Director, Transmission Planning & Compliance

Application due date:  May 2, 2025

Location:  Maple Grove, MN

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without restriction. Visa sponsorship is not available.

We are the people we power. As Minnesota’s not-for-profit electric cooperative, our member-owners and their members impact every decision we make. Because their needs are our needs, and their dreams are our dreams.

Summary:

Lead, plan, and direct the area and regional transmission planning and National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance for Great River Energy (GRE), ensuring a safe, reliable and efficient area and bulk system to serve member-owner systems and other transmission customers. Support the mission, vision, values, and strategic imperatives of GRE.

Total Rewards:

A typical starting range for this position is $189,000 - $270,000 annually. We offer market competitive base pay and adjust our offer accordingly based upon the value of the candidate’s knowledge, skills and experience. In addition, our Total Rewards strategy focuses on recognizing individual performance and rewarding business results. Our robust Total Rewards package includes exceptional benefits and retirement, a focus on continuous engagement, recognition, personal and professional development, and an emphasis on work-life effectiveness.

Responsibilities:  Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead and direct area planning, regional planning and NERC compliance functions and initiatives to support responsiveness and ensure continued reliability.
• Oversee transmission planning and compliance efforts to ensure a safe and reliable GRE power delivery system including the transmission and distribution network in accordance with National Electric Safety Code, Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO) and National Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) requirements and according to utility standards.
• Oversee the development of short- and long-range area load-serving, regional transmission plans utilizing economic and reliability analysis, which assures member-owner and transmission customers are provided with reliable, low-cost transmission.
• Provide direction and leadership on regional technical studies.
• Oversee processes to ensure documentation, practices, and methods are established and kept up to date for audits relating to NERC/MRO, or other voluntary/regulatory compliance organizations.
• Provide vision and strategy for accommodating member-owners growth while maintaining system reliability as translated into critically needed capital construction projects to balance rate, reliability, and responsiveness.
• Ensure planning and compliance standards are established and maintained for safety, capacity, and design integrity to support GRE, our member-owners, transmission customers, neighboring and regional utilities and others.
• Lead or direct, coach and provide work direction to employees to maximize productivity and teamwork.

Qualifications:  Knowledge typically acquired through a:

· Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical engineering discipline is preferred) or closely related technical field. An advanced engineering, business, or technical degree is preferred.

· Ten plus years of experience with progressive responsibilities of broad electric utility industry background with an emphasis in power system planning and compliance.

AND

· Five plus years of experience in a formal leadership role.

· Please note:  A combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge may be considered.

· Professional engineering licensure (PE) in the state of Minnesota is desirable.

· Broad knowledge of business and transmission system planning, operations engineering, operations and compliance, and transmission contracts and arrangements.

· Knowledge of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), NERC, Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Regional Transmission Organizations (MISO), and MRO policies, standards and procedures.

· Skilled at effective communications at both technical and leadership levels. Skills must include good interpersonal skills, as well as written and verbal communication skills and ability to understand information and ideas as presented.

· Skill to create and implement plans aligned with the division’s strategic vision.

· Ability to present complex matters to the GRE board and member-owner boards of directors, the Commission, etc.

· Skill in developing and delivering effective presentations.

· Skill in conflict resolution including the ability to address difference of opinions or facts and use of the most appropriate method to reach an effective solution.

· Ability to negotiate by collaborating with others to arrive at a conclusion using compromise, persuasion, rationale, and diplomacy.

· Ability to solve complex problems along with analytical skills to analyze and blend technical options into broader-based business strategies.

Apply:  

Qualified candidates please apply at www.greatriverenergy.com (under the Careers tab) by May 2, 2025. GRE values diversity, equity and inclusion and we are an equal employment opportunity employer. 

About Great River Energy

Powering what’s possible Great River Energy is a not-for-profit electricity provider owned by our 26 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin for which we generate and transmit electricity. We provide wholesale electric service to our member owners who distribute electricity to approximately 660,000 member consumers - or about 1.7 million people. A diverse mix of generation resources - Our power plants generate more than 2,800 megawatts of electricity and several solar arrays capable of producing 650 kilowatts. In addition, we purchase wind and hydroelectric energy. Your electricity is delivered through power lines to you. Every time you plug in your toaster, television or other electrical device, a system of power lines goes to work to bring you the power you need. Our job at Great River Energy is to keep the lights on by providing a safe & reliable supply of electricity.

Connections working at Great River Energy