ERCOT Regulatory & Markets Specialist

GridSME's Vision

GridSME empowers the world's energy future by hiring the industry's best SMEs to solve the grid's most complex problems. Our company provides the environment for the industry's experts to grow their careers and provide valuable services to our clients. In doing so, we help our clients successfully adapt to the grid's evolution. We want to be the platform where our people can find the intersection between what they are passionate about, what they are good at, and what adds value to our clients and our company. We intend for you to participate and contribute to the company's core objective.

ERCOT Regulatory & Markets Specialist

We measure GridSME's success by the caliber of people on our team, the quality of work they produce, and the growth of our fan base over time. Our company fosters initiative, open and candid communication, ownership, and teamwork – all necessary for our team to achieve its objectives. You will be expected to drive teamwork and collaboration with the entire GridSME team. We are a growing company, and you may be asked to assist with other projects for the company in addition to your regular job responsibilities. Your position's specific tasks and responsibilities include:

• ERCOT and Market Regulatory Expertise, Advisory, and Consulting

  1. Consult and advise our clients[1] on a variety of ERCOT and Texas market and regulatory energy matters, including: 
     • The ERCOT Nodal Protocols and Nodal Operating Guides
     • ERCOT 2.2.2.7 PFR Test
     • PUCT Emergency Operating Plans
     • Weatherization Compliance
     • The various stages of the ERCOT interconnection process
     • ERCOT MOD Testing requirements with respect to PGRR-085
  2. On behalf of our clients, participate in ERCOT stakeholder groups to better understand changing market rules, processes, and procedures and ensure our clients stay in compliance
  3. Process ERCOT and PUCT data requests, as needed
  4. Attend ERCOT market meetings as a representative on behalf of our clients and provide relevant information and data back to GridSME’s team and our clients
  5. Monitor the ERCOT Market Reports for developments, events, and changes that may impact our clients
  6. Assist with, research, and help resolve market participant matters that may arise for our clients
  7. Monitor extreme weather conditions and weather moratoriums on behalf of our clients when conditions and criteria meet those defined in PUCT guidelines and/or our clients’ emergency operating plans
  8. Consult and support our clients with their PUCT obligations, as necessary
  9. Support a variety of other regulatory reporting and subject matter, including: 
     • EIA-860
     • EIA-923
  10. Coordinate and collaborate with other members of our Compliance team, especially on matters concerning the NERC Reliability Standards and the Texas Reliability Entity (TRE)
  11. Work closely with other internal GridSME resources to gather information, collaborate on projects, solicit expertise, and coordinate on all matters related to compliance program support. Manage and lead client projects, communicate with clients and internal team members, and coordinate activities as appropriate

• Business Development

  1. Develop clients in our Pumpkin Planning sales and relationship management methodology and mature each client relationship
  2. Work with the team to connect with potential clients we can help
  3. Develop relationships and industry contacts to assist clients
  4. Help create work statements, assign SMEs, and manage client relationships beyond your individual consulting efforts

• Overall Teamwork

  1. Help us build and improve GridSME's culture by living out our Guiding Principles
  2. Demonstrate flexibility in learning and growing into any of our current and future services depending on client and team needs
  3. Work and collaborate with the entire GridSME team. We focus on each other's success

Competencies & Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of ERCOT Market Guides, ERCOT Nodal Protocols, Nodal Operating Guides, ERCOT interconnection process, and PUCT requirements for generators
• Ability to effectively handle concurrent assignments
• Ability to make sound decisions that support GridSME's goals, mission, and Guiding Principles
• Strong leadership, project management, time management, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical, legal, and business publications, tariffs, operating manuals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals
• Ability to communicate professionally, punctually, and accurately with clients and teammates
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients and teammates
• A penchant to identify and remediate inefficiencies in processes
• Critical thinking and prioritization of resources to provide the most value to our clients
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and make timely decisions
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Ability to work and communicate with technical and non-technical clients
• Work collaboratively within a team environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Benefits & Compensation

GridSME is open to filling this role with a full-time employee, part-time employee, or an Independent Consultant (i.e., a subcontractor to GridSME). The following section provides benefits information if the ideal candidate joins as a full-time employee. Also, below, we provide compensation and limited benefit information for a part-time employee and compensation information for an Independent Consultant.

COMPENSATION

If the ideal candidate desires to be a part-time employee or Independent Consultant, the SME’s hourly pay rate would be a high percentage of their client billings, likely in the $125 to $200 per hour range, depending on their client bill rate and market conditions. If the ideal candidate desires a full-time employee (FTE) position, the base salary range for this position is $100,000 to $160,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience.

PAYROLL SCHEDULE             

For part-time and full-time employees, pay is on the 7^th (for the 16^th to the end of the month) and the 22^nd  (for the 1^st to the 15^th) of each month. In addition to recurring payroll, a third monthly paycheck is earned via our Monthly Profit-Sharing Bonus Plan at the end of each month.

