Operations Advisor

INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR (IESO)

Why join us? 

You’ve got great skills. And you want to use them in an organization where you know what you do every day matters. We get that.
We also know that ensuring Ontarians have access to affordable and reliable power doesn’t happen by accident. So we give you the tools, flexibility and support you need to achieve your goals, and development opportunities to help you grow. You’ll thrive in a collaborative, team-based environment that values your unique skills and experiences – and recognizes that when you do better, we become even better too.  

Who we are 

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) works at the centre of the province’s power system, ensuring Ontarians have access to reliable and cost-effective electricity when and where they need it. We operate the province’s electricity grid 24/7, design, run and oversee the wholesale electricity markets, and plan and prepare to meet Ontario’s electricity needs – now and into the future.

 

The opportunity

The Operations Integration (OI) team works with the market participants and other departments within the IESO to effectively integrate new or modified connections and facilities in the IESO- controlled grid, with a goal of reliable and efficient real-time operations, as well as supporting operational planning efforts. The team champions effective project management and has the primary responsibility for ensuring quality processes that support the IESO’s key operations and assessment needs.

The OI team supports external organizations in the registration, maintenance and de-registration of new or modified connections to the IESO-connected grid (ICG), and/or in the participation in the IESO-administered markets (IAM). Participation may involve connections to distribution systems employing new technologies.

This position offers an opportunity to practice your project management experience and develop professional relationships with external organizations, wide range of market participants and many IESO groups allowing you to develop deeper understanding of the IESO business and the energy sector.

What you'll do

Receive assignment from Manager and/or Senior Specialist in general terms related to assigned areas of work. Obtain necessary inputs or data and develop solutions to assigned tasks. Produce necessary documentation to monitor and track, or to substantiate recommendations. Actively identify, analyze and mitigate risks before they turn into issues, carrying out regular reviews, and liaising with IESO and/or external staff on a one-to-one basis as required.

• Coordinate the overall authorization process for participation in IESO-administered markets and/or programs with internal IESO business units and organizations seeking such participation.
• Coordinate the overall “facility registration lifecycle” with internal IESO business units and external participants. This responsibility includes: Facilitate the registration, maintenance and de-registration of physical facilities for IESO-administered markets or programs.
• Review the Connection Assessment documentation, Market Rules, Market Manuals and converse with subject matter experts to develop registration requirements for facilities.
• Following up on customer issues to expedite their resolution within the IESO. Engage with subject matter experts and customers to achieve an acceptable resolution.
• Support system operations with respect to problems associated with registered data.
• Update and maintain registration system, and provide specifications on tool requirements or enhancements.
• Coordinate the registration system as a central library for all master data required by the IESO.
• Maintain knowledge of market rules for the purposes of identifying the obligations. Provide customers and others in the IESO with updates, interpretations and impacts as needed.
• Issue approval documentation to the market participant and within the IESO on recommended decisions pertaining to participation or physical facilities.
• Provide coordination, technical leadership and business systems expertise to internal and external customer projects and system changes. Represent Operations for items arising from IT change and release management.
• Identify the objectives of business processes, assess the risk of not meeting those objectives and identify process controls to mitigate risk as appropriate.
• Document process objectives, tasks, risks and controls in summary documentation (e.g. risk-control matrices).
• Make recommendations and implement changes on streamlining tasks and procedures.
• Contribute to the enhancement/development of existing/new business processes, training packages or guides for participants.
• Support process improvements and execution in Operations. Prepare and maintain guides and procedures to support the processes consistent with business needs, market rules or other IESO-controlled documents.
• Deliver new or revised IESO-controlled documents in accordance with the IESO baseline process. Maintain an inventory of Operations controlled documentation.
• Manage master data (participant registered data and IESO created data), whether sourced externally or internally, that is used in processes and applications across the IESO, in a centralized registration system.
• Exercise limited/periodic supervision over assigned staff on special projects.
• Exercise limited training to staff as needed.
• Provide support to reliability organizations (NERC and NPCC).
• Perform other duties as required.

What you need to succeed

• Requires academic training in business, commerce, information technology, or engineering to understand and apply the technical/business/legislative parameters governing the energy industry and market place
• Familiarity with power system and market operation, practices, and policies and market rules.
• Requires experience in dealing with customers (internal & external to the IESO) in a professional and service focused environment. Requires experience leading projects that coordinate various teams towards a common objective. A period of over 6 years and up to and including 8 years is considered necessary to gain this experience.
• Familiarity with databases and competency in composing queries is a strong asset.  familiarity with SQL & Tableau is a plus.
• Demonstration of excellent analytical, problem solving and presentation skills – able to analyze raw data, draw conclusions and develop practical recommendations
• Demonstration of strong understanding of business principles and processes as they relate to technology
• Ability to generate high quality reports
• Strong planning and coordinating skills to organize own priorities and workflow
• Honed interpersonal skills, comfortable presenting findings internally or externally

What’s in it for you

• A comprehensive total rewards program, including best-in-class benefits and a flexible workplace 
• A challenging, fast-paced and collaborative team environment, where your perspectives and experiences matter 
• Leaders who support your growth and success through regular feedback and coaching 
• The opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry 
   

Deadline: January 31, 2025

For future reference, please ensure to save a copy of the job description as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.

At the IESO, we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment – one that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

We thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO, but we will only contact those candidates selected for an interview. 

Note: The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to a background check.

The IESO offers a hybrid work model program to most of our employees, based on business needs. Individuals participating in the program can work an average of three days per week remotely within Ontario. It also offers three flex weeks when individuals can work remotely within Ontario . When working in the office, you will be located at our Mississauga location.

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