Manager - Gen Optimization Operations

Job Summary

Leads a team of professionals responsible for planning and executing Bulk Electric System activities, including plant dispatch operational decisions, plant dispatch analyses, and wholesale power settlement/payment. Responsible for one of the following functional areas: merchant operations, settlements, wholesale market development, contract development and management, or merchant analytics (day-to-day and long-term). Adapts plans and priorities to address resource and operational challenges. Develops and maintains understanding of grid operations and wholesale market processes, procedures, protocols and rules, to ensure decisions support business needs. Provides operational support for energy transactions initiated and negotiated by individuals in the organization's energy marketing and trading group.  Manages merchant operations center (MOC) to ensure 24x7 shift coverage, maintains robust process and operation procedures, while developing new processes for new assets, and providing training to operators.

Span of control: Leads a team of 4-15 direct FTEs

Key Accountabilities

• Manages Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) capacity emergencies, creating or identifying projects or plans to implement new MISO rules and business practices.
• Communicates with internal and external stakeholders, and customers on certain rates, as well as the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Commission Staff during emergency activities. Works with Corporate Communications to ensure consistent messages for media interaction(s). 
• Provides guidance to power supply cost modeling and collaborates with the finance organization on major financial updates including budget forecast, 4+8 and 8+4 updates.
• Guides analyses of projects to maximize generation assets and increase portfolio value.
• Collaborates with internal and external organizations to ensure alignment between short-term and longer-term power strategies.
• Develops testimony responses related to business unit processes to support company rate filings with the MPSC.
• Serves as expert witness for regulatory cases and delivers training to develop regulatory witnesses.
• Negotiates power supply agreements and manages performance of associated power facilities covered by the power supply agreements. Monitors plant availability and outages, provides feedback to third parties, and ensures performance issues are addressed.
• Assists with the development of wholesale market strategies to maximize customer value.
• Supports or performs financial forecasts such as those associated with power purchase agreement amendments, power purchase agreement administrative fees and cost recovery.
• Manages the key settlement processes including invoicing, payment processing, and settlement review. Manages credit exposure to ensure sufficient margin at MISO.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business management with 5 years of experience in wholesale power markets, merchant operations, power plant operations, power plant analysis, market settlements, electric system operations, or power supply agreement negotiation and management.
• Individuals responsible for the Merchant Operations Center are required to obtain, within 12 months (target of 6 months), a NERC Certified System Operator credential in one of the following areas (Reference NERC PER003 R1): Balancing and Interchange (BI), Balancing Interchange and Transmission (BT), Reliability Operator (RC). Once obtained, must maintain NERC Certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Power Plant Operations in a 24/7 production center.
• Hands-on experience with renewable energy technology.

Other Qualifications

• Collaborative skills that build relationships and influence parties, including encouraging parties to embrace changing expectations and initiatives
• Analytical and problem-solving skills that identify key issues from a broad range of alternatives, and recommend optimal solutions for various situations
• Broad understanding of power generation, transmission, distribution and regional power dispatch
• Working knowledge of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards and laws applicable to a load-serving entity and generation company
• Ability to communicate critical information to senior level executives under possible intense constraint(s) and to the MPSC under cross examination
• Working knowledge of market research, forecasting and planning, and risk management
• Ability to balance multiple demands from superiors, and/or subordinates and peers in a positive and even-handed fashion and calm demeanor under pressure
• Ability to apply project planning and implementation or continuous improvement principles to affect tangible, positive outcomes
• Ability to promote an atmosphere conducive to the open exchange of new ideas and alternatives
• Written and verbal communication skills; work effectively with people at all levels, both inside and outside the company
• Willingness to travel approximately 20% of the time (typically Detroit, Lansing, DTE power plants, and MISO offices)

Additional Information

Incumbents may engage in all or some combination of the activities and accountabilities, and utilize a variety of the competencies cited in this description depending upon the organization and role to which they are assigned. This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents in this job. It is not intended as an all-inclusive list of accountabilities or responsibilities, nor is it intended to limit the rights of supervisors or management representatives to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.