Manager, Market Operations and Compliance

About us

BHE Montana, previously NaturEner USA develops and operates utility scale renewable projects in North America. Using advanced renewable integration solutions and leveraging ownership of strategic transmission positions, we unlock and optimize renewable generation.

***THIS OPPORTUNITY IS LOCATED IN Great Falls, MT***

• Company Paid Relocation Assistance Available

Job Purpose/Position Summary

The Manager, Market Operations and Compliance position will manage, research, design, document, develop procedures, draft on-the-job training materials, conduct and evaluate training to support BHE Montana’s implementation and on-going operations into the California Independent System Operators (CAISO) Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and other new energy markets including the CAISO’s Energy Day Ahead Market (EDAM). The position attends, schedules, and participates in business meetings, and collaborates with the CAISO, consultants, stakeholders and the Company’s EIM Analysts and System Operators to develop policies and procedures for BHE Montana’s participation in WEIM and potentially EDAM. The position tracks and effectively communicates the status of project milestones and ensures management is informed of any issues that could impact the Company’s implementation and real-time operations in WEIM. The position facilitates WEIM and other system operations training for WEIM s Analysts and System Operators, and attends internal and external meetings, training, and conferences as required to remain up to date with WEIM requirements and market updates which will impact Company operations.

A primary function of this position is to assist with the management of the Company’s Montana control center and the EIM Analysts and System Operators who perform real-time operation of the Company's balancing authorities, generation projects, WEIM participation, and scheduling of third-party energy resources, while ensuring grid reliability and continuous compliance with all North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) balancing authority (BA), generation owner (GO) and generation operator (GOP) reliability standard requirements. The position is responsible for real-time NERC Compliance Reporting and submitting forms, documents and outage coordination for the Company’s Balancing Authorities. This position also requires compliance knowledge and implementation of Alberta Reliability Standards (ARS), and AESO ISO rules for dispatch of Generator Owner, and Generator Operator operations in Alberta.

The Manager, Market Operations and Compliance, will assist and support the Company’s Network Operators Center (NOC) Trainer with research, design, development, and the evaluation of NERC Continuous Education training and internal Company developed and delivered training. The position will support training activities for Company employees and interns, monitoring and overseeing mandates by NERC, WECC and other applicable regulatory agencies and standards regarding operation, control and monitoring of the Balancing Authority and generation facilities, and assisting with the development, tracking, and monitoring of compliance training/programs, policies, procedures, and standards to meet compliance requirements.

This position also supports all the NERC’s regulatory requirements and is responsible for ensuring that the Company complies with the regulations. Will perform daily Compliance assessments and review company performance. Will draft potential non-compliance documents for WECC, AESO and other regional areas as required. Will support annual NERC Compliance audits, reviewing risk assessments, monitoring compliance activities, and identifying areas of potential non-compliance. Also works closely with internal departments and external stakeholders to ensure that the organization operates in accordance with NERC's guidelines and regulations.

The Manager, Market Operations and Compliance, is responsible for real-time NERC Compliance Reporting and submittal of forms, documents and outage coordination for BHE Montana’s Balancing Authorities. This position also requires after the fact reporting of compliance with Alberta Reliability Standards (ARS), and AESO ISO rules for dispatch of Generator Owner (GO), and Generator Operator (GOP) operations in Alberta.

