Position
FirstLight is seeking a Manager of Regulatory Compliance to join our team of experienced Operations professionals who ensure the safe and reliable output of FirstLight’s sixteen clean power and energy storage assets. The Manager of Regulatory Compliance will oversee the day to day management of the Regulatory Compliance Group to ensure all FERC and NERC regulatory compliance and policies as set forth by FirstLight Management, Local, State, and Federal regulatory requirements are met in support of the company hydro projects. In addition, the Manager of Regulatory Compliance will be responsible for oversight, management, coordination, and implementation of compliance programs, procedures, practices, and other company compliance requirements at all FirstLight facilities.

Primary Duties

• In coordination with the VP of Operations, Regional Directors, Senior Managers, Land Manager and site compliance staff, ensures FERC and NERC compliance at all FirstLight plant areas.
• Primary contact for FirstLight to the FERC Division of Hydro Administration and Compliance, and NERC NPCC contact. Acts as NERC CIP Senior Manager.
• Represents the company effectively providing solutions to complex issues in an effort to achieve a balance of external desires and internal costs with best interest of FirstLight’s business success.
• Advises Senior Management to determine approval for best path forward solutions, proposes schedules, budgets and processes for negotiating with outside entities such as State, Municipal and/or other external parties regarding compliance issues.
• Responsible for the oversight, maintenance, surveying, storage, and updating of all digital and hardcopy systems, surveys, and records that manage FERC records, NERC evidence files, real estate, natural and recreational resources of company lands and asset protection.
• Plans, schedules and manages all surveying and company land records and document storage. Provides coordination, administration, and interface for regulatory records and systems concerning environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance and regulatory programs.
• Sets goals and provides support and supervision for the Regulatory Compliance Department.
• Prepares requests for proposals, reviews vendor proposals, schedules, oversees and manages projects with subcontractors on engineering and environmental projects.
• Responsible for coordinating and implementing land management, regulatory compliance, fish passage requirements, and FERC-licensed recreation policies, procedures, programs, and practices at FirstLight hydro generating site areas.
• Implements and manages required FERC and State compliance filings pertaining to generation facilities:
• Prepares letters, plans, and reports related to project specific requirements and issues for submission to regulatory agencies.
• Prepares and performs all agency and stakeholder communications, consultations, and meetings, maintains excellent relationships with other staff, regulatory agencies, and project stakeholders. Works with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies in the Northeast including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and state departments of environmental protection.
• Prepares FERC non-project use and other filings or permit applications where required by federal, state, or local environmental regulatory authorities for project-related work and occupancies, including resource management, environmental, or public safety plans.
• Manages company risk by integrating and managing legal review and input from local and outside counsel in support of enforcement, litigation, and document preparation in response to litigious matters.
• Continues to keep updated on key hydropower and natural resource regulations including the Federal Power Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Leads the Compliance Group to ensure all requirements as set forth by Management, State, Local and Federal Regulatory requirements are met in a timely fashion.
• Work with Government Affairs and Communications team to develop and maintain relationships with public officials, all governmental agencies, special interest groups, non-governmental organizations, stakeholder groups, and the public on complex projects and issues that are of high public interest for FirstLight Hydro projects.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to be physically mobile (stand, walk, reach, climb, bend)
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods throughout the day.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate keyboard, copier, telephone, and the ability to write and/or type.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.
• Working Environment: 80% indoors, 20% outdoors.

Qualifications / Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, environmental or natural resources or related field, required
• 15 years’ experience in power generation/utility compliance management including FERC, NERC, and NERC-CIP program management.
• 10-15 years’ field experience in permitting, construction and operations management.
• Fish passage design, maintenance, and operations experience preferred.
• Professional credentials such as registered professional engineer, or other similar professional certifications in an applicable area is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• A desire to solve problems and drive progress in all aspects of our work at FirstLight

Why Work for FirstLight?
We consider our employees to be FirstLight’s most valuable resource and we strive to provide a challenging, collegial, and rewarding workplace. FirstLight embraces a company-wide commitment to recruit, develop and retain a dedicated, diverse, and engaged workforce that is motivated to be ever better both professionally and personally.

Joining the FirstLight team is an opportunity to experience a unique and exciting culture. Some of our benefits include:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
• Flex Spending & Health Savings Accounts
• Life and Disability Insurance
• 401(k) with Employer Contributions
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development
• Referral Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Charitable Matching Program
• And so much more!

About Us
FirstLight is a leading clean power producer and energy storage company with a portfolio that includes nearly 1.4GW of pumped-hydro storage (including Northfield Mountain, the largest energy storage facility in New England), battery storage, hydroelectric generation, and solar generation—the largest clean energy generation portfolio operating in New England today. We have approximately 125 employees based in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and our corporate headquarters are located in Burlington, MA.

Our mission and vision is to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid by owning, operating, and integrating large-scale renewable energy and storage assets to meet the region’s growing clean energy needs and to deliver an electric system that is clean, reliable, affordable, and equitable.

Building upon our industry-leading experience in operating large-scale renewable energy and storage assets, FirstLight’s vision and commitment to leading the energy industry transformation makes us uniquely positioned to navigate rapidly evolving market conditions and grow our portfolio in New England and other US markets in the years ahead.

Our Values
FirstLight values the following characteristics and behaviors in our team members:

• Respect: Showing respect for each other and the environment, fostering an inclusive and diverse team of employees, and providing a strong commitment to social responsibility
• Integrity: Exemplifying integrity in all business decisions highlighted through honesty, transparency, and trust.
• Safety: Providing a safe environment for our employees and for all visitors to our recreational facilities.
• Excellence: Continually striving to achieve the greatest level of operational excellence so that we produce the highest quality output and consistently deliver results.
• Innovation: Dedication to creating new market-leading solutions to stay ahead of unprecedented changes in the energy industry.
• Team: Creating an inspiring workplace that fosters open communication, collaboration, and accelerates personal growth. We seek to attract, retain, and develop the best talent in the industry to fuel our success. Diversity is a strategic advantage we need to cultivate.

FirstLight provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, we make our hiring and employment decisions on the basis of merit. Except as otherwise provided by law, employment practices will not be affected by an applicant’s or an employee’s race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, criminal record, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.In addition to federal law requirements, FirstLight complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.