Director, Transmission Planning, Special Studies

The Director of Transmission Planning, Special Studies is responsible for directing EVERSOURCE's transmission system planning efforts related to interconnecting Clean Energy Resources and supporting System Operations. This group identifies, scopes, and performs unique analyses that fall outside the traditional planning paradigm. It covers the entire three-state Eversource service territory. The team also leads development and implementation of solutions when upgrades are identified as needed, and also supports regulatory filings like DER CIP filings and hearings. It also provides support for transmission upgrades driven by FERC queue projects and data centers such as PPA submittal, support during the lifecycle of such projects, etc. With the monumental changes taking place with distributed energy resources, energy storage, offshore wind, HVDC transmission, large-load interconnections, frequency and voltage stabilization, propensity of power electronic converters, harmonic distortion, declining inertia, etc., this position will continuously innovate and adapt novel study approaches to ensure the electric grid remains reliable for customers.

Additionally, this team provides technical leadership and expertise across the entire organization. It solves complex engineering problems and is accountable for major technical recommendations. While addressing gaps between planning studies and real-time operations, it assists in analyzing non-typical grid conditions and developing contingency plans and operating guides. Also ensuring that transmission system impact studies for distributed energy resources are completed accurately and timely. Candidate should be well versed in the FERC orders relevant to interconnection processes and all applicable reliability standards and operating procedures. Innovation and automation in all modeling and testing, in particular electromagnetic transient testing, should be continuously explored and adopted. Interaction with external and internal stakeholders is critical, including for example the Independent System Operators-NE (ISO-NE), Interconnection Customers, EPRI, National Labs, IEEE, EEI, and NPCC.

The Director is responsible for coordinating significantly with numerous internal departments, in particular DER Planning, Transmission Interconnections and System Operations. Individual must hire, coach, mentor, and oversee the work of a staff of professionals. Individual requires a strong understanding of the power system, electric operations, electromagnetic transient modeling, study practices and planning processes in different regions within US. The director will also be charged with development, maintenance, and enforcement of Eversource’s performance requirements for interconnecting inverter-based resources. The director will represent EVERSOURCE on various external technical committees at the national and regional levels.

Essential Functions:

• Directs special studies for electric transmission system planning, including interconnecting clean energy resources and large loads, operational scenarios, outage planning and construction sequencing of complex transmission projects, essential reliability services, and optimizing overall system performance.
• Solves complex technical problems requiring recognized expertise in electric power systems, various engineering and operating disciplines, to resolve major power facilities problems. The desired solutions should be compatible and part of the overall business unit strategy.
• Oversees the timely and accurate completion of technical studies (e.g., zero miss, energization studies, breaker duty, off-schedule operation, switching surges, EMT, etc.) to support reliability and operations.
• Oversees the timely and accurate review of System Impact Studies in ISO-NE’s Interconnection Queue
• Presents, directs and/or prepares corporate presentations and written comments for Executive Leadership, industry technical committees, and other local, state or federal regulatory proceedings
• Formulates Eversource technical positions and recommends company policies and standards on various issues within expertise
• Establishes and monitors system network capabilities, utilization and performance measures.
• Collaborates with other departments/engineers on design of system projects.
• Develops and implements best practices to achieve efficient and effective special study planning activities.
• Oversees the development and management of labor, expense, and capital budgets for Transmission System Planning.
• Represents EVERSOURCE on NEPOOL, NPCC, NERC, and industry committees.
• Directs a staff of managerial and professional EVERSOURCE employees to conduct planning studies.

Technical Knowledge/Skill/Education/Licenses/Certifications:

Technical Knowledge/Skill:

• Thorough knowledge of the operations and planning of the transmission system, including models used to assess thermal, voltage, and dynamic and transient stability performance of the transmission system.
• Knowledge of the operating characteristics of power electronics devices, such as offshore/onshore wind, photovoltaic, battery storage, HVDC, FACTs, and their impacts on transmission system planning and operations, such as frequency and voltage stability, small signal stability, resonance, control interactions, harmonics and power quality
• Knowledge of NERC, NPCC, and ISO-NE operating and planning procedures
• High level skills in leadership of managerial and professional employees
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with personnel at various levels within ISO-NE, other transmission owners, NEPOOL members, and generation owners.

Education:

Baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering required. A master’s degree is strongly preferred.

Experience:

At least twelve (12) years of experience in the technical, operations, or engineering aspects of the electric utility industry with a strong background in power systems, including several years of managerial/supervisory experience required

Licenses & Certifications:

None

Working Conditions:

• Must be available to work emergency restoration assignment as required.
• Must be available to travel between MA/CT/NH as necessary.

Eversource offers a competitive total rewards program. Check out our careers site for an overview of our benefits programs. Salary is commensurate with your experience. This position is eligible for a potential incentive. The annual salary range for this position is $202,500-$225,000.

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Worker Type:

Regular

Number of Openings:

1

Emergency Response:

EEO Statement:

Eversource Energy is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability status, or protected veteran status.

VEVRRA Federal Contractor