System Operator I

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Executes Operating Instructions issued by the ERCOT Reliability Coordinator.
• Implements real-time actions, up to and including shedding firm load, to ensure stable and reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Operating Standards and other regional standards
• Directs all actions for safety and reliability of the electric grid, of any hosted entities, field crews, or Resource Entities operating within the company’s transmission network in matters that affect electric grid reliability
• Follows direction and guidance as a participant, from senior staff members in all aspects of System Operations having to do with the TNMP Bulk Electric System  
• Follows all guidelines written by management and senior staff
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• Responds to transmission disturbances within established regulatory, industry, and company standards to assure a continuous supply of electricity to customers and interconnected resources.
• Monitors and responds to ERCOT electronic dispatches to maintain reliability in TNMP System Operator Area
• Maintains system voltages using complex system equipment in the most efficient manner
• Advises co-workers and management of normal and abnormal system conditions
• Executes predefined Mitigation Plans and Transmission Outage Action Plans to ensure system reliability
• Documents and communicates to various groups, all company and inter-utility system developments that could impact the Company’s inter-utility relationships or the security, reliability, and safety of the company’s transmission system, or the ability to serve load
• Monitors critical items, including system voltages, system power flows, and substation facility/equipment status
• Represents the Company in developing and enhancing working relationships with other utilities/market entities and various regulatory bodies, and accepts assignments on various inter-utility Operating and Engineering committees

COMPETENCIES: 

• Develops, maintains, and increases knowledge of the Company’s transmission system, electrical theory, and associated operating procedures and guidelines
• Shows a strong desire for additional intensive training and complete TNMP’s initial System Operator training program within the first nine months of employment
• Strong sense of ambition, motivation, and confidence
• Ability to work in a stressful and fast-paced environment
• Ability to make sound judgments and crucial decisions in short amounts of time
• Ability to understand and assimilate complex technical information
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with teammates and external utility contacts
• Ability to work with little supervision and only general guidelines at times

Candidate will be required to take a pre-employment proprietary assessment which measures:

• problem-solving
• communications
• teamwork
• learning capacity
• adaptability
• verbal skills
• energy
• discipline
• assertiveness
• sociability
• frustration tolerance
• resilience
• cooperation

QUALIFICATIONS                   
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 
High School diploma or GED with sixty semester hours of college course work showing an aptitude for math and electrical theory, to include four to six years of previous work experience demonstrating basic electrical utility knowledge, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience related to the discipline.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES REGISTRATIONS:
Must obtain and/or maintain North American Electric Reliability Corporation Transmission System Operator Certification within six to nine months of employment and prior to independently performing the Reliability functions.  Failure to obtain/maintain North American Electric Reliability Corporation certification could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, in accordance with the Company's Positive Discipline policy.

Must complete the North American Electric Reliability Corporation continuing education hours required for maintaining certification

Must complete 32 hours of emergency operations training annually required for maintaining certification
 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:                  
Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos
Strong oral and written communication skills

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:                 

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry

COMPUTER SKILLS:                  
Working knowledge of various database, spreadsheet, and word processing software
Ability to use various computer systems  
 

ANALYSIS AND PROBLEM-SOLVING ABILITY: 

• Gathers and analyzes many complex variables to recommend decisions on complex issues under rapid and severe time constraints.  Combines complex data sets including weather, grid conditions, electrical voltages, customer load, system disturbance data, liaison utility conditions, etc. to determine actions required to ensure continuous operation on the electrical grid.  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

DECISION MAKING:
Has the authority to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions, without obtaining approval from the higher-level personnel within own operating authority vicinity.  During emergency operating conditions, has additional independent authority to shed firm load to prevent or alleviate System Operating Limit violations without higher-level approval. 

SCOPE AND IMPACT:
Error potential for the System Operator I can impact reliability and compliance significantly, if not caught by the higher-level staff in a timely manner.  As the authority in charge of switching procedures, miscommunication, or errors in analysis could result in serious injury or death to field employees or contractors.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Ability to accept the mental and physical rigors of rotating shift work, constantly changing system conditions, and varying operating guidelines. 

Rotating shifts include weekends, nights, holidays and due to changing system conditions and staffing levels may require employee to work well over 40 hrs. per week. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Control room environment.