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Job ID 14438

Head of Transmission & Grid Connection USA & Canada

General Information

Country
USA
State/Region
Massachusetts
Team
Renewable Energies
Seniority
Expert (4-8 years of experience), Senior (8+ years of experience)
Job Type
Permanent
Hire Type
Full-Time
Work Regimen
Hybrid
Posting Date
30-Jan-2025
Expiration Date
28-Feb-2025
Company
Enel North America, Inc

Description and Requirements

Who We Are:
Enel is a globally recognized leader in sustainable energy and is consistently named one of Fortune Magazine’s "Companies that are Changing the World." It is also one of the largest and most trusted energy companies in the world, serving around 70 million customers in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. The Enel Group vision is about Open Power. Open Power means opening energy access to more people; opening the world of energy to new technologies; opening new ways for people to manage energy; opening new uses of energy; and opening more partnerships. These are ambitious goals, and we are pursuing them with the passion of more than 65,000 people whose brilliant work is based on our values of Responsibility, Innovation, Trust and Proactivity. At Enel North America, our businesses are leading the energy transition, creating the sustainable energy solutions of the future to help individuals, businesses and communities change energy into lasting value.

The Opportunity:
Reporting to the CEO of EGP, this position will be responsible for the Grid Center of Excellence, Grid Interconnection and Transmission groups throughout the lifecycle of project from BD, Engineering & Construction to operations and maintenance activities. This position with lead and manage the Transmission-related activities and engineering staff surrounding strategic identification, acquisition, and maturity of interconnection and transmission service rights for new generators to utilize the US and Canada transmission grids to deliver low cost, clean energy to customers.

What You'll Do at Enel North America:
  • Manage and coordinate company’s resources to ensure that interconnection tasks associated to the company’s portfolio of projects under development, execution and operation are completed in a timely and efficient manner
  • Work closely across departments related to Interconnection needs and assess grid and transmission requirements for renewable energy plants across EGP
  • Ensure all ISO & NERC Compliance requirements are known and accounted for while cooperating with our internal NERC compliance group on programs and tools to meet all ongoing regulatory requirements
  • Governing and building strong relationships throughout the organization to foster proper accountability of each stakeholder
  • Direct teams to analyze GIAs and highlight potential risks and provide possible mitigation plans
  • Manage a team of 20+ engineers of various experience levels who are responsible for the generation interconnection, transmission service, and sponsored transmission upgrade processes associated with the development pipeline of wind, solar, battery storage and other generation plants as well as hydrogen loads and other innovative projects to the electric transmission system.
  • Oversee activities across the US and Canada, including RTOs SPP, PJM, MISO, ERCOT, NYISO, ISO-NE, CAISO, and Alberta, as well as various non-RTO utility transmission and distribution providers. These activities include coordinating technical data submittals, predictive transmission evaluation, fatal flaw analysis, study tracking and forecasting, critical analysis of transmission study results from Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and utilities, ensuring policy compliance, analysis of competitors projects and their impacts on Enel projects, identification of key financial and schedule risks related to generation interconnection, and development of sustainable and economical solutions to complex technical challenges for new generation projects and potential project acquisitions;
  • Work with Strategy, Siting, and Analytics, Development, and Acquisitions and Structuring teams to develop and implement strategic plans for new siting activities and advancement of existing projects. Evaluate federal, RTO, and utility policy and requirements, regional and interregional transmission planning processes, existing and planned transmission infrastructure, interconnection processes, alternative interconnection options, transmission service requirements and other critical inputs to identify opportunities for new projects and project advancement. Consider the impacts of various transmission policy on both development projects and operational power plants to ensure maximum benefit to company and to direct Business Development activities. Identify and guide implementation of transmission upgrade solutions for congestion mitigation;
  • Interpret and apply transmission tariffs, generation interconnection agreements (GIAs), electric market rules, and grid interconnection requirements to generation development activities. Develop strategic approaches to minimize financial risk while maintaining project schedules, minimizing transmission costs, and maturing projects in generation interconnection queues;
  • Lead negotiation of GIAs with RTOs and utilities. Review transmission related issues in other legal contracts, including but not limited to Power Purchase Agreements, Shared Facility Agreements and project acquisition and sale agreements;
  • Engage in and direct department’s participation in various industry policy and technical working groups to promote transmission grid expansion and favorable interconnection rulesets. Advocate for favorable transmission policy with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), RTOs, utilities and trade groups in local, state, regional, national, and federal jurisdictions, including legal action when necessary. Guide internal and external legal counsel in transmission and interconnection-related legal disputes and FERC filings;
  • Direct team relationships with Regulatory Affairs, Engineering & Construction (E&C), Operation & Maintenance (O&M), Legal, Treasury, Commercial Office, Trading, NERC, and other non-BD teams to ensure GIAs are accurately implemented and followed and that other relevant information is communicated timely. Inform E&C and O&M teams, as well as Enel Trading North America (ETNA), of upcoming policy changes which will impact generation projects in all stages of development, construction, and operation. Coordinate with these teams to ensure policy advocacy properly represents the interests of the full company;

