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 it employees and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position would be eligible to participate in a on-site or hybrid schedule. 

Relocation Assistance is available.

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Manager, Strategic Planning and Enterprise Risk Management, leads activities in support of the strategic planning and enterprise risk management processes.  Facilitates developing the organization’s strategic, short-term, and long-range goals, objectives, metrics, and enterprise risk register.  Monitors and reports out on strategic performance and risk management.  Conducts organizational reviews to identify the organization’s strengths and weaknesses and researches emerging trends, opportunities, and threats.  Provides tools, templates, and best practices for strategic planning and enterprise risk management.  Facilitates critical discussions on emerging topics that carry risk or strategic impact.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Responsible for partnering with the Manager, Strategy and Enterprise Risk in developing and administering the organization’s strategic planning program.  Partners with the executive team, ISO Board of Governors, and other key stakeholders to identify strategic priorities, and develop metrics and key performance indicators.  Documents strategic plans, roadmaps, and performance assessments and facilitates communication and education to key stakeholders of strategic goals and status of performance.  Provides appropriate tools, templates and best-practice methodologies for strategic planning.  Conducts environmental scanning and facilitates critical discussions on emerging topics that carry strategic impact. Assesses performance and collects evidence supporting achievement of corporate strategic objectives. 
   
• Responsible for evolving and administering the organization’s enterprise risk management program.  Partners with the executive team, ISO Board of Governors, and other key stakeholders to identify and prioritize enterprise risks, associate enterprise risks to strategic objectives, programs, and projects, and identify activities that mitigate risk.  Documents risk register and mitigation plans. Facilitates assessment of risk mitigation sufficiency.  Prepares reports and presentations to provide communication and education about enterprise risk.  Manages risk monitoring and reporting and facilitates critical discussions on emerging risks or changes to existing risks.  Provides appropriate tools, templates, and best-practice methodologies for enterprise risk management.  
   
• Supports department, PMO and Portfolio Steering Committee throughout the prioritization by providing strategic objectives, goals and enterprise risk with priority weighting inputs to the portfolio planning process.    Provides communication and education about strategies and risks that portfolios and projects are supporting.  Incorporates material lessons learned from these areas as an input into strategy and enterprise risk planning.

Level of Education and Discipline:

A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Business, Finance, Economics, Marketing, or related field. Master’s Degree preferred.

Amount of Experience:

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

Type of Experience:

• Experience with strategic planning, corporate performance management, and enterprise risk management. 
• Experience leading programs or project teams and facilitation skills strongly desired. 
• Demonstrated experience in developing presentations and reports for executive and Board level audiences.

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 Lead, Strategy and Risk Management at the CAISO is $129,975 to $216,625 per year.