PLEXOS Modeling Consultant

Job Description

Job Description

Why You Should Join the E3 Team 

When you join the E3 team, you will be working on some of the most important energy issues with some of the top minds in the industry. We help shape energy and climate policy, play vital roles in regulatory proceedings, advise executives, and inform investment and planning selections. At E3, you will be challenged and inspired.  

Who We Are 

Founded in 1989, Energy + Environmental Economics (E3) is a growing energy consulting firm that helps utilities, regulators, policy makers, developers, and investors make the most educated strategic decisions possible as they implement new public policies, deploy and develop new technologies, and address customers’ shifting expectations. We have offices in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Denver, and Calgary.

Because E3 works with customers from all sectors of the electricity industry, we provide a 360-degree knowledge of markets, planning, policy, regulation, and environmental factors. Just as important, we are driven to deliver clear, unbiased evaluations that help customers make informed decisions.   

E3 works on high-profile, high-impact projects in jurisdictions that spearhead the implementation of clean energy policy. In California, Hawaii, and New York, we are advising state agencies and regulators about how to implement clean energy policies with an emphasis on customer incentives and markets.

E3 has a growing team of skilled PLEXOS modelers. We work together to pursue innovative approaches to apply production simulation (ST) and capacity expansion (LT) tools to our clients’ cutting-edge operational and planning questions and to develop our own industry-leading forecasts of long-term evolution of major U.S. and Canadian power markets. 

About You 

We look for people who combine strong analytical dexterity and/or policy experience with integrity and a passion for energy. Our Consultants love to examine, research, and offer creative solutions to some of the most elaborate and important energy issues of the day. You bring curiosity, thrive in a rigorous and quantitative solution-finding environment, take a proactive approach to assist the team, and are practiced at clearly presenting information to a variety of stakeholders. We seek those that are inquisitive and look at all sides of an issue to make informed recommendations with confidence and clarity. You pride yourself in your attention to detail and your organizational techniques help you create and actualize work plans that are efficient while delivering an elevated level of guidance to serve our customers.  

The Work 

The Consultant is a vital contributor to our team and project work. The position assists and/or spearheads client-facing interactions and plays an engaged role in identifying the approach and methods for project tasks. Our consultants direct workstreams within projects and contribute heavily to written reports and papers. Our consultants have the opportunity to deliver findings and summaries to customers, making presentations and replying to questions. Duties will grow to include more elaborate investigative tasks, core QA/QC of products, and becoming a technical head on various project needs and/or a flagship modeling tool.  

Practice Areas

We’re highly collaborative, but everyone is encouraged to pursue their own practice areas of interest. At E3, our Practice Areas include:  

- Climate Pathways and Electrification 

- Asset Valuation, Transmission, and Markets 

- Integrated System Planning 

General 

- Hours: Full Time 

- Type: Exempt 

- Practice Area: Open  

- Travel: 0-10%% 

- Office Location: Hybrid work schedule from our office in downtown San Francisco, New York, Boston, Calgary or Denver 

Work Environment 

E3 allows employees to enjoy a hybrid and flexible work environment that adapts to the changing needs of projects. We thrive in a strong collaborative office-based working environment but also adapt to remote work when flexibility is needed. Employees must be able to work for extended hours in front of a computer screen and conduct meetings on the telephone and virtually.  

Responsibilities

• Develop PLEXOS production simulation (ST) and/or capacity expansion (LT) models that address client-specific questions and/or forecast future market fundamentals over a multi-year period
• Strategize on best modeling approaches to tackle specific questions and discuss the analysis plan with our expert PLEXOS modeling team and project leads
• Gather relevant data from clients and a range of available sources and translate this information to be represented and modeled accurately
• Apply core QA/QC best practices to debug simulation cases, view and critically assess results, refine model setup and cases, and recommend additional scenarios to explore
• Translate results of simulation cases and research into clear visual representations
• Make modifications to existing E3 cases and tools to improve functionality and/or efficiency
• Assist the delivery of customer work through modeling, developing presentations, writing and preparing entire subsections of reports and papers, and helping with additional customer requests 
• Conduct independent research using your ingenuity and curiosity to make reasonable assumptions and produce appropriate solutions, at times with incomplete information.  
• Deliver sections of presentations to customers and reply to questions  
• Proactively track actual performance of work performed against the established plan, with ongoing communication with the Director or Manager 
• Capture project learnings and repeatable products and work samples for future use according to knowledge management processes 
• Assist in proposal writing as needed
• Assist with internal initiatives as needed

