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 hybrid work capacity,

Relocation assistance is available.

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Director, acts as a technical expert responsible for leading policy changes related to efficiently integrating energy storage resources into the CAISO’s day-ahead and real-time markets consistent with the corporate strategic direction.  Ensures energy storage policy changes include comprehensive consideration of the CAISO market and infrastructure rules, industry requirements, trends, regulatory requirements, internal processes and technology requirements.  Works with experts from across the company to ensure comprehensive and well-designed policies.  Builds relationships with industry members and participants.  Responsible for developing stakeholder supported, defendable policies to be provided to the WEIM Governing Body and CAISO Board of Governors for approval.  Oversees the tariff and business practice manuals development to ensure they are consistent with approved policies.  Supports the regulatory process for market design policy proposal approvals at FERC.  Ensures positions taken in state regulatory proceedings are consistent with CAISO policy and have been adequately vetted with CAISO executive management.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Works in a team environment to develop market design proposals to evolve the integration of energy storage resources into the CAISO’s day-ahead and real-time markets. Accountable for identifying energy storage resource policy integration issues to ensure the ISO’s market design development results in a well-functioning market structure. Leads and collaborates with colleagues to develop “best practices" in electric market design and to identify and resolve issues to help create a flexible and efficient market.
   
• Reviews and ensures high quality content of policy papers addressing market design issues. Works with the Market Strategy and Governance team to develop board memorandums and presentations that clearly and concisely explain ISO market design policy proposals.
   
• Performs frequent outreach to stakeholders to understand energy storage resource policy concerns and business needs. Responsible for ensuring that stakeholder concerns are effectively addressed through the stakeholder process to provide a strong record for board and regulatory approvals.
   
• Provides technical, analytical and policy leadership to the policy development team, other sector managers, and other ISO business units as appropriate.
   
• Provides expert witness testimony on energy markets and related policy. Represents the CAISO at industry forums and conferences.

Level of Education and Discipline:

A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Electrical Engineering, Economics, Business, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.

Amount of Experience:

Equivalent years of education and training, plus ten (10) or more years related experience.

Type of Experience:

Experience required in a combination of the following: utility/power industry or regulatory, preferably in a similar ISO; market design and systems analysis; regulatory, economic, and data analysis; real-time applications and software tools. Knowledge of economics, market design, finance and programming concepts desirable. Extensive knowledge of advanced power system operations, electric dispatch and optimization techniques, California power transmission networks, or network modeling is desirable. Experience leading large analytical or economic projects involving various groups of specialists and stakeholders. Experience supervising professional staff desired.

Additional Skills and Abilities:

Ability to think strategically and devise solutions to problems in keeping with multiple considerations. Excellent leadership abilities with experience coaching and developing others. Must demonstrate sound judgment and critical thinking when making decisions. Must be able to work effectively in a team environment as team leader, facilitator and team member.  Strong analytical and quantitative skills required. Excellent interpersonal, communication and writing skills required, including the ability to effectively communicate complex materials and concepts. Must be able to handle a dynamic and changing work environment, and work well independently. Demonstrated ability in complex problem solving in the electric utility industry and ability to identify solutions to complex engineering/economic problems.

The pay range for the Energy Storage Sector Manager at the CAISO is $148,650 - $247,750 per year.