Senior Contracts Negotiator

Job description

Company Description

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California’s power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably ²⁴⁄₇.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO’s function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company’s planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

The California ISO is committed to the health, safety, and work/life integration of it employees and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position would be eligible to participate in a remote schedule.

Relocation Assistance is available.

Job Description

Under the direction of the Manager, responsible for drafting, negotiating and supporting the implementation of contracts and amendments of contracts related to the California ISO’s markets, services, operations, and interconnections of generating facilities and transmission assets to the ISO controlled grid.  Drafts and provides subject matter expertise for ISO Tariff amendments and implementation.  Regularly interfaces and manages ISO interactions with a wide variety of stakeholders ranging from individual generators to regulatory commissions at various organizational levels. Demonstrates ability to collaborate with and lead cross-functional teams comprising of technical, business, and legal experts. Acts as subject matter expert in specific service areas affected by ISO regulatory contracts. Demonstrates a significant technical, commercial, and regulatory expertise in negotiating and implementing various ISO contracts.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Drafts, negotiates and supports implementation of a wide variety of contracts and amendments related to market and/or program participants, utilities, balancing authorities, and generator and transmission entities interconnecting to the ISO’s controlled grid.  Builds and maintains relationships with stakeholders and develops creative approaches to address specific utility or market participant circumstances in relation to ISO Tariff and ISO internal system requirements.
• Responsible for drafting, reviewing and providing subject matter expertise on FERC filings regarding ISO agreements, data responses, and ISO Tariff.
• Provides direction to other ISO departments regarding implementation of provisions of ISO agreements and the ISO Tariff.
• Provides subject matter expertise and guidance on ISO policies and procedures and their relationships to ISO agreements and regulatory proceedings to other ISO business units, representatives of other organizations, and members of the public.
• Prepares and presents both verbal and written reports to ISO management and stakeholders, including public presentations to large groups of stakeholders.
• Facilitates, advises and participates in projects that support ISO strategies and goals.

Qualifications

Level of Education and Discipline:

A Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS) or equivalent education, training or experience in Business Administration, Engineering, Economics or a closely related field. Master’s Degree preferred.

Amount of Experience:

Equivalent years of education and training, plus five (5) or more years related experience.

Type of Experience:

• Significant experience related to electric utility industry contracts, including engineering, legal, and/or business experience.
• Experience with ISO markets, scheduling, operations, contracts, or ISO Tariff provisions.
• Significant subject matter expertise in the generator interconnection process, with experience in managing or participating in the interconnection process. Should have experience with the different stages of the interconnection process, include application, studies, interconnection agreements, and implementation activities.  Strong understanding of the transmission upgrade categories, and complex interconnection scenarios.  Experience in understanding the generator developers’ and participating transmission owners’ perspective during the contract negotiation process.
• Significant experience with evaluating FERC regulations related to generation, transmission, and wholesale markets, demonstrated by supporting the development of FERC filings, participating in FERC settlement and hearing processes, and preparation.
• Understanding of the transmission planning process is required.
• Experience with ISO market scheduling, dispatch and settlements processes is preferred.
• Direct experience with implementing new contracts and tariff provisions, including participation in development of policy, business requirements, software requirements, and workflows.
• Experience in managing cross-functional teams in complex and critical contract negotiations representing the ISO.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and administering electric utility industry contracts is preferred. Detailed knowledge of the ISO Tariff and the ISO’s pro forma and non pro forma contracts is also preferred.

Additonal Skills and Abilities:

Must be able to work effectively in a team environment as facilitator and team member. Excellent analytical, verbal and written communication and documentation skills required, with a demonstrated attention to detail. Ability to use deductive reasoning and analytical thinking with sound judgement and decision making skills. Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills are also essential. Must be self-starting and willing and able to work independently in a dynamic corporate organization under pressure of tight deadlines and aggressive expectations. Self motivated, problem solving skills and the ability to influence others without direct authority.

Must have the ability to express technical concepts in a non-technical manner.

Additional Information

The pay range for the Sr Contracts Negotiator position is $97,350 - $162,250 / annually.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.