[Olw-624] - Reliability Compliance Specialist

Were BC Hydro and we have a big job to do.
Keeping the lights on for over 4 million people across the province takes a lot of talented people doing many different jobs.
From working deep in a generating station, atop a power pole, or behind a desk, whatever it is that makes you tick we offer challenging careers to help you reach your potential.
We are investing more than $2 billion per year in major capital infrastructure projects to help meet the growing demand for safe, reliable power.
We are upgrading transmission lines, building new substations, and investing in our hydroelectric generation facilities.
We aim to provide meaningful and challenging work, opportunities for growth and a healthy work/life balance.
We've been recognized for excellence and been named one of B.C.
's Top Employers and one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers.
It's our vision to be the most trusted, innovative utility company in North America by being smart about power in all we do.
Duties: Analyzes and monitors Hydro's compliance with BC's North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Mandatory Reliability Standards through participation in risk-based, business process, and policy compliance internal audits undertaken by the Reliability Compliance Department every year in accordance with the BC Utilities Commission MRS Program processes.
Collaborates with department manager and colleagues in developing the scope, resource allocations and methodology for the annual audit plan through tasks such as creating audit tracking spreadsheets, developing an interactive SharePoint site, highlighting for group discussion any new and revised utilities commission audit requirements, drafting the schedule/timeline, preparing budget documentation, proposing a communication strategy, and developing audit process and lessons learned documentation.
Establishes and maintains working relationships both externally to the company (utilities commission, Fortis, WECC, etc.)
and internally across Hydro with all stakeholders including IT, AM, Generation and T&D; and supports them on the MRS Program through activities such as leading sessions to provide guidance, discussing client-specific needs; developing and delivering training on MRS Program requirements and audit approaches, providing direction for activities to align with the evolving North America MRS Program and drawing on MRS expertise to answer their questions; obtaining feedback on SharePoint performance and required enhancements; and encouraging and guiding SMEs to achieve established compliance and audit timelines.
Monitors audit progress including tracking individual SME progress in completing reliability standard audit worksheets and providing compliance evidence.
Assists SMEs with compliance evidence uploads.
Also, provides the framework, logistics, training, site visit arrangements, advice and guidance for the external audits carried out every three years by the utilities commission and WECC.
Analyzes compliance status of audit worksheets and compliance evidence for a portion of approximately 106 reliability standards.
The analysis includes assessing the quality, accuracy and adequacy of the compliance narrative as well as the quality and adequacy of the compliance evidence.
For risk-based reviews, the analysis includes reviewing business policies and processes to ensure appropriate controls are in place to sustain compliance and catch potential violations and providing feedback to SME on potential improvements.
For issues found with the audit worksheets and/or compliance evidence, documents findings and follows up with SMEs to provide guidance and direction on resolving the issues.
If an issue turns to concern and a potential violation, documents and follows established violation reporting procedures.
If there is disagreement with the SME over the findings, works through a resolution process.
Assesses third party consultant reviews and findings for alignment with BC Hydro's expectations and confirms that monthly consultant invoices reflect work satisfactorily performed.
Provides guidance to the consultant on expectations and deliverables, monitors their quality of work, and provides feedback.
Liaises with SMEs to communicate, implement and resolve consultant findings.
Recognizes compliance issues and potential violations through auditing, spot checking, etc.
and reviews and resolves with SMEs.
For potential violations, initiates and leads an investigation.
Leads the development of all violation documentation (self-reports, mitigation plans and attestations of completion) and approves final actions and evidence.
Leads and assists SMEs in the development of mitigating activities, ensuring that WECC's violation process and requirements are followed and met with a focus on developing and implementing tasks to prevent recurrence of any potential violation.
Tracks the progress of mitigation plans and associated task implementation, developing solutions with the SMEs to any roadblocks, reporting to the department manager any risks and potential for missed deadlines and providing guidance for the final outcome to enable completion.
When mitigation plans are complete, prepares attestations of completion in conjunction with SMEs, including the collection and review of completion evidence.
Monitors the status of reliability standards development (new, revisions, etc.
), assesses the scope and significance of upcoming changes, determines likely implications for implementation and what support SMEs will require to implement new standards into the compliance mechanism.
Flags high-impact developments and updates SMEs accordingly; garners SME feedback to establish balloting positions; and supports SMEs during the implementation of revised and new reliability standards into the compliance mechanism by providing guidance and direction based on US implementation.
Participates in the development of the annual utility commissions assessment report by performing duties such as identifying reliability standards requiring assessment throughout the year, assembling tracking spreadsheets, developing a schedule/timeline, communication strategy, and assessment process; preparing support material such as lessons learned documentation; leading sessions with SMEs to establish reliability standards ownership and to provide analytical support and guidance; and preparing and delivering educational materials for SMEs within Hydro and for external entities (such as FortisBC and Rio Tinto) and addressing their queries throughout the assessment process.
Analyzes the assessment feedback from SMEs for quality and completeness and incorporates the results into the assessment report, following up with SMEs to address any inconsistencies and concerns.
On the basis of SME feedback in the assessment report, collaborates with department colleagues and manager on the recommendation to the utility commission regarding the adoption of reliability standards and proposes implementation timelines in British Columbia and communicates to SMEs the status of utility commission orders adopting reliability standards and associated effective dates.
Enables and sustains a MRS Program framework at BC Hydro through maintaining a current knowledge of the reliability standards program methodologies, policies, and practices published by BC Hydro, the utilities commission, NERC, WECC, National Energy Board, and the US Federal attendance at industry information sessions, and through developing and maintaining relationships with staff in other jurisdictions to keep abreast of reliability standards developments and to share lessons learned.
Maintains and improves the current department SharePoint site; designs solutions for the department SharePoint site, including activities such as identifying needs, researching options, writing HTML code, proofing in a test environment, and executing in a production environment.
Develops technical documentation for all department SharePoint features.
Provides user support and training to the department and SMEs on the use of SharePoint.
Leads the development of process improvements central to the efficient operation of the reliability standards program and department by identifying trends through daily observation and further investigation and analysis.
Develops and implements changes to improve performance.
Performs duties of a minor nature related to the above duties that do not affect the rating of the job.
Qualifications: A university degree in Science, Engineering, or Accounting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; Five (5) years of experience in a development and support role for a Mandatory Reliability Standards Program (or an equivalent role) in an electric utility, preferably BC Hydro, or in a similar regulated environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This position is affiliated with the Movement of United Professionals union (MoveUP/COPE).
BC Hydro employees will be required to provide proof they are fully vaccinated effective November 22.
Please note, this is a Group 10 level role within the MoveUP union.
This role is in the Program Services department which is part of the Reliability Standards Assurance Business Unit within the Safety & Compliance Business Group.
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