Senior Advisor, Regional and Community Engagement

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 Senior Advisor, Regional and Community Engagement will play a key role in shaping meaningful relationships with municipal stakeholders within Ontario’s electricity market as the IESO navigates the energy transition. The Senior Advisor will lead and coordinate all municipal and stakeholder engagement processes and mechanisms across the organization to ensure an efficient and effective system for informed decision-making. As a champion of a fair and equitable process for all municipalities and stakeholders, this role will actively encourage all municipalities and stakeholder sectors with an interest in IESO initiatives to participate and provide valued input. 

What you will be doing

• Provide support in the design of customized municipal and stakeholder engagement strategies and/or plans for all implementation/operations initiatives requiring municipal and stakeholder input. Provide for varying levels/methodologies of stakeholder engagement based on the significance of the issue and its impact on municipalities and stakeholders.
• Implement and manage effective municipal and stakeholder engagement processes and mechanisms with line organizations to ensure municipal and stakeholder engagement activities are integrated and incorporated in project schedules. Influence internal staff, and municipalities and stakeholders to ensure they follow stakeholder engagement principles and processes.
• Coordinate and support the management and implementation of municipal and stakeholder engagement strategies and plans by working closely with internal staff, and municipalities and stakeholders. Develop procedures to support municipal and stakeholder engagement activities relating to policy implementation/operations initiatives that align with municipal and stakeholder engagement principles and legislative requirements.
• Implement the stakeholder engagement process for all municipalities and stakeholder engagement mechanisms within the Customized engagement mechanisms such as Working Groups, Workshops, Web Broadcasts, etc.
• Implement processes to ensure timely, accessible, accurate, and coordinated communication in support of municipal and stakeholder engagement processes to ensure they meet corporate and external municipal and stakeholder needs. Ensure municipalities and stakeholders have timely, accessible, and accurate information sufficient to understand the implications of alternative courses of action. Ensure that company decisions and the rationale for decisions are communicated.
• Actively encourage all municipal and stakeholder sectors, with an interest in an initiative, to participate in the process. Establish and maintain long-lasting relationships with key influencers assessing local developments and industry trends affecting municipalities and stakeholders. Recommend corporate strategies regarding products, policies, and procedures to ensure their needs for engagement are met.
• Establish and implement mechanisms for evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of municipal and stakeholder engagement activities and recommend changes to processes, systems and procedures as necessary.
• Analyze and follow-up on feedback from engagement sessions to identify trends and to ensure continuous improvement to business processes and associated costs taking into consideration municipal, stakeholder and corporate business needs.
• Implement processes to meet due diligence requirements and to ensure engagement processes and data confidentiality.
• Provide or arrange for expert facilitation skills at engagement meetings to provide a fair, open, and transparent process for all municipal and stakeholders to provide input to corporate decisions.

What you need to succeed

• Successful completion of a 4-year University education in the appropriate field, or the equivalent
• Good knowledge of business administration or commerce to plan, propose improvements, coordinate, and support the management of engagement processes and mechanisms across the company
• Strong communication skills to deal with municipalities, communities, stakeholders, government representatives, and senior management and to establish and manage timely, accurate and coordinated communication in support of engagement processes
• Understanding of company objectives, policies, procedures and practices, the legislative and regulatory requirements governing the Ontario Electricity Marketplace, and the external business operations as they relate to company commitments
• Experience in the analysis of policies, decisions, corporate business plans and assessment of current issues in order to provide support in the design and implementation of municipal and stakeholder engagement strategies, plans and processes
• Experience in project administration to acquire a good understanding of management reporting, interrelationships of teams with clients, contract terms, conditions, regulations, etc associated with projects/programs
• Experience to acquire a thorough understanding of the role of municipal and stakeholder development, community and stakeholder involvement and social impact, to deal with special interest groups, the design and delivery of municipal and stakeholder involvement and assessment of planning initiatives
• A period of over 8 years, up to and including 10 years experience is considered necessary to gain this experience

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 
   

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 Toronto location.

Join our talent community

Sign up for our talent community: stay in touch, find out about new opportunities – and discover how you can make a difference. Discover how we use our expertise and commitment to deliver reliable and affordable electricity to Ontario’s businesses and communities, and how we’re innovating to secure a stronger energy future for all Ontarians. Visit Careers at IESO and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.

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