GRIDSME PROFIT SHARING BONUS PLAN

Full-time employees are eligible to participate in all three components of GridSME's Profit Sharing Bonus Plan: the Monthly Cash Profit-Sharing Bonus, the Annual Holiday Cash Profit-Sharing Bonus, and the Annual 401(k) Profit-Sharing Bonus. For more information, see Appendix 1_GridSME Profit-Sharing Bonus Plan.

401K PLAN AND COMPANY MATCH

GridSME offers employees a 401(k) retirement savings program. GridSME will match all employee 401(k) contributions up to 6% of your gross cash compensation (salary and bonuses). Employee and employer contributions begin on the first calendar day of the employee's second calendar month of service. Employer 401(k) match contributions vest immediately. For example, if the employee starts on June 15th, the employee will be eligible to participate in the 401k program and receive a company match effective the payroll period beginning August 1st. In addition, the company has the Annual 401(k) Profit-Sharing Bonus program mentioned above and described in Appendix 1.

HEALTH, DENTAL, AND VISION BENEFITS

For full-time employees, GridSME offers a group medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plan that you and your family are eligible to join. GridSME will pay 75% of the cost of the base medical and dental plan premiums and 100% of the base vision plan premium for you and your family. GridSME will only pay its share of the premiums for the healthcare plan that GridSME provides as the designated base plan for your area. You are eligible for health benefits on the first day of the first calendar month after your start date. GridSME has a tenure-based contribution scale that increases by 5% each full year of service, as of January 1st of the benefits calendar year, up to 95% of the base medical and dental plan premiums being paid by GridSME. GridSME offers a voluntary $75,000 Supplemental Life Insurance policy with premiums covered at 100% for the employee only. For example, if you start on June 15th, your health benefits will begin on July 1st. Also, if you start on June 15th, 2024, your employer contribution will increase to 80% of the base medical and dental plan on January 1, 2026. GridSME also offers employees the opportunity to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account as part of our employee benefits package. In addition, if you are on a high-deductible plan, which is our base medical insurance plan, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA). FSA and HSA plans allow employees to set aside money pre-tax to pay for certain healthcare and dependent daycare expenses.

PAID TIME OFF - VACATION AND SICK PAY

Full-time employees accrue at least two (2) weeks (80 hrs) of vacation per calendar year. This increases to three (3) weeks (120 hrs) on your three-year anniversary date and four (4) weeks (160 hrs) on your five-year anniversary date. In addition to vacation, this position can accrue an additional five (5) days (40 hrs) of Sick Pay per year, with the ability to roll and bank up to ten (10) days (80 hrs) total.

ANNUAL HOLIDAYS

GridSME observes the following holidays for a total of 12 paid holidays:

1. New Year's Day
2. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
3. President's Day
4. Memorial Day
5. Independence Day
6. Juneteenth
7. Labor Day
8. Columbus Day / Indigenous People Day
9. Veterans Day
10. Thanksgiving Day
11. Day after Thanksgiving
12. Christmas Day
13. …plus, your birthday is always a day off – whether on a weekday, holiday, or weekend, you should not have to work on your birthday (your birthday off cannot be rolled or banked)

OPTIONAL WORK LOCATION

This role can be performed remotely, hybrid, or in-office. Please feel free to work from GridSME's headquarters in Folsom, CA, or your home office. Periodic travel may be requested for client site visits, internal/external meetings, pieces of training, industry events, and other business functions.

FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE

This position has the flexibility to work a standard schedule or an alternative 9/80 schedule. A 9/80 work schedule is a compressed work schedule consisting of eight 9-hour days, one 8-hour day, and one day off in two 2-week. This alternative schedule gives our employees an additional 26 days off a year built into their schedule to help them unplug and maintain their work/life balance. Simply put, an employee can have every other Friday off on a 9/80 schedule.

EVALUATION PERIOD

The first ninety (90) days of your employment will be treated as an evaluation period when we assess your performance and fit with our culture. At the end of this 90-day evaluation period, we will hold a performance review session to discuss your performance against the job requirements and expectations. If your performance does not meet those requirements and expectations, we reserve the right to end your employment.

Why GridSME?

We are a young, fast-growing company in an industry undergoing a historic transformation. GridSME desires to be the intersection between what our people are passionate about, what they are good at, and what adds value to our clients. We are a place where our people grow, do meaningful work, and achieve their professional goals. To do that, we have built a strong team and culture that operates in a flexible and candid environment. The perfect blend of autonomy and teamwork, and our employees are all business owners thanks to our Profit-Sharing Program that distributes 50% of profits to employees.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

After applying, we will contact promising candidates for an initial Teams interview. If there appears to be a match, we will move forward to an in-depth interview focused on your work experience and expertise, technical competencies, and career accomplishments. From there, if needed, subsequent follow-up interviews may occur, including interviews with your references.