Essential Functions

• Review and provide feedback on the Company’s current NOC operations for revenue optimization opportunities.
• Maintain and build productive relationships with regulatory and commercial partners (Western Power Pool, ADI, Alberta Ex, etc.), and act as supervisor for real-time operational issues with partners.
• Maintain and build productive relationships with transmission partners such as Northwestern, the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL), and the Western Area Power Authority (WAPA).
• Supports the Vice President of Energy Services & Technology and the Senior Manager, System Operations in the transition of new generation projects into NOC and assists in business development of new opportunities.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• The Manager, Market Operations will complete the Company’s NOC Manager Task Qualification training program and training to qualify as a System Operator on the scheduling, AESO and balancing authority desks. Training must be completed within 6 months. Upon completion of training, the position will be available in a back-up capacity to cover shifts.
• Manage BHE Montana’s Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) participation, compliance and reliability during both normal and emergency operating conditions.
• Manage daily balancing authority reliability during both normal and emergency operating conditions, has the authority to direct timely and appropriate real-time actions within the NOC. Supports the real-time management of the Company’s WEIM participation. Has authority to direct curtailment of firm schedules to prevent potential NERC compliance violations due to unplanned outages. Manage the team and direct day-to-day activities.
• Manage the T-5, T-15 and hourly resource strategy to optimally balance the Company’s resource position within WEIM rules and all NERC, FERC, WECC and other regulatory compliance obligations. Manage outage coordination for planned and unplanned outages within all regulatory compliance obligations.
• Support the development and annual review of BHE Montana’s Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) procedures, on-the-job training materials, for the WEIM Operations Analyst and System Operator Training Program. Manage the creation and revision of training materials as needed for NERC Compliance and asset optimization.
• Manage the hourly resource strategy to optimally balance Company’s resource position within all NERC, FERC, WECC and other regulatory compliance obligations. Manages outage coordination for planned and unplanned outages within all regulatory compliance obligations.
• Draft, produce and submit for review the Balancing Authority NERC Compliance program assigned monthly, quarterly and annual Balancing Authority Compliance Reports. Attends Compliance and other Committee Meetings as assigned.
• Assist the Senior Manager, System Operations in performing after-the-fact assessment of System Operator performance within all NERC, FERC, WECC, and other regulatory compliance obligations.
• Monitor and optimize the purchase of transmission for optimization of generation assets, ensuring compliance with internal and external policies.
• Manage real-time system disturbances involving generation, substation, and transmission equipment, coordinating outages in conjunction with the Transmission Operator and Reliability Coordinator.

Personnel/Staff

• Provide real-time supervision of NOC System Operators and when scheduled be available "on-call" nights and weekends.
• Coordinate, schedule and as required, conduct training and professional development of NOC operators in meeting reliability requirements and enhancing profitability.
• Build teamwork and cooperation within the NOC team for optimal team performance, balanced individual performance, and operational consistency.
• Provide feedback for performance reviews of operators and provide constructive feedback for System Operator improvement and professional development.

