Senior Member Relations Specialist

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) manages the efficient flow of electricity on more than 11,000 circuit-miles of high-voltage transmission lines, dispatching power from hundreds of generating units across the state.

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) applies cutting-edge technology to operating a reliable electricity system, managing competitive markets for wholesale electricity, and planning for the Empire State's energy future.  The NYISO’s External Affairs department invites applications for a full-time Senior Member Relations Specialist to join our team.

The Senior Member Relations Specialist will act as principal conduit and project manager to move issues and proposals through the NYISO governance process. This individual will liaise between assigned committee chairs (Management Committee, Business Issues Committee or Operating Committee and all associated workings groups, task forces and subcommittees) and market participant committee representatives. In this role, it is important that one has the intellect of the NYISO wholesale markets, the ability to understand the technical aspect of the products and services offered. The Senior Member Relations Specialist will demonstrate the technical business acumen to enhance the interaction between NYISO staff and committee members, and deliver necessary information, according to schedule, to improve committees’ knowledge of current committee issues and timely decision-making.

Responsibilities include day-to-day coordination of annual committee calendar, sector confirmations and shared governance meetings, while providing additional support to offsite high-profile meetings such as: annual sector meetings (5) and annual Joint Board of Directors/Management Committee meeting. Additionally, the Senior Member Relations Specialist will actively engage stakeholders to understand key stakeholder concerns and positions, in relation to topics being vetted through shared governance, to provide key stakeholder feedback to business owners, colleagues across departmental lines and the entire NYISO leadership team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitate and manage requests and issues between the Committee Chairs, key stakeholders, NYISO Management and internal subject matter experts (SMEs). Ensure that internal SMEs attend stakeholder meetings to resolve open issues and provide technical information as needed. Facilitate communication among interested parties to identify and address issues on matters within the NYISO governance process in order to support development of NYISO staff positions on proposals, and to provide information to governance stakeholders to support their decision- making processes.
• Represent NYISO positions to stakeholders on a wide range of issues within the respective area of responsibility for the Committee Liaison. Identify need for additional SME support from NYISO staff to represent NYISO positions on issues and coordinate communications as needed.
• Coordinate MC / BIC / OC committees, subcommittees, working groups, task forces, and technical conference meeting agendas, logistics and dates with market participant Chairs, committee members and NYISO staff.
• Review all NYISO staff meeting materials to ensure NYISO policies addressing development and MP distribution are adhered to. Identify and address potential concerns with developed materials and overall NYISO strategic positions.
• Manage the distribution, posting and maintenance of meeting materials for all committee and working group meetings in accordance with NYISO corporate objectives and posting processes.
• Ensure meetings comply with NYISO Policy A-36, Tariff, NYISO Agreement, and By- laws, requirements.
• Conduct all shared governance meetings in accordance with proper meeting procedures as outlined Robert’s Rules of Order.
• Maintain MC / BIC / OC Committee and Working Group action item lists and facilitate appropriate and timely resolution with internal SMEs and other resources. Ensure that open items are closed out according to schedule and adhere to NYISO policies and strategies.
• Provide direct support to management for the annual Joint Board of Directors & MC Meeting, Sector meetings, meeting logistics, stakeholder engagement and with the development of meeting material.
• Identify issues or concerns raised by stakeholders and provide feedback to NYISO Management and appropriate staff regarding market participant issues, concerns and objectives.
• Utilize negotiation skills to effectively seek consensus between opposing stakeholders on topics and/or proposals making their way through the shared governance process.
• Comment on draft technical documents related to respective committee jurisdiction. Coordinate with other ISO Committee representatives as necessary for joint stakeholder meetings and issues.
• Work in conjunction with all NYISO departments to ensure that inquiries / communication to customers is efficient, meeting NYISO service level agreements.
• Provide cross departmental support on projects, department initiatives as needed, communicate key stakeholder updates as needed to business owners / colleagues.
• Maintain regular contact with NYISO customer service staff regarding individual market participant issues as necessary, screening to determine appropriate department to answer questions and address issues.
• Monitor the NYISO list-servers and Committee email lists and work with customer service representatives and SMEs to coordinate responses to market participant concerns on various issues.
• Serve as back-up for other Member Relations team members to ensure smooth operations of committee meetings and department operations.
• Serve as lead for MC/BIC/OC projects and assist with orientation and skill.
• Assist the Manager of Member Relations with the development / mentoring of junior Member Relations team members.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree (BS, Engineering, Political Science, Business or related) required; Master’s Degree (MS, MBA) desirable.
• Seven years of related experience in electric energy deregulation, markets or the utility industry; thorough knowledge of NYISO operations, governance, procedures, tariffs, regulatory requirements, market rules and design; or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Strong communication and organizational skills are required. Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to inquiries from NYISO management, technical staff and committee representatives in a timely and effective manner. Ability to write and edit reports that conform to prescribed style and format at a very high level. Ability to effectively present information to regulators, top management, public groups and/or boards of directors. Exhibit diplomacy in communicating complex / political / technical content.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, percentages and area. Ability to apply concepts of algebra and budgeting.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to learn, describe and apply detailed and complex concepts as related to the NYISO tariff, market structure, governance and associated administrative requirements.
• Intermediate competency in Windows operating environment using MS Office applications, e-mail and internet programs. Intermediate competency in Adobe Acrobat, web-based meeting software and software used to post documents to the web.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to perform routine office tasks. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Contact with staff and public will occur. Travel may be required to attend and/or conduct meetings, conferences and training. This position may require work on nights, weekends or holidays.

At the NYISO, we realize the importance of balancing the availability of remote work with the inherent value of bringing people together to attain success in the areas of maximum collaboration, relationship building and growth, teamwork, innovation and problem solving, as well as professional development and mentoring. In this role, you will be required to work onsite from our Rensselaer, NY location several days per workweek, with the option to work remotely on the remaining days. You will also be expected to respond to all business needs that may require any increase to the regular onsite requirements.

The NYISO takes pride in recruiting, developing and retaining highly talented individuals. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package and innovative reward programs.

All offers of employment will be made contingent upon the successful completion of a drug screening and background check.