Company Overview

Gridforce Energy Management’s mission is to ensure power flows consistently and reliably while enhancing our client’s profitability and reducing their risk exposure. Since 1999, Gridforce has been providing precision energy control and integration management services to micro-grids, load-serving entities and demand response clients throughout North America. Our employees are constantly iterating, solving problems, and working together to improve the business of our diverse client base from cities, municipalities and electric cooperatives, in addition to generation owners and operators.

We offer our employees opportunities for career development and training, providing new and valuable skills and experience. We are located in Houston, Texas -- the second fastest growing city in the nation, with world-class medical, cultural, educational and research institutions and a young, energetic and diverse population. Gridforce is located in the heart of Downtown Houston which provides an energizing and engaging atmosphere where you will love to come to work. Gridforce Energy Management is a NAES Company.

Summary

The Transmission Outage Coordinator is responsible for assisting the Gridforce System Operators and other members of the Transmission Outage Coordination team with coordinating outages that maintain the reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES) during planned and unplanned outages.  Work with internal and external counterparts to ensure that proper switching procedures are developed for and followed during planned and unplanned outages, including development of individual switching orders, and switching order templates, development and/or maintenance of switching order template libraries, and development of Gridforce Lock Out/Tag Out procedures. 

Primary Duties

• Ensure coordination of outages and switching requests with internal and external parties
• Model scheduled outages in the GF EMS Network applications to identify contingencies, overloads, or voltage limit violations on transmission systems
• Create, edit, review, and distribute new or updated switching orders and other related switching documents to ensure safe and reliable switching operations
• Support GF operators in developing proficiency in writing/reviewing and issuing switching orders
• Provide guidance or switching assistance during emergencies and storm related activities including system restoration from widespread outages or blackouts
• Provide work direction to field personnel and coordinate with neighboring entities during normal and abnormal conditions for the safe removal and return to service of sections of customers transmission systems in accordance with approved operating and safety procedures (including three-part communications)
• Direct and/or perform high voltage switching operations during normal and abnormal conditions, ensuring adherence to safety and regulatory standards
• Help develop training presentations, guidelines, programs, and user guides for operators
• Review and update the Gridforce Lock Out Tag Out (LO/TO) Procedure as needed or at a minimum annually
• Assist with review and development of Gridforce Points Lists, One Line Diagrams and operator displays

Working Relationships

The Transmission Outage Coordinator reports to the Director of Operations at Gridforce.  Works directly with the Director of Operations, members of the Transmission Outage Coordination team and the Gridforce Operations team to manage planned and unplanned outages as well as assisting with customer onboarding, training and procedure development, and Gridforce System Operator development.  Works with the Gridforce Engineering team to develop EMS models and displays.

Compensation

The initial annual compensation range is $110k-$127k depending on experience and qualifications.

 Education and Experience:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field, or at least 5 years’ experience in transmission operations at the Bulk Electric System level.

Specific Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of system protection and controls including common relay schemes, substation devices, automatic reclosing, and RTU/SCADA equipment
• Working knowledge of or experience in power plant operations, I & C technician, substation operations, electrician or equivalent
• Position requires competencies in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook)
• Familiarity with Energy Management systems and associated support systems
• This position requires certification at the NERC Reliability Coordinator and PJM Transmission Operator levels. These certifications may be achieved subsequent to hiring.
• PJM Generation Operator certification is considered as an additional qualification but not required

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• This position works in an office environment and will require the ability to sit for long periods of time and handle long periods of screen time
• Typical work schedule is Monday-Friday during normal business hours, but this position supports a 24 x 7 business so will be subject to calls in off hours during emergencies
• This position may require occasional 12-hour shift coverage and storm/disaster recovery duty
• Will require some travel

 NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times.  Additionally, employees are required to adhere to all safety warnings and posted safety signs whenever on company property.  Furthermore, employees must follow all NAES safety rules and procedures.  Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each employee’s performance.

NAES is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is the practice of NAES to seek employees of the highest quality and to select individuals on the basis of merit and competence, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law.