Principal Analyst - North America Load Forecasting

Wood Mackenzie is the global leader in analytics, insights and proprietary data across the entire energy and natural resources landscape.

For over 50 years our work has guided the decisions of the world’s most influential energy producers, utilities companies, financial institutions and governments.

Now, with the world’s energy system more complex and interconnected than ever before, sector-specific views are no longer enough. That’s why we’ve redefined what’s possible with Intelligence Connected.

By fusing our unparalleled proprietary data with the sharpest analytical minds, all supercharged by Synoptic AI, we deliver a clear, interconnected view of the entire value chain. Our trusted team of 2,700 experts across 30 countries breaks siloes and connects industries, markets and regions across the globe.

This empowers our customers to identify risk sooner, spot opportunities faster and recalibrate strategy with confidence – whether planning days, weeks, months or decades ahead.

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Role Purpose

The Principal Analyst – Load Forecasting will lead the development and implementation of Wood Mackenzie's long-term load forecasting capabilities for the US and Canada power markets. This critical role will focus on operationalizing a robust load forecasting model and process that serves as a foundational input to our long-term fundamental power market outlooks. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing econometric demand forecasts at the state/province and zonal level, ensuring accuracy and consistency across our coverage area. The Principal Analyst will serve as Wood Mackenzie's subject matter expert on electricity demand fundamentals and will collaborate closely with internal teams forecasting discrete demand sources (e.g., data centres) to deliver a comprehensive, integrated view of future load growth.

Main Responsibilities

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  Develop and maintain sophisticated, scalable and automated econometric models that capture the key drivers of US and Canada electricity demand, including economic growth, weather patterns, energy efficiency, electrification trends, and structural changes in consumption patterns

• Own the end-to-end load forecasting process, from data collection and quality assurance through model development, validation, and integration with Wood Mackenzie's Long-Term Power Market Outlooks

• Collaborate with internal research teams forecasting discrete demand sources (data centres, electric vehicles, industrial electrification, etc.) to ensure proper integration in total demand forecasts

• Produce regular load forecast updates aligned with Wood Mackenzie's publication cycle, providing transparent documentation of methodology, assumptions, and changes from prior forecasts

• Author analytical insights and research on electricity demand trends, structural shifts in consumption, and implications for power market fundamentals

• Provide expert guidance to clients on load forecasting methodology, assumptions, and outlook through inquiries, presentations, and special consultations

• Present research findings at industry conferences and client events, establishing Wood Mackenzie as a thought leader in power demand forecasting

• Continuously improve forecasting capabilities by incorporating new data sources, methodologies, and market intelligence to enhance forecast accuracy and granularity

About You

Required Qualifications:

• 5-7 years of direct experience in long-term electricity load forecasting, preferably within a utility, ISO/RTO, regulatory agency, research or consulting environment where you developed and maintained operational forecasting models

• Demonstrated expertise in econometric demand modelling, including understanding of key load drivers, regression techniques, time-series analysis, and forecast validation methods

• Strong programming and automation skills with proficiency in Python, R, or similar languages; ability to build scalable, automated data pipelines and modelling workflows is essential given the data scale involved

• Proficiency in SQL for data extraction and manipulation; experience with Excel and data visualization tools

• Proven ability to work with large-scale datasets from diverse sources (ISO/RTO data, EIA, census, weather, economic indicators) and reconcile data inconsistencies

• Quantitative degree (engineering, economics, statistics, data science, or related field)

Desired Attributes:

• Deep understanding of US and Canadian power market structures, including ISO/RTO footprints, zonal configurations, and regional demand characteristics

• Experience integrating discrete demand forecasts (EV adoption, data centre growth, industrial load) with baseline econometric models

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable balancing quantitative rigor with practical market understanding

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Self-driven and highly organized; capable of managing complex, multi-year projects with limited supervision while meeting regular publication deadlines.

• Collaborative mindset; able to work effectively across research teams, geographies, and functions to deliver integrated analysis

• Intellectual curiosity about evolving trends in electricity consumption, electrification, and the energy transition

• Client service orientation; comfortable engaging directly with subscribers and responding to technical inquiries

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer. This means we are committed to recruiting the best people regardless of their race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. You can find out more about your rights under the law at www.eeoc.gov

If you are applying for a role and have a physical or mental disability, we will support you with your application or through the hiring process.