Associate System Operator

Job purpose/Position Summary

Responsible for managing Balancing Authority (BA), Generator Owner (GO), and Generator Operator (GOP) operations, forecasting, scheduling, monitoring, and reporting real-time functions from BHE Montana's Network Operations Center (NOC). These functions are associated with the real-time operation of the Company's balancing authorities, generation projects, and scheduling of third-party energy resources, while ensuring grid reliability and continuous compliance with all NERC, AESO and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) BA, GO, and GOP reliability standard requirements.

Primary Duties and responsibilities

• Serve as BHE Montana's representative for grid reliability of real-time Company BA, GO, and GOP operations, and third-party energy resources from the Company's 24/7 Operations Center

• Maintain a formal log of real-time activities as defined by the Company

• Real-time control and dispatch of generation assets which may include the following: Battery, Combustion Turbine, Hydro, Solar and Wind generation.

• Monitor and operate the Company's facilities, balancing authorities and generation projects in compliance with applicable NERC, and WECC BA, GO, and GOP reliability standards, and adhering to Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) security measures.

• Follow Company protocols regarding the forecasting of energy production and BA control as appropriate to off-take arrangements

• Schedule energy with counterparties as appropriate, utilizing electronic tagging (e-tagging) requirements

• Purchase transmission through OASIS and implement associated energy e-tagging

• Manage and purchase reserve positions and ancillary commercial products through bi-lateral contracts, system interfaces/markets, and/or reserve sharing group (RSG)/ Regional Area Control Error (ACE) control arrangements

• Operate generation projects to effectively fulfill commercial scheduling, operating, and transaction obligations

• Serve as liaison between reliability entities and commercial partners to ensure proper balance and optimization of assets given reliability constraints

• Support the operations, work clearances, substation activities, and maintenance activities by actively managing plant availability and reliability, coordinating outages and including use of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and logging

• Ensure BHE Montana's logging and work safety procedures are followed and work site is safe for all employees, customers, subcontractors, and the public

• Monitor, schedule, and manage Company switching operations and procedures

• Perform third-party scheduling services for other generation projects

• Accommodate the Company's environmental protection activities in conjunction with managing Control Performance Standards

• Support reporting/settlement duties for the Company's generation projects and third-party generation operations projects, as requested

• Successfully complete training related to defined Company-specific job tasks and NERC training as required by NERC PER-005

• 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

• Take appropriate actions as needed during routine and emergency operations to ensure the reliability of the BA areas including those actions necessary to address operating emergencies, to alleviate capacity and energy emergencies, and to support the reliability of the Bulk Electric System

• Perform special assignments and additional duties as requested

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in energy/environmental studies, economics, business, finance, electrical engineering, or other relevant degree and/or successful experience as a System Operator or supervisor in a BA, or equivalent combination of education and additional experience

• Current NERC System Operator Certification required (Balancing and Interchange Operator or Reliability Operator) or willing to study to obtain an active NERC System Operator Certification required (Balancing and Interchange Operator or Reliability Operator)

• Experience as a Power System Operator with a proven ability to excel at the role and responsibilities of a System Operator

• 3+ years of BAA experience including Energy Management System (EMS) experience in a BA environment preferred

• Must be willing to work in a 24-hour operations environment with flexible work scheduling

• Must be adaptable to change

• Must be highly detail-oriented

• Wind generation experience strongly desired

• Power scheduling experience including use of OASIS and e-tagging strongly desired

• Experience in high voltage grid, control, and switching operations preferred

• Experience in one or more of the following energy markets preferred:

• WECC interconnection Western Energy

• Imbalance Market (EIM)

• Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)

• Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)

• PJM

• Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)

• Experience in the power industry in areas such as power plant generation, grid operations and maintenance, BA operations and control, transmission, and wind forecasting preferred

• Experience with power management OT systems [SCADA, EMS, ADaMS, Automatic Generation Control (AGC), PI, etc.] preferred

• Experience with the Alston EMS system preferred

• Familiarity with high voltage safety and switching practices and procedures

• Adept and experienced at working in a team environment

Skills/Abilities

• Strong communication skills; ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

• Strong business acumen and ability to optimize variables

• Solid analytical skills

• Proven ability to effectively manage and direct emergency operations

• Ability to perform well under tight deadlines and emergency conditions, and to make prudent decisions in a time-compressed environment

• Ability to effectively coordinate/manage multiple tasks simultaneously

• Excellent computer capabilities

Location/Working conditions

• Works in the BHE Montana Operations Center in Palm Beach County, Florida

• Works in a CIP-compliant environment requiring implementation of limited access protocols and other security measures

• Typically works 12.5 hour shifts, with additional flex time work scheduling

• Works a shift schedule that includes nights, weekends, and holidays

• Works alone and independently at the NOC when on shift

Physical requirements

• Must be physically capable of managing BHE Montana BA control systems

• Must be physically able to communicate effectively with operational partners using phone, electronic, and written methods

• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without an accommodation.

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.

Direct Reports

None