Grid Operator IV - Portland, Oregon - #113521

PacifiCorp is seeking customer-centric candidates to grow and sustain our commitment to a culture of customer service excellence, environmental sustainability inclusion & belonging.

The position provides technical expertise for PacifiCorp real-time operations. This position has responsibility for real-time operational oversight for PacifiCorps Bulk Electric Transmission System, market operations (energy imbalance market), and balance and interchange functions which includes real-time communication and coordination with the reliability coordinator and other interconnected entities. Function as the lead/SME in the work group. Responsible for coordinating integrated operational objectives, daily and seasonal operation plans, and ensuring successful completion of objectives by a real-time operating team within a control center environment.

Provide training and mentoring for all of the Grid Operators and able to contribute to the safe and reliable operation of all of the disciplines (Transmission Operator, Balance & Interchange, and Energy desks)

• Provide technical expertise for the real-time operation of the Company transmission grid, market, and balancing authority area operations to ensure safe, reliable service following good utility practice criteria and guidelines set by national electric reliability council, federal energy regulatory commission and the regional reliability council.
• Act as a SME and coordinate all real-time activities relating to maintaining compliance with national electrical reliability council, federal energy regulatory commission, western electric coordinating council, regional reliability coordinator, and western power pool requirements.\
• Direct the coordinated response to major system emergencies, including widespread customer outages, with real-time system operators and field personnel to maintain the stability of the western interconnection and reliable service to company customers.
• Provide technical leadership to employees during operational processes. Direct real time work activities related to transmission system grid operators, communicate expectations, provide training/mentoring, and work collaboratively with other departments.
• Act as a SME for the technical and procedural administration of the Company open access transmission tariff as well as the approval of transmission service requests and the national electric reliability council tagging procedure.
• Act as the liaison between the company and neighboring utilities, the regional reliability coordinator and management for day-to-day activities, communicating accurate and timely updates on the status of the bulk transmission system, generation fleet and major industrial customers.
• Act as the liaison between grid operations and company management and the emergency operations center, the regional reliability coordinator, emergency services, as well as local, regional and national government agencies during both wide-spread and localized system emergencies, to include determining when abnormal conditions or unplanned events must be escalated to operations management.
• Conduct continuous and comprehensive assessments of the bulk transmission system and generation fleet to identify threats to company assets, system stability, reliable service to customers. Develop response plans for any actual or potential issues identified. Coordinate implementation of those plans with system operators and field personnel.

• Direct the implementation of company operational plans for periods of increased risk due to seasonal environmental conditions, including heightened risk of wildfires. Act as approving authority to reenergize transmission equipment during Elevated Risk conditions.
• Lead the coordination of requests for equipment outages, to ensure the reliability of the interconnected system. This requires the use of network applications.
• Assist in the administration of the department budget and reporting the work performed within the department.
• Observe and enforce safety rules and practices, encourage safe work behaviors and promptly correct conditions and unsafe behaviors which may lead to accidents.
• Oversee the accounting and reporting of transmission data for billing and reporting purposes.
• Develop project plans, provide direction and coordinate project activities associated with transmission system operations.
• Provide direct support to grid operations management for the development of operational policies, plans and procedures relating to real-time and emergency operations.
• Develop and provide training for Company system operators.
• Act as a lead/expert in the work group. Mentor and train junior level operators

• Bachelors degree in electrical engineering or a related field; or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of experience as a Grid Operator, System Operator, Electric Dispatcher, or in a related field.
• NERC Reliability Coordinator Certification.

• Leadership skills including the ability to implement action plans for achieving objectives and to oversee daily operations.
• Communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to communicate expectations, coach employees, provide feedback, and work collaboratively with other departments.
• Leadership and teamwork skills to develop and promote cooperative working relationships within and among departments and external stakeholders.
• Subject matter expert knowledge of established operational practices and procedures for utility transmission and distribution systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency with computer applications to include word processing, spreadsheets, and outage scheduling and energy management system applications.

• Expert knowledge of PacifiCorps transmission system and balancing area.
• Prior experience in Transmission Planning, Outage Coordination, and/or Transmission Protection and Control.
• Prior experience in a lead or supervisory role.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without an accommodation.

Req Id: 113521
Company Code: PacifiCorp
Primary Location: Portland, Oregon
Department: Power Delivery
Schedule: Full-Time
Personnel Subarea: Exempt
Hiring Range: $137,000 - $177,300 annually
This position is eligible for an annual discretionary performance incentive bonus of up to 30% of salary.

Benefits: Health care, retirement, paid time off, tuition assistance, paid short-term and long-term disability, paid bereavement leave. For more information, please visit:

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without an accommodation.

PacifiCorp is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law.

Unless otherwise required by law, all offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening including for marijuana. While marijuana is legal in several states, including Oregon, a positive test for positions in Oregon may disqualify a candidate. The company complies with the laws of Washington and California and only obtains and considers positive tests for marijuana in safety-sensitive positions or those covered by U.S. Department of Transportation regulations.