Distributed Energy Resource Liaison (ESMP)

About us

National Grid is hiring a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Liason for our Commercial & Customer Strategy department in Walthm, MA

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live.

The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Job Purpose

The DER Liaison will support National Grid’s (the Company) execution of its Electric Sector Modernization Plan (ESMP) in Massachusetts by serving as a key liaison between the Company and external stakeholders involved in Distributed Energy Resource (DER) interconnections. This role will ensure that stakeholder feedback informs continuous improvement of interconnection processes, while advancing Commonwealth and ESMP, goals of grid modernization, electrification, and equitable clean energy access. The DER Liaison will help foster cultural change across internal functions, improve developer and customer relationships, and enhance the Company’s reputation with regulators and communities.

Key Accountabilities

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement:

- Manage the community of DER developers and customers that interconnect to the Company’s network in Massachusetts, to ensure superior customer satisfaction and to enhance the Company’s corporate reputation.

- Serve as the primary point of contact for DER developers, customers, and community representatives regarding interconnection-related inquiries and disputed cases / projects.

- Facilitate stakeholder feedback loops to inform ESMP implementation, including DER integration, non-wires alternatives (NWAs), and electrification initiatives.

- Lead “Ways of Working” (WOW) sessions to address concerns and identify opportunities for process improvement aligned with customer needs, and Commonwealth & ESMP goals.

- Support interpretation of tariffs and policies, mediating between external stakeholders, including the developer community, and internal teams.

- Track and analyze escalation data and feedback trends alongside internal colleagues to inform ESMP-aligned, DER process enhancements.

- Lead coordinated efforts for identifying improvement opportunities, including those stemming from escalation cases and industry observations/feedback, in support of the DER customer portfolio.

- Managing the Company’s ‘DG Scorecard’ data set, including scheduling, and leading monthly internal meetings with cross-functional leadersh

Internal Process Improvement:

- Ensure interconnection issues are appropriately assessed, planned, resourced, and scheduled by responsible departments to deliver and ensure best value for the Company’s DER customer base.

- Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., CEI, DPAM, TPAM, Legal, Operations) to ensure DER interconnection processes are aligned with external stakeholder goals and ESMP priorities such as grid flexibility, electrification, and climate resilience.

- Identify and implement process improvements that support ESMP objectives, including enabling more solar, storage, and electrified heating and transportation.

- Support the development of innovative solutions such as virtual power plants (VPPs) and NWAs that enhance system capacity and equity.

Industry Presence & Regulatory Alignment:

- Represent National Grid at industry forums, conferences, and working groups (e.g., Interconnection Implementation Review Group (IIRG), Technical Standards Review Group (TSRG)), advocating for ESMP-aligned DER strategies and embracing speaking opportunities.

- Engage with regulators, elected officials, and community organizations to communicate improvements to DER processes and solicit feedback.

- Participate in regulatory filings and proceedings as a subject matter expert on DER and ESMP-related initiatives.

- Evaluate state and federal regulatory governance standards and ISO New England requirements relevant and applicable to DER integration, determine impact to Company and work with internal departments to develop processes and plans to ensure compliance.

Corporate Risk Management:

- Responsible for assessing, monitoring, reporting, and mitigating Company’s reputational and financial risk (beyond project delivery and process) by meeting and developing a sustainable performance that meets developer, state, and Company obligations.

- Act as lead participant for DER in regulatory filings, tariff updates and or creation.

- Serve as witness and or subject matter expert for DER in MA DPU proceedings (e.g., technical sessions, hearings, etc.).

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Energy Systems, Sustainability, Public Policy, or a related field required; advanced degree (Master’s, MBA, or Professional Engineering license) preferred.

- 7+ years of experience in energy, utility operations, distributed energy resources, or related fields, including at least 3 years in a senior stakeholder management or leadership capacity.

- Ability to understand and interpret customer design documents and subsequent information and Company System Impact Study (SIS) analysis and proposed solutions for customer projects.

- Ability to propose alternate engineering solutions to address issues and work with internal partners to develop effective outcomes for customer portfolio.

- Familiarity with National Grid’s ESMP and DER’s role in advancing state-policy and goals.

- Working knowledge of MA DG Interconnection Tariff and or experience/ familiarity with regulatory tariffs.

- Strong leadership, written, presentation, and communication skills.

- Proven ability to manage through change and effectively manage a wide array of stakeholders in a variety of settings.

- Valid driver’s license that meets National Grid's safe driving policy required.

More Information

Salary: $143,000 - $168,000

This position has a career path which provides for advancement opportunities within and across bands as you develop and evolve in the position; gaining experience, expertise and acquiring and applying technical skills. Internal candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.