Who You Are:
  • Specific skills:
    • Expert knowledge of transmission system modeling, planning, and engineering, electric markets, and grid operations;
    • Extensive knowledge of transmission tariffs, generation interconnection agreements (GIAs), electric market rules, and grid interconnection requirements for various North American RTOs and electric utilities;
    • Detailed understanding of transmission modeling software such as PSS/E, PSS-MUST, TARA, PSLF, PowerWorld, PSCAD, etc. used in the industry;
    • Knowledge of power system protection, control, and metering preferred;
    • Excellent written and verbal communication is essential;
    • Proficient in public speaking, presentation skills, explaining complex technical topics and writing of technical reports for technical and non-technical audiences;
    • Strong business acumen to evaluate and interpret critical transmission issues into business needs and communicate complex technical issues to non-technical staff and management;
    • Ability to effectively advocate for transmission policy changes and build strong relationships across the industry;
    • Ability to mentor and train team members and effectively manage team workload and assignments;
    • Knowledge of power systems: Protection system operation and reliability philosophy, Utility system practices, Three-phase power system theory/operation both static and dynamic, Short circuit theory/application, Motor generation theory/application, Reactive compensation theory, Substation configuration/construction/maintenance techniques, Transmission line configurations/design/maintenance techniques, Outage planning, and Congestion philosophy and analysis.
  • Professional licenses; Professional Engineering license a plus
  •  Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to effectively support and work well with people from different disciplines.
What You've Accomplished:
  • Masters in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Policy, or Business Administration; Emphasis in power systems strongly preferred.
  • 15+ years of experience in transmission planning and generation interconnection-related activities as well as being in the electricity energy sector

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:
Enel North America is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information. We will not discriminate, in any employment decision, against any individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veterans/national guard/military reserve status. This shall be done in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws in every location in which Enel North America has facilities. Enel North America maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law. Accessibility - If you require accessibility assistance applying for open positions please contact EnelApplication@enel.com.

What Enel North America Offers You:
  • Enel North America offers its regular full-time employees affordable, quality healthcare for you and your family, life insurance and disability benefits to provide security, and retirement benefits to help you plan for your financial future. In addition, we offer an array of other benefits such as flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement and professional development allowance.
  • Benefits are effective as of day one!
  • Some additional perks to working with Enel North America include:
    • 401k with match fully vested as of day one. Enel-NA matches 100% of the first 4% that you contribute up to set IRS limits.
    • Generous PTO that supports work/life balance including: 4 weeks annually of vacation as well as personal days, volunteer days, your birthday off, paid holidays, and sick time. Proration may apply during first year of employment.
    • Paid leave programs
    • The opportunity to grow and develop your career with the support and mentorship of senior leaders.
    • The opportunity to work for one of the world’s most recognizable and respected brands in the energy industry that believes by working together we can create a new energy era in which the world can become more sustainable.
  • An employee’s eligibility for these benefits shall be subject to the governing documents for such plans and programs and/or company policy. The benefits described above may be modified or eliminated with or without notice in accordance with the governing documents and applicable law.