Assistant Program Manager, ABAG POWER

About MTC
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the transportation planning, financing, and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. It is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the region. MTC is committed to an equitable and inclusive workplace. MTC provides services to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). For more information, visit www.mtc.ca.gov.

About the Section
This position is within the Energy Section which is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering regional-scale energy initiatives through programs and services focused on energy efficiency, decarbonization, energy procurement, and energy management.

About the Team
ABAG Publicly Owned Energy Resources (POWER) is a program established by ABAG in 1998 to lead in energy management and aggregated gas procurement. ABAG POWER provides natural gas and renewable natural gas purchasing programs, currently serving over 50 public agencies located throughout the Pacific Gas and Electric territory. The primary objectives are to ensure price stability, achieve cost savings, and support strategic planning initiatives. The team conducts pooled gas purchasing and offers in‑house billing and customer service, including analyzing energy markets at local and global levels, monitoring daily usage and costs, processing invoices, and delivering related energy management services.

About the Role
The Assistant Program Manager is a Program Coordinator III level role under the ABAG POWER Program Manager within the Energy Section. Responsibilities include administering the ABAG POWER program with a focus on Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), natural gas procurement, member agency support, and regulatory monitoring. The selected candidate will assist with procurement activities, contract and supplier performance tracking, budgeting, financial and consumption reporting, policy and legislative research, and technical assistance to member agencies. The position plays a key role in ensuring program compliance, financial accuracy, high-quality customer service, strategic plan roadmap support, and effective communication with public agencies and external stakeholders.

RNG and Natural Gas Program Support

Assist the program manager in administering the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and natural gas procurement programs.

Support analysis of RNG supply options, pricing structures, environmental attributes (LCFS, RINs), and contract terms.

Assist with monitoring RNG and natural gas supplier performance, compliance, and contract milestones.

Track market trends to support portfolio optimization, risk management, and strategic planning.

Procurement and Contract Support

Assist the Program Manager in developing and issuing RFQs/RFPs, Purchase Requests for natural gas and RNG in compliance with public procurement requirements.

Support proposal evaluation, cost and technical analyses, and preparation of award recommendations.

Coordinate with legal and procurement staff to support contract negotiation, execution, and documentation.

Track contract renewals, amendments, and performance reporting requirements.

Financial and Budgeting

Assist the Program Manager with financial monitoring of natural gas and RNG contracts, including pricing validation, cost tracking, and revenue impacts.

Support review, reconciliation, and validation of supplier invoices, consumption data, and contract pricing to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Assist in preparing budget projections, cost summaries, cash flow forecasts, and financial inputs for program planning and reporting.

Support analysis of program financial performance, including cost impacts, savings, forecasted expenditures, and cash flow trends for member agencies.

Assist with audit support activities, including documentation preparation, data validation, and coordination with internal finance staff and external auditors as needed.

Member Agency (Customer) Support

Assist as a point of contact for member agencies participating in natural gas and RNG programs.

Support onboarding of new members, including orientations, documentation, and data setup.

Assist with monitoring member consumption, participation status, and contract alignment.

Respond to member and prospective member inquiries and help identify cost savings and RNG adoption opportunities.

RNG Adoption and Technical Assistance

Assist member agencies with evaluating and implementing RNG projects.

Support feasibility analysis, cost-benefit assessments, and coordination with facility, fleet, and sustainability staff.

Help connect agencies with applicable incentives, funding opportunities, and grants.

Policy, Regulatory, and Legislative Research

Support research and tracking of energy-related policies, regulations, and legislation affecting natural gas and RNG.

Monitor developments related to LCFS, RINs, carbon offsets, utility regulations, air quality rules, and state and federal energy legislation.

Summarize regulatory and legislative impacts on program operations, procurement strategy, and member agencies.

Assist with preparing policy briefings, written summaries, and recommendations for leadership.

Communications and Reporting

Assist in maintaining program website content and member communications related to procurement, RNG initiatives, and policy updates.

Support development of newsletters, program updates, and informational materials.

Assist in preparing and presenting quarterly and annual reports, dashboards, financial summaries, and executive presentations for ABAG leadership.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Renewable Natural Gas and conventional natural gas markets, carbon offsets, including pricing structures and supply considerations.

Applicable energy-related policies, regulations, and legislation at the state and federal levels.

Environmental attributes and credit programs such as LCFS and RINs.

Analyze technical, financial, and policy information and prepare clear summaries and reports.

Develop and administer a program or project budget and schedule.

Support solicitation development, proposal evaluation, and contract compliance monitoring.

Communicate effectively with public agency staff, suppliers, regulators, and internal teams.

Organize and prioritize work, manage deadlines, and maintain accurate records.

Work independently and attention to detail and problem-solving skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft suite.

Minimum Qualifications
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in planning, civil engineering, environmental science, business or public administration, or a related field and five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience administering programs in a field related to the assignment area.

Preferred Qualifications
Two to five years of relevant professional work experience with natural gas and/or renewable natural gas.

Employment Requirements
Successful completion of a background check, professional references, and the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I‑9. Applicants with a degree issued from an institution outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an academic accrediting service and provide proof of equivalency along with their application.

Disability Accommodation
The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment or skills assessment process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If selected for an interview or testing, and you require accommodation, please notify the Human Resources Department when confirming your interview or test.

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