City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Vice President, Market Operations and Resource Planning

Reports to Austin Energy’s (AE) Chief Operating Officer (COO) with nominal direction, and is responsible for oversight and leadership of the energy market operations and resource planning business units in a safe, compliant, reliable, and efficient manner. 

1. Ensures prudent risk management and compliant operations for AE’s wholesale market activities.
2. Oversees development of the generation and resource plan for AE in support of established policy and goals.
3. Oversees development of models and forecasts to support wholesale market strategy and AE financial forecasts.
4. Bears responsibility for overall affordability of AE Power Supply Adjustment (including Fuel Adjustment Charge) cost and forecast.
5. Oversees staff engaged in fuel and energy portfolio and risk management program and daily wholesale market operations functions.
6. Ensures compliance with all applicable Local, State, and Federal regulations, requirements, standards, and laws.
7. Ensures compliance with all safety, reliability, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and environmental standards and requirements.
8. Develops and monitors business plans and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and capital budgets and responds to deviations from the approved cost/timeline projections.
9. Communicates legislative, regulatory, and industry trends impacting AE’s initiatives.
10. Develops team members to execute plans consistent with AE’s initiatives and objectives. Promotes confidence and public trust through communications and actions.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of utility finance, regulatory, and legislative issues.
• Knowledge of electric utility processes, practices, issues, and policies.
• Knowledge of alternative generation theories, plans, and models.
• Knowledge of wholesale energy market and transmission risk management rules, operations, and strategies.
• Knowledge of conventional and renewable power generation technologies and operations.
• Knowledge of ERCOT operating guides and protocols.
• Knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards.
• Knowledge of quality management methods and performance goals for continuous improvement.
• Skill in assessing industry trends and responding to industry pressures.
• Skill in managing diversity.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with City employees, City Council, the media, and the public.
• Ability to implement change for continuous improvement.
• Ability to assimilate and act timely on conflicting, incomplete, and disparate information to meet overall objectives.
• Ability to recruit, develop, and retain a high performing workforce, including management and senior professional staff, to ensure completion of assigned goals and objectives.
• Ability to coach and develop subordinate staff.
• Ability to understand and explain complex issues to non-utility stakeholders.
• Ability to meet financial and performance objectives.
• Ability to work with and coordinate between multiple City departments and internal business units to meet goals and objectives.

• Graduation with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, Business, or in a field related to the job, plus seven (7) years of related electric utility experience, including five (5) years of which were in a managerial capacity.
• Graduation with a Master's degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for two (2) years of non-managerial experience.