Operations Technical Advisor - Power Delivery Dispatch

Closing Date to Apply: Open Until Filled

Salary: $99,382.40 to $173,929.60

Typically, selected candidates are hired at a salary rate between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Benefits: This link below will provide you with Grant PUD’s benefit that may be available if hired, different employee types are eligible for different benefits.

Grant PUD — Unified Insurance Program (uip-wa.org)

Grant County PUD is a drug free workplace.  A pre-employment drug screen and background check will be administered as part of the hiring process.

Position Summary

The purpose of this position is to provide analytical, technical, and training support to Dispatch in electric system operations ensuring safe and efficient power delivery that meets all requirements outlined by NERC/WECC Reliability Standards, Washington State Electrical Workers Safety Rules, FERC license requirements and Grant PUD operating procedures.  This position will also provide technical support to Dispatch in operating the utility’s power production projects as well as back-up support to Wholesale Marketing Supply in planning and developing river operating strategies.  This position provides ongoing task training for Senior System Operators (SSOs) and System Operator Trainees. The position serves as a subject matter expert contributing to Dispatch’s NERC Compliance response.  In addition, this position performs and provides real-time study assessments such as Operational Planning Analysis, outage studies, etc.

Job Responsibilities

Essential Functions: -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Report to the Dispatch Manager and be responsible for providing operational, technical, and training support in all aspects of power generation, interchange, electric system switching, system outage restoration and river flow in a manner that meets established procedures, policies, and operational best practices to SSOs, System Operator Trainees, and other Dispatch support staff.

Provide guidance and solutions to improve standard operating procedures. Identify key deficiencies in procedures and make recommendations on improvements; ensure compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements governing Grant PUD’s power distribution operations; review Washington State Electrical Worker Safety Rules and recommend improvements to operational procedures ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations; escalate non-compliance issues to management while providing solutions to meet compliance standards.

Coordinate Dispatch operations with internal and external groups; facilitate real-time operations with internal groups in Control Systems Engineering, Power Delivery Engineering, Power Delivery Construction and Maintenance, and Power Production; coordinate operations with external groups including the Reliability Coordinator, neighboring Balancing Authorities, and Transmission Operators ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable power delivery across all Grant PUD’s infrastructure and operating areas.

Act as subject matter expert to increase competency of all parties involved while maintaining relationships critical to successful partnerships with other business units.

Perform transmission and distribution power flow studies, including transient studies when necessary, in addition to other Real-time assessments such as Operational Planning Analysis, outage studies, etc.; deliver study results, including recommendations, to decision makers for their review, consideration, and implementation; provide stakeholders with all information required to make decisions on safe, reliable, and efficient power delivery.

Monitor recent operation of Grant PUD’s power production projects to evaluate consistency with established operating plans.  Maintain knowledge of recent and near-term power and non-power hydraulic constraints and operating objectives to the operation of the projects.

As a subject matter expert, take a lead role in providing task training for SSOs and trainees for that position. This may include, but is not limited to, developing training materials that receive NERC approval for Continuing Education Hours (CEHs), developing other training needed for Dispatch, guiding acquisition of vendor training, producing and using simulation training scenarios, etc. that meet the presently effective Grant PUD Operations Training Program.

Perform related duties as required or assigned.

Demonstrated commitment to Grant PUD’s mission, vision, values, strategic plan and the Code of Excellence.  The incumbent should be familiar with these organizational priorities and behave in a way that aligns with these expectations.

Understand and adhere to compliance requirements for this position that may include laws, regulations, security guidelines, and Grant PUD policies & procedures.

Actively participate in all aspects of our safety program, including but not limited to:

• Following all safety policies and procedures
• Alerting supervisors and coworkers to unsafe or hazardous working conditions
• Reporting any safety incidents or close calls within 24 hours to your supervisor
• Accepting feedback from supervisors and coworkers regarding your own safety performance

Minimum Job Requirements

Educational Requirements

Minimum of Five (5) years of experience in power delivery engineering or electric system operations is required.

Bachelor’s Degree in a Computer Science, Engineering, or Electrical Engineering is preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

Knowledge of – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission standards, North American Electric Reliability Corporation(NERC), Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) standards and regulations; power system engineering topics including production, power flow, and device operations; Wanapum and Priest Rapids hydro coordination and power transactions; concepts, principles, theories, and methods surrounding electrical engineering industry standards and best practices.

Skill in – problem solving; training development and delivery; report creation and submittal; independently adapting, interpreting, and applying written guidelines, precedents, and standardized work practices to a variety of unprecedented and problematic situations; written and oral interpersonal communication; workflow and time management; utilizing MS office products; specialized software such as PowerWorld, Synergi, etc., and other software tools and applications; and performing Real-time assessments and studies such as Operational Planning Analysis, outage studies, etc.

Special Requirements

A valid State driver’s license with no restrictions may be required.

Physical/Mental Requirements*

Majority of work is performed in a standard office setting, with some field work that may require operation of a vehicle.

*For a full list of requirements, the applicant/incumbent should refer to the Physical Capacity Evaluation (PCE).

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.  Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas