Job Description and Duties
Training & Development Assignment may be considered for this position.
Under the direction of the Supervisor of the Manufacturing & Carbon Management (MCM) Unit, the Associate Energy Specialist (AES) serves as part of an interdisciplinary team to assist in the planning and implementation of the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) programs, including the Carbon Removal Innovation Program, established by Assembly Bill 209 (Chapter 251, Statutes of 2022). The program provides financial incentives to advance technologies for direct air capture of atmospheric carbon that uses mechanical processes, chemical processes, or both, in support of California’s carbon neutrality goals.
The AES performs work at the full journey-level and independently performs responsible, varied, and complex technical and analytical work on consultative and analytical assignments such as grant agreement management, RDD&D planning, outreach and engagement, events coordination, information exchange, and RDD&D project and program evaluation. The AES independently performs a variety of analytical and technical tasks in support of RDD&D on carbon capture, removal, utilization, and storage and broader industrial decarbonization strategies, helping manage a portfolio of research projects that reduce greenhouse gases from California's gas and electric systems, industries, and other sources. Working with partner organizations (e.g., academic institutions, national laboratories, technology firms), the AES provides technical guidance, administer grants, and facilitates knowledge transfer to inform the state's energy policies and objectives, including decarbonization, energy affordability, and equity. The incumbent may serve as a team leader on projects with focused scope.
The Energy Research & Development Division deploys over $200 million annually to advance new scientific approaches and technology innovations to meet the state’s clean energy and climate change policies. The MCM Unit is part of the broader Industry & Carbon Management Branch, which advances technologies to decarbonize the industrial sectors, improves demand flexibility to maintain electric grid stability and control costs, and advances carbon removal and utilization technologies and strategies. The MCM Unit focuses on technology RDD&D for decarbonization of industrial processes via process modifications, electrification, or other means and carbon management, including direct air capture of atmospheric carbon, point source capture, and carbon utilization.
Minimum Qualifications (MQs): The MQs for these classifications can be found at AES and EA. The documents you submit in your application package must highlight how you meet the MQs. If the MQs are not met, you will not be considered for this position.
Education Information: If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this classification, please provide your unofficial transcripts. Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must provide evaluated transcripts. The transcript evaluation must state the number of units to which foreign coursework is equal. Foreign education evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org. Official transcripts and official foreign degree transcripts will be required prior to appointment. If you are not using education to qualify for this classification, you do not need to submit transcripts. To bypass the required document, select Choose/Upload and select Bypass File.
