Reliability Standards Compliance Program Manager II

Summary

Reliability Compliance and Standards Program Manager implement and maintain NYPA’s program for compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Reliability Standards; the Northeast Power Coordinating Council’s (NPCC) Regional Standards and Criteria; and the New York State Reliability Council’s (NYSRC) Rules. #LI-VB1

Responsibilities

• Understand, communicate, provide input, coordinate, and/or implement specific elements of the NERC Reliability Standards Compliance program as defined in Business Unit Policies and Procedures established to support Corporate Policies CP 10-4 and CP 2-9.
• Perform a compliance assurance role verifying and validating that the compliance evidence (documents and data) developed, maintained, and provided by NYPA’s Compliance Evidence Managers (Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)) for the applicable NERC reliability standards, as assigned, is adequate to demonstrate NYPA’s compliance with the standards for annual self-certification as well as for audits conducted by NYPA’s Regional Reliability Organization, the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC).
• Ensure compliance with all corporate policies and business unit policies and procedures related to NERC reliability program management and any changes in policies, procedures, and/or practices are implemented to maintain NYPA’s compliance with the standards.
• Establish program goals, objectives, and performance criteria; establish and track performance measures and metrics for assigned reliability standards. Drive standards development and enforce activities related to the NERC reliability standards and report potential impacts on the business to senior management.
• Responsibilities for Assigned Group(s) of NERC Standards:

1. Manage the quarterly review process, if applicable.
2. Manage and maintain the RSC SharePoint Workspace as the official NERC compliance evidence repository for NYPA.
3. Conduct compliance evidence assurance reviews prior to all NPCC self-certifications.
4. Lead compliance investigations of possible violation concerns, develop investigation reports, and investigation closure documentation including submittal of self-reports as required in accordance with applicable NYPA procedures.
5. Actively participate in the NERC Reliability Standards Development Process:
6. Work with Compliance Evidence Managers to assess impacts to NYPA of modifications to existing or the adoption of new NERC reliability standards.
7. Review and comment on reliability standards pursuant to NYPA’s procedure for participating in the NERC and NPCC process for modifying existing or developing new standards (i.e. participate in NPCC and NERC development teams and task force teams).
8. Monitor NERC’s and NPCC’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Programs for their applicability to NYPA.
9. Provide assistance to internal subject matter experts with interpretations on technical reliability standards requirements and actions and processes to ensure compliance.

• Participate in internal meetings/committees with regards to strengthening NYPA compliance processes.
• Assist in management of compliance enforcement actions including, but not limited to, mitigation plans, procedures, and responses to formal compliance inquiries.
• Assist in the implementation of RSC’s Compliance Outreach Education Program to ensure that the NYPA staffs fully understands roles and responsibilities required to ensure compliance with the applicable NERC Reliability Standards and NPCC Directories and Criteria.
• Serve as the NYPA Primary Compliance Contact with the reliability standards regulator, the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC), and with external NERC Registered Entities, including interconnecting Transmission Owners and Generator Owners, for the development and maintenance of reliability standards compliance management agreements.
• Provide guidance to junior staff to aid in their professional development and enhance overall cross-functional performance of the RSC group and other departments.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to conduct technical assessments involving review and interpretation of design documents for applicability to technical reliability standards.
• Skill and aptitude for use of electronic data and document management systems (e.g. Microsoft SharePoint).
• Ability to work closely with the Director RSC and VP Enterprise Resilience to implement the vision and direction for all groups within the Enterprise Resilience department.
• Strong technical knowledge in generation, bulk transmission system engineering, planning, design and operations in order to evaluate detailed oriented documents or materials to support compliance.
• Familiarity with the NERC’s Reliability Standards; the Northeast Power Coordinating Council’s (NPCC) Regional Standards Directories and Criteria; and the New York State Reliability Council (NYSRC) Rules.
• Knowledge of the NYISO market operations and rules.
• Knowledge of protection systems and associated maintenance/testing programs.
• Knowledge of cyber assets, physical security, and electronic security practices.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of NYPA organizational operations across all departments with NERC Compliance responsibilities.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the NERC governance process including standards development and compliance program initiatives.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of NPCC compliance auditing, standards development, and violation processing.
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships within the industry and with internal stakeholders.
• Exceptional team attitude and the ability to work independently.
• Excellent planning, organization and presentation skills in order to communicate to all audience levels
   

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree or higher in a technical or quantitative field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience with utility or energy sector business practices.
• Experience with conducting audits or participation in the audit process, preferred.
• Experience with utility business practices including developing operating and/or maintenance policies and procedures, preferably in a power generation or transmission environment, preferred.
   

Physical Requirements

Approximately 15% travel throughout New York State to NYPA’s operating facilities, NPCC meetings, and industry seminars/working groups.