Supervisor III, Coordinated System Operations

Final Filing Date: First review of applications will be on April 28, 2025. NCPA reserves the right to close this posting once a sufficient number of applications have been received. 

The NCPA Manager of Coordinated System Operations is responsible for the management of personnel and systems required to provide safe, reliable, and economic dispatch and scheduling services associated with NCPA, NCPA member resources, and NCPA Control Center service customers to meet NCPA Member load requirements on a daily, hourly and real-time basis. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position requires that the incumbent reports for work on time and maintains satisfactory attendance in accordance with Agency policy; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives to meetings and appointments on time; Performs special assignments as assigned.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Responsibilities:

Manage the NCPA Dispatch Center (NDC) to ensure the NCPA MSSA and Non-MSSA Pool Loads and Resources are balanced. Utilize all of the NCPA Resources to achieve the balance with surplus accounted for in sales and deficiencies accounted for in purchases both being accomplished with unit limitations and within budget. 

Coordinate NCPA generation facilities planned and forced outages with CAISO, PG&E, SMUD, Western, and any other affected Balancing Authority or Transmission Operator to ensure safe reliable interconnected operations. Manage the NDC to ensure the safe, reliable, and economic operation of the Agency’s generation facilities.

Manage the NCPA/CAISO Schedule Coordination function in the NDC, to ensure that the generating units, power contracts, ancillary services, and loads are scheduled with the CAISO for NCPA MSSA Members, other NCPA Members, and third parties as needed.  Provide SC service for NCPA MSSA Members, Pool Members, Associate Members, Third Parties, and other Scheduling Coordinators including setting fees and invoicing. Prepare E-Tags and schedules related to interchange transactions and adjust, modify, delete or implement new interchange transactions in real-time due to changes in load, inter-tie curtailments, Unscheduled Flow Events, or any other operating event that affects transmission.

Manage scheduling activities for Control Center service customers, such as irrigation districts and water agencies. Operate the scheduling functions following all tariffs and protocols associated with these operations. Create operating procedures that describe generator and water flow operations, callout procedures, and SCADA alarm notification procedures. Keep the operating procedures updated as needed. Provide other third parties SC services as needed that add value to NCPA Members.

Ensure that all short-term purchases or sales are properly recorded and transacted in accordance with agency risk management policies and guidelines. 

Coordinate between the pre-schedulers, dispatchers, and schedule coordinators all scheduling functions that balance supply and demand for the NCPA MSSA and NCPA Pool with CAISO, PG&E, SMUD, Western, other Schedule Coordinators, and third parties. Provide the necessary Ancillary Services for NCPA MSSA and NCPA Pool Members. Manage the daily NCPA Hydro Project Operations for the NCPA MSSA and NCPA Pool Members and coordinate all associated activities with the necessary NCPA Departments. Schedule a weekly strategy meeting between Pre-Scheduling and NCPA Dispatch Center personnel.

Collaborate with the Assistant General Manager, Generation Resources, and Plant Managers on all operations that affect the output of NCPA Generating Facilities. Coordinate with CAISO, PG&E, SMUD, and Western all necessary reporting and scheduling needed and associated with NCPA Generating Facilities and relay this to necessary NCPA Departments and staff. Coordinate meetings to keep NCPA Generating Facilities and NCPA Headquarters staff up to date on the latest activities going on at the different Plants, NCPA Dispatch Center, PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) 7-day forecast, and CAISO Grid status 7-day forecast.  

Collaborate with the NCPA MSSA Members and NCPA Pool Members in the area of the NCPA Emergency Notification Procedures, PG&E PSPS, and the CAISO Manual Load Shedding Emergency Procedures. Send notifications of potential PSPS and CAISO Alerts and Emergency notifications using the Everbridge Mass notification system.

Supervise and train the staff in real-time dispatching, scheduling, and schedule coordination.  Ensure there is adequate coverage, prepare work schedules, and act as a liaison between Dispatch and Schedule Coordination and all other NCPA departments and outside contacts.

Coordinate and report generation facility planned and forced outages with NCPA staff, NCPA facility owners, CAISO, PG&E, SMUD, Western, FERC, or any other entity as needed pursuant to NERC Reliability Standards.

Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual data and reports as needed. Participate in developing, implementing, and adhering to both internal and external (e.g. CAISO, WECC, NERC) policies, procedures, and protocols.

Participate in the NCPA Risk Management Committee or other committees as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and/or Experience 

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or in a related field from an accredited four-year college or university; and a minimum of five (5) years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A graduate degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge:

Knowledge of WECC Interconnected System Operations including Balancing Authority Area operations and emergency procedures; Power Plant Operations (i.e., hydro, thermal, geothermal, combustion turbines, wind, solar, biomass); Substation Operations and voltage control associated with generation and load serving equipment connected to the High Voltage Transmission systems (i.e., 60kv, 115kv, 230kv and 500kv); Knowledge of CAISO Operations, tariffs, emergency procedures, and protocols; Power Purchasing transaction experience associated with selling, purchasing, exchanging, delivering, receiving and accounting for energy and ancillary services transactions; Dispatch Operations, balancing loads and resources safely, reliably and economically; Contracts associated with electric industry relating to the California and WECC interconnection associated markets; and knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards, requirements, policies, procedures, and protocols.

Abilities:

Ability to Use up to date computer systems (SCADA) to regulate multiple generating resources to balance a system’s supply with demand while maintaining a system’s voltage and frequency within WECC/NERC Reliability Standards, requirements, and criteria; Ability to Work with a full range of staff skill levels (trainee through journeyperson) in directing them to achieve the goals and tasks of NCPA; Ability to write and present reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public; and the ability to make sound and accurate judgments.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid California Driver's License and insurance. Periodic travel may be required.

Completion of WECC System Operations Training classes or equivalent is required. Completion of NERC System Operator Certification Exams within 12 months of employment.

This position supervises four System Dispatchers, four Schedule Coordinators, three Relief System Dispatchers/Schedule Coordinators, and one Lead System Dispatcher.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.