working with the public to investigate and respond to customer concerns and experience
• Budget, portfolio, and vendor management including contracting and consultant oversight in the public sector
• Experience managing consultant teams to deliver work in a complete, cost-effective, and timely manner
• Commitment to environmental and economic equity in program design and service delivery.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice .

Additional Information

Emergency Response Commitment:

Seattle City Light is committed to reliable service during emergencies. Through our Emergency Response Program, each employee is assigned a role—usually aligned with their regular duties—to support emergency operations. Your participation is vital to helping the utility stay prepared and serve our community when it matters most.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The full salary range for this position is $56.23 - $65.54 per hour.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.