Senior Product Manager, Grid Services

About the role

The role spans two time horizons. Near-term, the incumbent is the Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for active grid services programs such as Xcel AVPP, MassCPS, CT ESS, Efficiency Maine, and ERCOT retail energy. They own the program mechanics, aggregator registration and compliance, customer revenue-share design, and settlement requirements for each. Longer-term, the incumbent is responsible for building the pipeline of new programs and developing Emporia’s progression into new markets and roles.

What You’ll Own

• Active Program DRI:
  • Xcel AVPP (CO): Own aggregator qualification and registration in the AVPP program. Own performance against the 80% adjusted performance threshold (2x penalty) and 40% floor (removal). Define the customer revenue-share model. Own quarterly settlement requirements.
  • CT ESS (CT): Active pilot with first installs targeting July 2026. Own program readiness and VPP enrollment requirements. Understand Eversource/UI interconnection constraints and own the economics decisions.
  • MassCPS Direct Aggregation (MA): Own the transition from EnergyHub→Leap to direct MassCEC registration. Define NEPOOL GIS registration, CPEC issuance and monetization, and the product plan for migrating ~400 currently-enrolled EVSEs through the transition and expansion to 2,000 unenrolled EVSEs.
  • Efficiency Maine (ME): Own the go/no-go criteria for program entry, gated on Efficiency Maine’s launch decision. When they commit: own ISO-NE RNS dispatch requirements, annual settlement mechanics, and ITC compliance obligations (prevailing wage, domestic content, PFE certification) as product and operations requirements.
  • ERCOT Retail Energy: Own the retail electricity product portfolio through the Light Energy partnership — TOU plans, EV-optimized rates, battery-arbitrage structures, and hardware-bundled offerings. Integrate VPP dispatch-rights incentives into rate design.
• Strategy & Market Development:
  • Evaluate and identify new utility programs, aggregator relationships, and ISO/RTO market opportunities.
  • Build the business case and go/no-go framework for each, assessed against the TPO unit economics model — not just revenue potential.
  • Sequence markets to enter, in what order, through what GTM approach — partnership, hybrid, or direct. Track the regulatory landscape for legislation and FERC Order 2222 implementation opening new aggregator program opportunities.
  • Define Emporia’s path from aggregator participant to aggregator of record in priority markets. Support Business Development to engage utilities that warrant direct bilateral negotiation outside open-enrollment programs.
  • Represent Emporia’s technical capabilities credibly to utility partners and understand what utilities need from a VPP provider at a program level. Work alongside Business Development to advance programs from partner exploration to commercial launch.
• Program Economics:
  • Translate per-kW-yr rates into per-system annual revenue against the TPO underwriting target. Evaluate margin, performance risk, and operational overhead — not just top-line revenue. Own the financial model Finance uses to underwrite new program investments.

What You'll Bring

• Required:
  • 5+ years of product management experience with direct ownership of outcomes from definition through delivery.
  • You have read a utility tariff, ISO program document, or state program guide and translated it into product requirements — not summarized it, translated it into what Engineering builds and Operations runs.
  • Direct experience in the utility, energy, or retail electricity industry. You know how demand response programs are designed and measured, how aggregator registration works, and how ISO/RTO settlement operates.
  • You can model program economics: per-kW-yr revenue, performance penalty structures, customer revenue-share, ITC treatment on a TPO asset, and how these translate into investment underwriting. You have built this model.
  • You understand OpenADR 2.0b or equivalent dispatch protocols at a product requirements level — enough to define integration requirements for Engineering and verify that a proposed implementation meets the program’s dispatch and reporting obligations.
  • Commercial instinct paired with strategic judgment: you can evaluate a new program opportunity, assess the economics and risk, sequence it against competing priorities, and make a credible go/no-go recommendation.
• Strongly Preferred:
  • Experience with residential battery storage dispatch, EV managed charging (V1G/V2G), or VPP enrollment programs.
  • Familiarity with NEPOOL GIS, Clean Peak Energy Certificates (CPECs), ISO-NE program rules, or ERCOT retail market structure.
  • Experience with the TPO or third-party ownership model and how grid services revenue integrates with ITC-qualified asset financing.
  • Experience managing aggregator agreements: performance clauses, removal thresholds, and contract red-lines.
  • AI-native working style — you use AI to accelerate regulatory research, economic modeling, and requirements drafting.

How We Work

The product team operates on a Define-Negotiate-Engage model. You define requirements and the business case with enough precision that Engineering, Operations, Finance, and Legal can scope against them — then negotiate commitment and stay closely engaged through delivery.

We use a DRI model: one name on every significant initiative, open decision, and deliverable. The DRI is not necessarily the most senior person — they are the one who makes the call and answers for the result. When multiple teams intersect, the DRI cuts through diffusion of responsibility. If you are the DRI, you own the unblocking and execution. There is no 'we are waiting on the other team.'

The TPO program is operationally live. CT installs target July 2026. AVPP aggregator registration is due Q2 2026. MassCPS Functional Review is in progress. You will be managing active programs from day one.

How We Measure Success

Dimension What It Means Program Mechanics All active programs running with clean operational mechanics: AVPP aggregator-qualified and enrolled, MassCPS direct aggregation live, CT batteries VPP-enrolled, ME go/no-go decided when to launch Efficiency Maine program. Grid Services Revenue Program enrollment targets met. Grid services revenue growing against the TPO underwriting assumption. Market Pipeline Next 1–2 program opportunities identified with business cases. Sequencing plan for market expansion agreed with leadership. Partner Confidence Utility partners and aggregators view Emporia as a technically credible, reliable counterparty. Partner satisfaction and renewal rates reflect that.

Why This Role

The VPP is not a future state. Batteries are being installed in Connecticut homes this summer. Aggregator agreements are being negotiated with Xcel. MassCPS is moving from Functional Review to build. And the next wave of programs — new utility relationships, new ISO/RTO markets, Emporia’s evolution from program participant to aggregator of record — is being defined right now.

This role owns both. If you have the technical depth to engage utilities as a credible program counterparty, the commercial instinct to evaluate what comes next, and the definition discipline to translate complex program requirements into delivered products — this role is yours.

What We Offer

• Cheap: The expected base salary range is $140,000 - $190,000, plus stock options. The offered salary will depend on numerous factors, including but not limited to work experience, skills, and internal equity considerations. The base salary does not include benefits or other incentives.
• Heads Up: medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), employee stock option program, paid holidays plus unlimited PTO, discounts on Emporia products and partner offerings.
• Grow: Be part of a fast-growing company at the forefront of home energy innovation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Emporia Energy is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. We will make reasonable accommodations for any qualified applicant with a disability, provided that the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation and that the accommodation would not impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. Please let us know if you believe you require reasonable accommodation, or if you would like assistance to complete an application or to participate in an interview at the company.

Background Check

New employees will be required to successfully complete a background check.