Compliance Specialist

Position Purpose and Objectives:

As a member of the Engineering department, develop and implement compliance processes and procedures for the United Power Engineering and Operations departments. The Compliance Specialist/Senior Compliance Specialist plays a key role in developing, maintaining, and administering policies and programs meant to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards – including NERC Reliability Standards – for the Engineering and Operations departments. Provides general support to the Engineering staff in executing projects and initiatives.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Compliance Specialist

Performs work under general supervision. Handles moderately complex issues and problems and refers more complex issues to higher-level staff. Possesses working knowledge of subject matter. Typically requires at least 2 years’ experience.

Senior Compliance Specialist

Performs work under minimal supervision. Handles complex issues and problems, referring only the most complex to higher-level staff. Possesses comprehensive knowledge of subject matter. Provides leadership, coaching, and/or mentoring to a subordinate group. Typically requires more than 5 years’ experience.

Essential Job Functions:

• Lead the development, maintenance, and administration of compliance programs, processes, and procedures for compliance requirements impacting the Engineering and Operations departments.
• Demonstrate an understanding of applicable North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards. Track and interpret NERC requirements and offer suggestions to functional managers and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to determine specific compliance actions.
• Facilitate the development, implementation, testing, and revision of procedures, processes, and documents necessary for executing projects and ensuring compliance. Implement processes for tracking ongoing projects and compliance deadlines, triggering events, and maintaining appropriate record-keeping of evidence.
• Conduct periodic tests and audits of organizational operations. Support external compliance audits. Interface with external parties, as necessary.
• Conduct initial reviews of alleged compliance violations and escalate to leadership as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve and enhance existing processes. Develop reports to provide visibility into the current state of compliance activities and projects.
• Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with other United Power departments, including Power Supply and Rates, System Design, Legal, and Communications.
• Partner with IT to identify and implement technologies to automate and streamline compliance monitoring and reporting processes. Master new tools quickly and support other internal users.
• Assist in the review and filing of reports to United Power executives and regulatory bodies.
• Creates, expands, and maintains professional and productive working relationships with peers and stakeholders. Works collaboratively with colleagues and fosters a spirit of cooperation and inclusion in the workplace.

Secondary Job Functions:

• Support the Engineering team with the execution of the department’s work.
• Perform other duties as may be requested or assigned to meet the needs of United Power in the interest of good management practices.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

Reports directly to the VP of Engineering. Normally receives little instruction on daily work and general instructions on newly introduced assignments.

No supervisory duties.

Education and Experience Required:

Bachelor of Science Degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and work experience in the electric utility industry.

Compliance Specialist

AND two (2) years’ experience with compliance processes and procedures.

Senior Compliance Specialist

AND five (5) years’ experience with compliance processes and procedures.

Knowledge and understanding of electrical terminology with a strong background in compliance and processes.

Desired Experience:

Experience with NERC Reliability Standards, especially requirements related to Distribution Providers.

Project management and process improvement experience preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Communication
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Professionalism
• Self-management and Initiative
• Critical and Creative Thinking
• Respecting diversity, and being open, inclusive, and sensitive to all people
• Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Problem Solving:

Provides solutions to a variety of project-related problems of moderate scope and complexity.

Discretion/Latitude:

Works under general direction. Independently determines and develops approaches to solutions. Work is reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.

Liaison:

Frequent inter-organizational contact. Occasional contact with external parties and regulators.

Essential Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to twenty-five pounds of force (25 lbs.) occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.
• Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at the knee to come to a rest on a knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Ability to perceive speech and other sounds at normal levels, with or without corrective assistance, to understand detailed oral instructions and distinguish subtle differences in sound.
• Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; expansive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly of fabrication of parts at distances close to the eyes.

Working Conditions

The worker is subject to indoor environmental conditions: protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes.

The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: No effective protection from the weather.

The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.

Typical hiring range:

Pay Grade: 16: $78,200 - $87,270 annually. Position is within a grade with a maximum of $96,340

Pay Grade: 18: $91,300 - $101,830 annually. Position is within a grade with a maximum of $112,360

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package that includes an employee retirement plan, 401K with match, paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. For a full list of benefits, please visit our careers page at https://www.unitedpower.com/careers.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Screening Notice: This position is subject to pre-employment drug screening, consistent with Colorado law and federal regulations. Applicants should be aware that a positive drug test—including for marijuana—may disqualify them from employment, as permitted under Colorado law. Additional information about our drug-testing policy will be provided during the hiring process.

United Power is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. United Power prohibits discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, color, religion, military or veteran status, national origin, disability, genetic information or any other applicable status protected by state or local law.