Join the diverse and dynamic team that powers Michigan's largest energy provider and one of the nation's largest gas and electric combination utilities. Consumers Energy services 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents - caring for our friends and neighbors in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. We embrace a cleaner and leaner utility vision focused on eliminating energy waste and adding renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar.

Location:
The successful candidate will be expected to work in a hybrid status of reporting to One Energy Plaza in Jackson, Michigan every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday with home office flexibility on Wednesday and Friday.

We are looking for: Director Regulatory Compliance (Director Regulatory Strategy)

As the Director of Regulatory Strategy for the customer organization, you will lead the regulatory function with the Customer Experience and Operations organization, championing customer-centric initiatives and advancing our clean energy products while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams, regulatory authorities, and internal stakeholders to drive strategic decisions that balance regulatory compliance with exceptional customer experience and achievement of our clean energy product outcomes, including energy efficiency, demand response, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.

Regulatory Oversight:

• Lead Regulatory Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive regulatory strategy that aligns with the utility's business objectives.
• Monitor Regulatory Changes: Stay informed about regulatory developments, propose necessary adjustments, and ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Liaise with the Michigan Public Service Commission: Engage with regulatory agencies, participate in hearings, and represent the utility's interests during regulatory proceedings.
• Prepare Filings: Oversee the preparation and submission of regulatory filings, reports, and compliance documentation.

Customer-Centric Approach:

• Customer Advocacy: Champion the voice of the customer within the regulatory framework. Advocate for policies that enhance customer experience and advance our clean energy product portfolio.
• Customer Impact Assessments: Evaluate the impact of regulatory decisions on customers, ensuring fairness, and transparency.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Internal Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams (legal, product teams, customer operations, finance, etc.) to align regulatory efforts with business goals.
• External Relations: Build and maintain positive relationships with regulatory bodies, industry associations, and other stakeholders.
• Educate Internal Teams: Provide guidance to internal teams on regulatory matters and customer and clean energy product-focused initiatives.

Strategic Regulatory Planning:

• Long-Term Vision: Develop a forward-looking regulatory roadmap that considers customer needs, technological advancements, and industry trends.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks related to regulatory changes and propose mitigation strategies.
  

Skills:

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to influence and collaborate with various stakeholders
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret complex regulations
• Leadership and team management skills
• Strong understanding of utility operations, customer service, clean energy products, and regulatory frameworks
• Track record of delivering successful regulatory outcomes
  

The Director Regulatory Compliance is responsible for the leadership of the Regulatory Compliance activities that support their specific areas such as Supply, Design, and Operations teams etc. that are required to be compliant with internal, national, federal, and state requirements and standards. They will monitor and ensure quality assurance and compliance with requirements and standards under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), National Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC), Department of Energy - Energy Information Association, Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Electric Code, and compliance with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) compliance in the energy markets the Company participates in as applicable. The role will be responsible for CMS Enterprises assets, ensuring quality and compliance with these requirements through monitoring, recommendations of improvement, self-audit check-ins, and other tools to monitor compliance. This role will engage with its team to develop monitoring programs, risk mitigation programs, and other compliance monitoring tools (i.e. auditing, digital automation tools) to ensure reliability and mitigate compliance risk that could include penalties to the organization.

• Leadership Acumen
• Demonstrated electric business and applicable compliance programs, methods, principles, and tools
• High proficiency with reviewing, digesting, interpreting and communicating large legal filings
• Excellent communications (oral and written), negotiating, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to function independently with a high level of autonomy and discretion
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization and build partnerships with external stakeholders.

We encourage you to apply if you have:

• Bachelor's degree in business management, legal, compliance, or related field with ten (10) or more years of applicable experience

• [OR] Associate's degree in business management, legal, compliance, or related field with fourteen (14) or more years of applicable experience
• [OR] High School Diploma with eighteen (18) or more years of applicable experience
  

• Experience leading a compliance organization supporting electric business activities
• Experience leading compliance programs
• 5+ years of leadership experience
  

Preferred skills:

• Masters Degree
• Specific knowledge of electric business compliance requirements

In this role, you will:

• Lead a team of leaders and subject matter experts to ensure compliance with internal, federal, national, and state compliance requirements and standards. Ensure business partners meet all safely and compliance requirements. Recruit, coach and manage performance, and development of direct and indirect reports.

• Develop and maintain excellent technical knowledge of FERC regulations and NERC standards and regional standards applicable to Consumers Energy to identify applicability and compliance programs necessary for the business.
• Communicate and collaborate with multiple business units to ensure complete interpretation of compliance standards and bring awareness of forthcoming standards or changes to existing standards.
• Maintain a compliance program capable of identify risks through auditing or digital programs, assessing impacts to customers and company of those risks, and developing corrective actions with suggested controls to ensure compliance with internal, federal, national, and state requirements and standards for business area.
• Lead and/or support team members in discussions with regulators on the federal, national and state level, such as Reliability First as applicable. Create strong relationships with regulators, stakeholder, and businesses partners to gain full understanding of compliance requirements and business standards to address any risks in a collaborative manner.
• As applicable administer and oversee the development of the FERC and NERC SharePoint sites and related technology solutions, which serve as the primary means of information sharing and administration of the compliance program.
• Ensure excellence in records management and documentation through compliance programs supporting experts and the team.
• Oversee CMS Enterprises NERC and DOE-EIA compliance program as applicable for business area. Perform assessments, share best practices and assure recommendations are implemented to mitigate risks for both internal and external standards and regulations.
• Other non-essential duties as assigned or may be necessary.