Geothermal Policy Development Lead

Key Responsibilities

Title: Geothermal Policy Development Lead
Location: Cannon Building 288 N 1460 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

About the Role

The Utah Office of Energy Development is seeking a Geothermal Policy Development Lead to advance Utah as a national leader in geothermal energy.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience in geothermal development, power generation, policy analysis, or a related field, and ideally a bachelor’s degree in related fields such as geophysics, energy economics, or public policy.
• The ideal candidate possesses some or all of the following experience with the geothermal industry or research:
• Familiarity with electricity generation planning and operations.
• Experience with direct-use thermal systems and applications.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess and predict long-term industry and deployment barriers.
• Expertise in regulatory tracking, including federal, state, and regional energy regulations.
• Experience in developing policy recommendations and initiatives.
• Experience in working with state and federal entities and stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making capabilities.
• Able to evaluate technical, economic, and policy tradeoffs.
• Self-motivation for independent research into new topics.
• Excellent communication skills for stakeholder engagement and presenting research findings.
• Able to collaborate effectively with both internal teams and external partners.

Why Work for the Utah Office of Energy Development?

Joining the Utah Office of Energy Development offers a unique opportunity to shape the state’s energy future in one of the most promising growing energy industries. You'll contribute to impactful initiatives like Operation Gigawatt, influencing key decisions on energy policy and development. With Utah home to world-class geothermal resources, internationally recognized research centers like FORGE, and one of the world’s largest advanced geothermal deployments with Fervo, this role offers hands-on experience in an evolving ecosystem that will influence the future of energy across the west. Collaborating with experts across disciplines provides opportunities for personal and professional growth, while the flexible work environment ensures a healthy work-life balance. This is a chance to establish Utah as the national leader in advanced geothermal energy deployment.