Compliance and other functions

• Ensure compliance with NERC and WECC reliability standards for BA & GOP as it relates to procedures, policies and guidelines, and real-time logging and other record-keeping procedures for NOC Operators/Operations, Work with the Compliance Team to implement new/updated reliability standards. Take actions to mitigate and communicate any identified regulatory non-compliance event.
• Support the implementation and utilize as required, Generation Management and Energy Management systems.
• Support the schedule, coordination and management of BHE Montana’s switching operations and procedures.
• Adapt processes and protocols to coordinate with network automation and the implementation of outage management, forecasting, Generation Management and Energy Management Systems
• Supervise scheduling of energy and execution of operational tasks by operators.
• Review company logging and work safety procedures and report any issues to management.
• Develop, create, and revise procedures, policies, and guidelines for NOC operations.
• Oversee optimization of daily/hourly reserves, transmission, and scheduling.
• Support originating, negotiating agreement terms, and managing the execution of contracts for third-party Scheduling services, Balancing Authority services, and other Energy Management Services..
• Represent BHE Montana’s grid and energy operations with external groups.
• Support the operations and maintenance activities by actively managing plant availability and reliability in conjunction with the Site Operations Managers and the Environmental team.
• Support Asset Management and Environmental goals and activities through cooperation with the VP, Asset Management and Site Managers
• May serve as the Company’s representative for third-party coordination meetings.
• May serve as liaison between reliability entities and commercial partners to ensure proper balance and optimization of assets given reliability constraints and forecast outages.
• Support reporting/settlement duties for the Company’s generation projects and third-party generation operations projects, as requested.
• Maintain NERC System Operator Certification (Balancing and Interchange Operator or Reliability Operator) at all times.
• Complete continuing education hours required to maintain NERC System Operator Certification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in energy/environmental studies, economics, business, finance, electrical engineering, or other relevant degree. Progressive work experience is needed for candidates applying for this position who do not have a bachelor's degree.
• 10 years of proven experience in energy markets (preferably WECC, CAISO, and AESO), energy marketing & trading, renewable energy (wind, solar, and battery), or comparable experience. Demand Response and Microgrid experience helpful.
• Balancing authority operations, scheduling, or power marketing experience is preferred. Must have knowledge of energy markets including familiarity with regulatory policies, rates and tariffs, electric transmission, pooled markets, and renewable energy generation technologies including wind, solar and/or battery.
• Knowledge, understanding and experience with NERC and Alberta Reliability standards and related compliance as it pertains to balancing authority operations, and Generation Owner (GO)/Generation Operator (GOP) requirements.
• Ability to obtain NERC System Operator Certification required (Balancing and Interchange Operator or Reliability Operator) within 6 months of start of employment.
• Previous experience working in a commercial negotiation environment with excellent customer-focused, commercial management, negotiation and influencing skills, is required. Previous experience negotiating, reviewing, and closing on PPA (Power Purchase Agreements) preferred.
• Ability to manage a network of potential energy off-takers. These entities include, but are not limited to, merchant Load Serving Entities, cooperatives, utilities.
• Ability to evaluate Energy Market trends and identify potential target customers. Uses various forms of marketing (in-person, online, etc.) to secure energy customer contracts.
• Knowledge of power system economics, especially economic dispatch and generator efficiency characteristics and real-time energy trading. Technical skills and knowledge related to understanding electric generation and power system operations.
• Knowledge of applicable California ISO procedures and practices, with experience in one or more of the following energy markets preferred:
• WECC interconnection
• Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM)
• Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)
• Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
• Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
• PJM
• 5 years of experience managing real-time operations.
• Experience as a Power System Operator (with three years BAA experience preferred including Energy Management System (EMS) experience, in a BA environment)
• Experience preferred in high voltage grid, control, and switching operations.
• Experience with power management OT systems (SCADA, EMS, Automatic Generation Control (AGC), Historian, etc.) preferred.
• Strong leadership experience in managing teams for collaborative success.
• Strong business acumen and appreciation for entrepreneurial approach to optimizing operations.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory compliance issues

Skills/Abilities

• Strong business acumen and ability to optimize variables.
• Solid analytical skills and excellent computer capabilities
• Familiarization with high voltage safety and switching practices and procedures.
• Adept and experienced in working in a teamwork environment.
• Proven ability to effectively manage and direct emergency operations.
• Performs well under tight deadlines and emergency conditions, is capable of making decisions in a time-compressed environment.
• Strong communication skills for voice and electronic communications within the Company and with third-party entities, including the use of three-part communication.
• Ability to effectively coordinate/manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Must be adaptable to change and have the ability to prioritize responsibilities.
• Solid analytical and math skills
• Must be highly detail oriented.
• Physical Demands and Work Environment
• Based at the Company’s CIP-compliant Balancing Authority (BA) and Generation Operator (GOP) Operations Center in Great Falls, MT, with restricted access and security protocols.
• Must actively operate control systems and communicate with internal and external partners via phone, email, and other electronic methods.
• Responsible for monitoring and managing third-party scheduling services and communications with counterparties.
• Required to support 24/7 operations, including availability for: On-call duty, 12.5-hour shifts & Night, weekend, and holiday coverage
• Prolonged periods of computer work, including sitting and viewing multiple monitors.
• Occasional lifting or moving of items up to 25 pounds.
• Work environment noise level is generally moderate.
• Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Direct reports

• Assistant System Operators
• System Operators
• Senior System Operators
• EIM Interchange Analysts
• EIM Settlements Analyst

At BHE Montana, we celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion. BHE Montana is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Remotely

• No

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $119,400.00 - $168,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• energy markets : 10 years (Required)
• NERC and Alberta Reliability standards : 5 years (Preferred)
• California ISO procedures and practices: 3 years (Preferred)
• Balancing authority operations: 3 years (Preferred)
• power marketing : 1 year (Preferred)
• power system economics: 1 year (Preferred)
• economic dispatch : 1 year (Preferred)
• real-time energy trading: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• NERC RC or BIT (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Great Falls, MT 59403 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Great Falls, MT 59403: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $119,400 - $168,500