Principal - Market Design Analysis - Electric Reliability Council of Texas

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career. ERCOT is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We accept and celebrate those that join us and recognize that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. A diverse and inclusive workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future. JOB SUMMARY Creates and communicates visionary studies to guide ERCOT into the future. Creates and communicates a vision which anticipates, identifies and explains challenges and opportunities that the company will encounter on its path to success. Develops approaches, processes and solutions that allow the company to maximize its effectiveness and progressively achieve higher levels of achievement. Expands the company’s capabilities and innovation in engineering or information technology. Exerts technical influence across the enterprise to increase productivity and effectiveness. JOB DUTIES Recognized as a subject matter expert, possessing specialized advanced technical skills and competencies. Frequently contributes to the development of new theories and methods using knowledge gained through wide-reaching experiences. Employs highly-developed problem resolution skills and expertise as a generalist or specialist using professional concepts and ERCOT objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways. Exerts significant latitude in determining objectives of assignment. Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Wide latitude for decisions within area of expertise; impact generally extends beyond the department. Often advises and leads the work of lower level employees. Could perform in a program/project leadership role requiring the ability to develop and lead matrixed teams. Interacts with management and senior customers on matters requiring coordination across organizational lines. ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES Responsible for leading strategic projects Representing ERCOT on panels, committees and advisory boards Develops and maintains both formal and informal human networks to gather information, coordinate action and build cooperation with both internal and external groups Represents the company at outside gatherings like conferences, seminars and public hearings Delivers presentations and addresses at industry and marketplace events Plans, directs and coordinates all activities pertaining to the projects required to implement a nodal market as outlined in the approved protocols by the PUCT Determines what risks and issues need to be brought to upper management attention for action and provide them background information and options for addressing those risks and issues Leads complex risk analyses and prepare reviews and reports to support Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) programs and initiatives, including reporting to various leaders and senior executives Collaborates with ERM team members and business units on a variety of projects with a focus on risk identification and quantification. Conduct and lead economic, market and industry research and analysis to support ERM programs and initiatives Works with business groups on development and implementation of risk mitigation strategies, improvement of risk management processes and analyses, and implementation of ERM requirements Drives the identification of emerging and future risks and development of possible mitigations Contributes to and develops Enterprise Architecture Strategy Mentors the Enterprise Architects to ensure ERCOT maintains a strong core of technology awareness in the EA team Lays out the framework for architectural strategies for IT infrastructure and business applications Maintains the corporate project roadmap Works with project sponsors and business owners validate requirements, costs, and benefits of projects ensuring consistency in prioritization across business units Educates IT and business groups on ERCOT’s enterprise-wide approach to IT solutions and integration opportunities Applies in-depth knowledge of business and IT to validate the cost-benefit analysis of IT initiatives Provides critical analysis of current and future architectural and business direction Advises, recommends and justifies critical architecture decisions to management and senior staff Performs other duties as assigned EXPERIENCE Requires minimum 10 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements 8-10 years of relevant experience in a quantitative field (Preferred) Requires minimum of 10 years in wholesale electric or bulk power markets Requires minimum of 10 years in directing large technology projects Excellent understanding of basic financial concepts and metrics, including financial statement analysis Excellent quantitative analysis and modeling skills are preferred, in addition to significant experience in an analytical capacity Very strong understanding of the electricity industry and associated risk EDUCATION Bachelor's Degree : Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline (Required) Master's Degree : Engineering, Computer Science, or related discipline (Preferred) or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields is required The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time. ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law. Expected Salary Range: $165,791 - $281,818 The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities. ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan. The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future. The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path. Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT. The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups. The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers. The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering. The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.