Engineer III or IV - Electric Reliability Compliance

Position Summary

The incumbent is responsible for the implementation and documentation of NPPD’s Board approved Electric Reliability Compliance Program. The incumbent will lead continued improvement efforts and maintain the necessary processes, procedures, systems, and controls to ensure that NPPD is compliant with North American Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards and other reliability reporting requirements. Use and identify improvements of the District’s compliance tracking and monitoring software (SigmaFlow) for NERC compliance requirements, with an emphasis on automating compliance functions where possible. Using engineering knowledge, provide expertise in interpreting and guidance in implementing Reliability Standards to District Subject Matter Experts.  The incumbent will encourage a strong culture of compliance and strive for compliance excellence.

Lead the implementation of the NPPD Electric Reliability Compliance Program, to include maintaining compliance and monitoring revisions to reliability standards, coordinating required information submittals to various regulatory agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), NERC, and the Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO), managing and leading the implementation and workflow design for the District’s software (SigmaFlow), maintaining a document repository system, retention of evidentiary documentation pertaining to any investigations by the FERC, NERC, and MRO, and development of required training programs for NPPD personnel involved with electric reliability compliance. Review data and submittals prior to submitting to the agencies to ensure submittals are based on good engineering practices. Provide expert guidance to NPPD personnel across the state of Nebraska on NERC compliance requirements for Bulk Electric System (BES) assets. BES assets include are located at applicable control centers, power plants, and transmission substations/lines.

Education, Training and Experience

Bachelor of science degree in engineering from an ABET accredited university or college 

or 

Professional Engineering License obtained by an accredited examination.

Five years’ experience in an engineering position with technical experience in engineering studies, modification or new design projects, operations and maintenance support, or modification or new construction projects. Preferred experience is from an electric utility with knowledge of the business processes and procedures (general knowledge of power plants, system operations, engineering, substation and transmission line maintenance). Experience in electric reliability compliance reporting, root cause analysis, apparent cause analysis, and technical review is preferred. Experience with SAP is preferred.

Proficient technical writing skills.

Ability to work independently and in cooperation with others on multiple activities with flexibility to manage competing demands and changing priorities.

Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Excellent analytical problem-solving skills.

Must be customer-service oriented and adaptable to ongoing change.

Licenses and/or Certifications

Establish and maintain an acceptable NERC Security Background check.   

PE certification required

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Work with appropriate departments to implement and monitor the NPPD Electric Reliability Compliance Program. Ensure compliance with reliability standards through working closely with District Subject Matter Experts and others assigned reliability compliance responsibilities. Assist subject matter experts with interpreting requirements and writing compliance documents.  Complete an annual risk assessment of reliability requirements applicable to the District. Ensure effective compliance controls are implemented, managed, and tested to prevent noncompliance. Become a NPPD subject matter expert on the NERC and Regional Entity Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program as well as other NERC and Regional Entity procedures.

Work independently to coordinate with the appropriate NPPD departments the submittal of data to the FERC, NERC, and MRO, including self-reporting any violations of standards, self-certification, and participate in FERC, NERC, and MRO audits, NPPD self-audits, investigations, and mitigation plan development.

Use the District’s compliance tracking and monitoring software (SigmaFlow) for managing controls, data requests, reminders, and other compliance processes.  Identify improvements in SigmaFlow for NERC compliance requirements.

Work with appropriate departments to develop, implement, and monitor completion of training that meets the requirements of the NPPD Electric Reliability Compliance Program.  Provide training to NPPD personnel involved with electric reliability compliance.  Assist with planning and scheduling an annual NPPD NERC Compliance Workshop, including presenting information at the workshop.

Ensure that NPPD personnel are kept properly informed of electric reliability compliance developments. Develop and issue periodic compliance updates to appropriate District colleagues on NERC Compliance items including NERC standards development, NERC endorsed implementation guidance, industry guidelines and the North American Transmission Forum (NATF) Principles of Excellence (POEs).

Monitor proposed revisions in NERC reliability standards, both at the NERC and FERC levels, and coordinate submittal of comments and ballots with the responsible managers and persons assigned to those standards. Manage a tracking system to identify compliance requirements prior to implementation dates. Solicit comments and voting opinions for proposed regulatory language from subject matter experts and communicate this information to industry groups. 

Accountable for other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies