Job Description

Join a diverse and dynamic team that makes and delivers the most valuable services in the world: electricity and natural gas. At Consumers Energy, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Our employees work around the clock to provide service to our customers in honor of our history and to fulfill our promise to Michigan - Count on Us! Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy and headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

The Regulatory Strategist is tasked with achieving positive regulatory outcomes for the Company by cultivating trust-based partnerships with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and by providing regulatory insights and strategic guidance to Company business areas. This role is critical to achieving operation, customer and financial plan outcomes. In addition to coordinating day-to-day communications between Company leaders and MPSC Staff, the Rate Analyst is also responsible for managing major regulatory filings, leading the Companys engagement in MPSC workgroups, and applying The CE Way to improve processes and eliminate waste within the regulatory environment. The Rate Analyst will need to develop an extensive understanding of the utility business, the organizational and political dynamics of the MPSC, well developed interpersonal relationship skills, and the ability to meet deadlines and succesfully deliver results in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Responsibilities:

Deliver Positive Regulatory Outcomes

Perform complex analysis of a wide range of information, including conflicting and ambiguous inputs to develop and execute solutions to critical and difficult problems.

Advocate for Company positions and successfully resolve differences between staff, regulators and other stakeholders in a manner that results in a consistently constructive regulatory environment for the Company.

Work closely with cross-functional partners to deliver best-in-class, fact-based filings.

Participate in cross functional regulatory operating reviews to drive successful Company outcomes on key electric and gas regulatory issues.

Lead the Companys engagement in MPSC workgroups by establishing a core team of subject matter experts, participating in collaborative discussions with MPSC Staff and industry advocates, preparing and submitting quality comments within assigned MPSC deadlines, and achieving Company objectives in support of its customers and shareholders.

Create and Execute Strategic Plans to Achieve Regulatory Outcomes

Lead cross functional teams to develop regulatory strategies and lead courses of action necessary to obtain regulatory approval in support of the company's long-term strategy.

Utilize a fundamental understanding of core utility business model dynamics to define strategies that will lead to positive, sustainable regulatory outcomes for the Company and its customers.

Coordinate with subject matter experts, Regulatory Policy team and Strategy team to develop positions critical to core utility business dynamics, and ensure implementation in key company regulatory filings or presentations.

Gain expertise of business clients daily operations and long-term goals in order to build and execute strategic plans for achieving regulatory needs.

Gather, evaluate, and communicate the regulator's stance on key issues and partner with business clients to develop courses of action to foster a constructive regulatory environment and positive outcomes

Develop and Maintain Relationships Built on Trust

Develop and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful collaboration and with intent to drive towards positive regulatory outcomes.

Demonstrate the initiative and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and to gather information required to complete work.

Effectively communicate and drive to decision with all levels of leadership.

Serve as the primary Company interface with key leaders and influential MPSC Staff. Foster relationships between the Company and the MPSC to support fair and timely regulations.

Build strong relationships with utility industry regulatory peers and key regulatory stakeholders to monitor potential issues and present a unified industry position when necessary

Manage Major Regulatory Filings

Lead regulatory case management functions from initial planning and strategy through issuing of an order. This includes leading large cross-functional rate case teams in a broad range of internal and external activities to deliver timely and quality rate case filing.

Facilitate storyboard sessions and engage with senior leaders to establish key case outcomes that have significant impact on the Company, customers and shareholders.

Develop visual management and facilitate operating reviews to monitor progress of case development, provide a forum for identifying problems and escalating concerns, track timely response of audit/discovery, and measure success towards key outcomes.

Providing regular case updates to officers through Steering Committee meetings and regulatory cross-functional operating reviews. Monitor regulatory proceedings to identify trends, issues or decisions and report any that may affect the Company's regulatory outcomes.

Identify opportunities to engage with stakeholders/interveners on key topics and provide guidance to witness teams as they prepare for discussions

Drive Regulatory Process Improvements

Identify opportunities for process improvement and waste elimination, and engage with the Lean Office and Regulatory Rally Room to drive improvements.

Leverage time between rate case filings to lead cross-functional teams with the purpose of improving future regulatory outcomes, solving problems and reducing human struggle.

Evaluate current regulatory processes and apply Lean principals and a data-driven approach to drive improvements.

Requirements:

* Bachelor's degree in applicable field
* 2+ years of experience in utility industry or regulatory field

Overview

The Rate Analyst Job Family is utilized primarily in the Rates and Regulations department. Performing all of the Rate functions for the Company including but not limited to: analyzing rate information to produce forecasts of business, industry, and economic conditions for use in making rate decisions, assemble rate testimony, spreadsheets and charts and graphs used to illustrate business and rate scenarios, interpret data affecting rate programs, such as price, yield, stability, future trends in investment risks, and economic influences.

Nature of Work

At the lowest level in this job family, the work performed may tend to be of a routine and less complex nature where the work responsibilities can be proficiently performed after a relatively short training period.

At the highest levels in this job family the work performed will tend to be of a complex nature involving knowledge of various functional/specialized disciplines where the work responsibilities can only be proficiently performed after a relatively long training / experience-related time period and often requires an advanced degree. The work environment often includes dealing with risk and limiting exposure.

Leadership, management, facilitation and interaction with senior management will be markedly increased at the mid - highest levels of this job family while the need for direction and supervision will be markedly decreased. While problem solving and analysis will likely be required at all levels, recommendation and implementation becomes the norm at the highest levels and will often have a major bearing on the companys business. In addition, skills such as the ability to think on your feet, composure under fire and effective communication across all levels of the organization and with outside stakeholders become more finely honed at the higher levels.

Essential Functions

Develops and maintains rate models; assesses adequacy of rates and rate structures and makes rate recommendations; Conducts a variety of financial analyses and financial studies, related to rate models and structures; performs cost allocations; develops and maintains financial models; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures; conducts financial & statistical research; performs analysis of statistical data; recommends and implements modifications for improvement to programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate; Collects, compiles, and analyzes information from various sources on a variety of topics, including complex financial, analytical, budget or administrative issues; monitors and evaluates the efficiencies and effectiveness of basic financial operations; Prepares executive level reports, presentations, summaries, and correspondence; creates comprehensive technical records and reports; Prepares staff reports for presentation to the Public Service Commission; Performs cost benefit evaluations of proposed capital and operating budget items; develops capital funding strategies; makes determinations related to the overall benefit of the proposal and alternatives; implements policies and procedures accordingly; Develops long-range financial planning and revenue requirements; conducts various feasibility and cost studies; forecasts the impacts of potential future events; Assists expert witnesses with the planning and coordination of testimony and exhibits; provides responsible, accurate, and thorough technical and administrative project support to expert witnesses; Performs duties in a professional manner and works well with others or in a team setting; Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers, outside agencies, and the public; Regular attendance and adherence to prescribed work schedule is expected to conduct job responsibilities; Observes safe work practices and safety methods; performs other duties as assigned.

Hours and Travel

Travel required to attend off-site business meetings, training sessions and travel between company locations. Meet travel requirements of the position. Work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee must lift and move up to twenty pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Position will be filled at the appropriate salary grade based upon the skills, knowledge, and experience of the selected candidate.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.