Power Grid Operator Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

The California ISO is committed to the health, safety, and work/life integration of its employees and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position is available to participate in a hybrid or on-site schedule.

Relocation Assistance is available.

Under the general direction of the Director, is responsible for the development of policies related to ISO transmission planning, infrastructure development, and resource interconnection.  Maintains key relationships with state and federal agency policy makers and staff, and coordinates regular, ongoing interaction between the ISO and state and federal regulatory agencies.  Ensures that the regulatory direction and decisions recognize the ISO’s reliability mandate, as well as regulatory, market, operational, and planning responsibilities.  Performs analyses on existing and proposed regulations. Provides policy support for key infrastructure development activities, with an emphasis on cost-of-service and financial analysis for key components of the transmission planning and infrastructure development processes. Maintains visibility of evolving cost drivers and cost impacts of infrastructure development across the industry. Identifies issues and recommends solutions on highly complex regulatory, governmental, and business issues.  Acts as a liaison and partners with ISO management and subject matter experts to ensure effective ISO engagement on a wide range of regulatory, environmental, and infrastructure planning issues. 

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Provides subject matter expertise in regulated cost-of-service and related economic topics. Supports transmission planning and infrastructure development activities, including the ISO’s transmission competitive procurement processes, with financial expertise focusing on regulatory cost of service principles and practices. Maintains awareness of industry cost structures and activities directly impacting transmission development activities, acting as an internal resource as needed to support policy analysis, policy development and consideration of special projects. Prepares written materials and presents information to ISO management, identifying issues and impacts to the ISO and providing recommendations on the ISO’s position and how to proceed. Researches regulatory issues and develops and implements regulatory strategies on issues impactful to the ISO.  Evaluates ISO initiatives, such as proposed market design rules and policies and infrastructure planning outcomes, identifies potential challenges to ISO regulatory strategy, and provides recommendations. Identifies interdependencies between various regulatory initiatives and ISO initiatives.  Performs complex quantitative supporting analyses as needed.
• Leads and supports cross departmental teams and manages a robust stakeholder process for infrastructure policy initiatives.  Produces timely and quality products, including white papers, presentations, filings (CPUC and FERC) and Board memos.  Works with the director and subject matter experts to develop sound policy recommendations that reflect the best solution to an issue or achieves specific goals.  Identifies, evaluates and resolves policy issues.  Ensures policy issues have an appropriate level of stakeholder engagement to minimize stakeholder issues and concerns.  Utilizes and promotes best practices for policy development.  Ensures implementation details and timing for policy proposals are well vetted and understood both internally and externally.
• Provides guidance, sets daily work assignment priorities for staff as needed.  Identifies staffing needs and mentors, coaches and trains staff to optimize the team.  Provides feedback to management regarding staff performance in support of the performance evaluation process.  May participate in department hiring activities such as interviewing and providing feedback on candidates' technical qualifications.
• May function as a Department Manager and is accountable to Manager for actions taken in Manager's absence. May be granted additional supervisory authority based on department needs and/or consistent with departmental succession planning.

Level of Education and Discipline:

A Bachelor's degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Economics, Public Policy, Engineering, Business or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Amount of Experience:

Equivalent years of education and training, plus six (6) or more years related experience.

Type of Experience

Professional experience in regulatory cost of service regulation and public utility rate design. Experience in infrastructure policy and process principles, wholesale electric market rules and transmission issues, utility restructuring issues and policies at the federal, state and local level or corporate strategy experience and/or subject matter expertise in a similarly complex technical or business discipline. Experience participating in highly technical policy development, implementation and/or legislative processes at the federal, state and regional levels highly desired.  Demonstrated experience working with stakeholders and/or project teams to resolution on highly technical problems. Experience modeling and applying statistical tools and techniques. Working knowledge of the ISO Tariff, energy markets and related regulatory issues. Economic or engineering analysis of complex issues.  Experience writing and presenting technical proposals and reports to diverse audiences.  Experience in team environments to resolve complex problems.  Developing and managing project plans to meet established milestones and objectives. 

Additional Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrates fundamental management and leadership skills with the ability to work effectively in a team environment as a leader, facilitator and team member.  Ability to provide practical and feasible solutions to problems, keeping multiple conflicting considerations into account. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills required. Excellent analytical skills are required, including the ability to effectively communicate complex technical materials and concepts in a non-technical manner.  Must be able to handle a dynamic and changing work environment, and work independently. Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office Suite. Self-motivated, problem solving skills and the ability to influence others without direct authority. Quantitative and/or programming skills preferred.   

The pay range for the Lead Policy Developer position is $134,250 - $187,950 annually.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.