Requirements

• 1-3 years of experience using systems such like PLEXOS software and/or EnCompass for production simulation (ST) and/or capacity expansion (LT) applications
• Master's degree or Ph.D. in engineering, economics, computer science, optimization, public policy or related field
• 3-5+ years of related experience in an energy-related field
• Detailed-oriented approach to designing models and critically assessing results
• Prior experience specifically addressing renewable energy and climate change issues and/or demonstrated advanced-level academic related project work
• Demonstrated hands-on experience, academic project work, or extensive knowledge in or related to one of our Practice Areas: Climate Pathways and Electrification, Asset Valuation, Transmission, and Markets and Integrated System Planning.
• You work collaboratively and help each member of your team to do their finest work, aware that each brings different experiences to the table 
• You find joy in translating technical concepts to broader audiences  
• You take ownership of your work, proactively seeking out answers to questions and enjoy finding creative solutions to issues you encounter 
• Aptitude to write and communicate clearly 
• Passionate about the transition to a low-carbon economy 
• Demonstrated success guiding ideas, people, and projects 
• Strong organizational and time management techniques 
• High fluency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; programming knowledge and experience are also valued 
• Desire to work in a dynamic office environment with other staff 

Things that Set You Apart

• Prior experience specifically addressing energy and climate change issues   
• Significant project management experience   
• You believe it is essential to achieve a transition to a low-carbon economy and love thinking about the future of energy 
• You work collaboratively and help each member of your team to do their finest work, aware that each brings different experiences, techniques, and qualifications to the table 
• You enjoy translating technical concepts to a broader audience   
• You take ownership of your work, proactively seeking out answers to questions and enjoy finding creative solutions to issues you encounter 

E3 takes a number of factors into consideration when determining title and salary level for a potential new employee. This includes, but is not limited to: a candidate’s education, training, and relevant work experience; the position's work location; expected quality and quantity of work; required travel (if any); external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems; and internal pay alignment.​ 

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E3 also provides a bonus structure that we are proud of because we believe it creates the right kinds of incentives for good work, provides significant flexibility, and is fair and equitable. The below compensation outlines our total compensation package with our bonus structure adding between 15 - 25% to your base salary. While neither the upper or lower end of our bonus structure is capped, this provides a representation of the average total compensation based on both your personal performance and the company's performance. ​ 

Annual Total Compensation Range for Consultant - Senior Consultant:  ​ 

- Minimum: $97,000 

- Maximum: $135,000 

E3’s Commitment to You 

E3 provides abundant opportunities for professional growth and invests significantly in employee development. Right from the start, our team works hard to provide you with a customized multi-week onboarding experience where you will meet with colleagues, Partners, and your own mentor. Every fall, all new hires attend E3’s proprietary internally developed 22-course training program which broadens your foundational industry-specific knowledge as well as develops those skills essential to being a great consultant. E3 also provides every employee with an annual professional development stipend, opportunities to attend conferences, and personalized career development at every stage of your employment.  

E3 actively supports the advancement of each member of the PLEXOS modeling team through close guidance by our in-house PLEXOS experts and customized training to make all of our team further their modeling skills and become continually better at recognizing challenges and finding solutions.

In addition, E3 offers employees a broad, best-in-class range of benefits and supportive perks to support you both personally and professionally. Some benefits include:  

- Base and bonus commensurate with experience and performance 

- Exceptional benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance plans 

- 401(k) with corporate match 

- Flexible Paid Time Off plus standard company holidays 

- Short-term and long-term disability 

- Group life insurance 

- Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts,  

- Fitness and wellness corporate discounts and fitness stipend

- Professional Development annual stipend

Hiring Process and Timeline 

Finding new team members that are a good fit is important to us, so we spend significant time in our recruiting process evaluating candidates. Qualified candidates can expect a phone interview, to engage in a technical exercise and associated interview, and a final set of interviews. Our process takes around 6-8 weeks to complete. E3 is seeking to hire consultants throughout the year and are prepared to make offers to candidates months in advance of their start date.  

EEO Non-Discrimination and ADA Reasonable Accommodation Statement 

Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or partnership status, disability, military status, veteran status, pregnancy or predisposing genetic characteristics. Willdan does not discriminate on the basis of physical or mental disability where the essential functions of the job can be reasonably accommodated. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us.  

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