Director - Grid Transformation

The Texas electric power grid is undergoing rapid transformation with changes to the resource mix, tremendous load growth, decentralization of generation, electrification, emerging prosumers, and digitization. Director, Grid Transformation is a visionary leader who oversees the Grid Research, Innovation & Transformation (GRIT) - programs and initiatives that are needed to effectively manage the complexities of a rapidly transforming grid, make ERCOT future ready, drive thought leadership and help electric power industry at large.

The Director, Grid Transformation reports to the Chief Technology Officer and creates and communicates a vision which anticipates, identifies, and explains challenges and opportunities that ERCOT will encounter as the Texas electric power grid transforms. This role will develop approaches, processes, and solutions that allow ERCOT to maximize its effectiveness and progressively achieve higher levels of readiness. This position will implement Grid Research, Innovation and Transformation (GRIT) programs and initiatives using highly skilled matrixed resources from across the organization and will guide and recommend investments in staff, systems, and solutions. This position will establish new partnerships and expand the existing research and innovation partnerships and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

JOB DUTIES

• Set the long-term vision for how ERCOT navigates a rapidly transforming grid. Anticipate the technology, load, and market shifts coming from large-load growth, inverter-based resources, distributed energy, and electrification, and translate them into a clear roadmap the whole organization can act on.
• Turn emerging ideas into operational reality. Lead the full innovation pipeline, from white papers and research to proofs of concept, pilots, and prototypes, and decide what is ready to scale into ERCOT’s systems, processes, and market design
• Responsible for hiring, coaching, training, and performance management of staff.
• Regularly interacts with executives and/or major customers. Interactions frequently involve special skills, such as negotiating with customers or management regarding matters of significance to the organization.
• Typically directs and controls the activities of a broad functional area through several department managers within ERCOT. Has overall control of planning, staffing, budgeting, managing expense priorities, and recommending and implementing changes to methods.
• Responsible for budgetary decisions within functional areas according to organizational policy/guidelines. Recommend financial decisions that impact area of responsibility.
• Provides leadership and ensures accountability for successful implementation of GRIT programs and initiatives.
• Provides strategic and technical expertise to internal and external stakeholders and brings awareness of research and innovation activities.
• Contributes to the development of solutions using knowledge gained through industry experiences.
• Explores various solution modalities such as white papers, research papers, proof of concepts, pilot programs, prototype development etc.
• Leads cross functional teams working on the initiatives in a matrixed structure across the organization.
• Reports on and tracks trends and issues related to emerging generation, transmission, and distribution technologies and the potential impacts to ERCOT.
• Develops and manages both formal and informal personnel networks and relationships with energy research and innovation eco-systems, global academic institutions, and industry consortiums to gather information, coordinate action, and build cooperation with both internal and external stakeholders. Examples include ISO/RTO councils, PSERC, Universities, EPRI, CEATI, etc.
• Explores partnerships and collaboration opportunities and establishes clear governance structures to ensure progress and timely communication.
• Builds the department, develops staff, and serves as a coach, mentor, and a role model within the grid transformation department and broader organization.
• Responsible for setting goals for the matrixed organization working on grid transformation initiatives and tracking progress.
• Develops a high-performing, highly collaborative culture within the grid transformation department and broader organization.
• Provides leadership and strategic direction for the annual innovation summit, including theme selection and speaker strategy, in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Represents ERCOT on panels, committees and advisory boards and gathers information from industry sources.
• Provides input to national organizations such as NERC, FERC, ISO/RTO council on standards and procedures that may affect ERCOT now or in the future by providing comments on proposals and participating in membership and meetings of relevant groups.
• Propose new or changes to existing ERCOT protocols, guides, or procedures which would allow market participation of the various emerging solutions.
• Interfaces with market participants by participating in subcommittees such as the TAC, WMS, PRS, ROS and their working groups to provide information on ERCOT systems, practices, and capabilities.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Requires minimum 10 years of job-related work experience plus 5 years in a management or leadership role in excess of degree requirements. Minimum years of job-related experience can include time in leadership roles.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in electric power grid operations and/or planning at a utility or an ISO or a vendor. Working knowledge of ERCOT or other ISO/RTO wholesale market operations is preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with technology development and delivery either at a utility or an ISO or a vendor. This could be concurrent with the above experience requirement.
• Demonstrated record of success in managing a portfolio of programs and initiatives, working across cross-functional matrixed teams, and successfully delivering solutions required.
• Demonstrated record of leading an enterprise level innovation initiative required.
• Deep understanding of generation, transmission, distribution technologies, associated modeling for software development and related communications methods that are transforming the way the grid and markets are operated required.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's Degree: Electrical Engineering, Business Administration or related field (Required)
• Master's or Doctoral Degree: Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, or related field (Preferred)
• or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields is required.

WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX:

• Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at minimum 2 days per week, or more, as needed based on the business needs as determined by management
• On-site schedules are flexible or may be rotated based on business needs as determined by the Manager
• Remote work is required to be performed from your Texas residence.
• Employees may opt to work on-site more than required or 100% of the time

The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time. ,

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range:

About Us

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities.

ERCOT Benefits

ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan.

The medical, dental, vision, and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans are available to help employees plan for the future.

Internship Program

The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path.

Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Engineer Development Program

The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT.
The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups.

Grid and Market Solutions Development Program

System Operator Development Program

The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position—providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.