The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

The California ISO is committed to the health, safety, and work/life integration of its employees, and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position would be eligible to participate in a remote work capacity, but requires the ability to commute in as needed.

Relocation assistance is available.

Under the general direction of the Manager of Operations Compliance, acts as the functional lead for operational compliance with mandatory reliability standards and ISO Tariff requirements, including FERC Transmission Operator (TOP), Balancing Authority (BA) reliability functions and Market functions. Develops controls, monitors performance and recommends improvements to existing processes and procedures. Develops mitigation and post-event corrective action plans and reports.  Facilitates Operations NERC self-certification and audits.  Provides guidance to other System Operations business units on the development of procedures and operational controls. 

What You Will Be Doing:

• Act as liaison between System Operations and Operations Compliance in tracking Real-Time events that require analysis for potential compliance event or reporting purposes. Identify improvements and use occurrences or events as training opportunities.  Gather data, perform analyses and develop metrics and reports.  Perform market and operational data mining and related analysis. Create and maintain additional reports for Operations staff.
   
• Lead the facilitation of self-certifications and audits. Collect evidence, updates RSAWs and acts as a liaison to other business units to gather data and lead related discussions.  Assist business units with internal controls development, specifically for automated control management.
   
• Perform monthly, quarterly and ad hoc reviews and reporting for NERC and WECC data requests. Create, maintain and improve reporting capabilities in order to promote consistent data collection methods.
   
• Perform impact analysis related to new, changed or existing NERC and WECC standards and criterion. Advise business units on the development and improvement of controls. Perform internal assessments using a systematic approach to monitoring controls, evaluating normal and abnormal occurrences within ISO Operations processes and coordinate updates to procedures as necessary. Participate in Tariff Compliance activities as necessary. 

Level of Education and Discipline

• A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Engineering, Economics, or related field.
• Master’s Degree (MA, MS, MBA) or other advanced degrees are preferred.

Certifications

• Professional Engineering preferred. Project Management (PMP) certification a plus.
• Six Sigma preferred
• Root Cause Analysis preferred
• NERC Certificate, Reliability Coordination

Amount of Experience

• Equivalent years of education and training, plus six (6) or more years related experience.

Type of Experience

• Experience with Balancing Authority Area and Reliability Coordination operations, NERC standards, data metrics and data analysis. 
• Experience with interconnected electrical system operations, including procedures, process, compliance, and controls.
• Experience with large data sets, including data analysis and reporting.
   

Additional skills and abilities

• Demonstrates fundamental management and leadership skills with the ability to work effectively in a team environment as a leader, facilitator and team member.  
• Ability to provide practical and feasible solutions to problems, keeping multiple conflicting considerations into account.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills required.
• Excellent analytical skills are required, including the ability to effectively communicate complex technical materials and concepts in a non-technical manner.  
• Must be able to handle a dynamic and changing work environment, and work independently.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Self-motivated, problem solving skills and the ability to influence others without direct authority.

The pay range for the Operations Compliance and Analysis Technical Lead at the CAISO is $121,725 - $202,875 per year.