Electricity Industry Affairs Manager (Remote within commuting distance)

Company Description

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California's power grid. We safeguard the economy and well-being of 30 million Californians by operating the grid reliably 24/7.

As the impartial grid operator, the California ISO opens access to the wholesale power market that is designed to diversify resources and lower prices. It also grants equal access to 25,865 circuit-miles of power lines and reduces barriers to diverse resources competing to bring power to customers.

The California ISO's function is often compared to that of air traffic controllers. It would be grossly unfair for air traffic controllers to represent one airline and profit from allowing that company's planes to go through before others. In the same way, the California ISO operates independently—managing the electron traffic on a power grid we do not own—making sure electricity is safely delivered to utilities and consumers on time and reliably.

The California ISO is committed to the health, safety, and work/life integration of its employees and is proud to offer flexible work arrangements. This position would be eligible to participate in a flexible hybrid schedule.

Relocation assistance is available.

Job Description

Under the direction of the Manager, Customer Experience, the Account Manager (Electric Industry Affairs Manager) is the primary point of contact between the ISO and its stakeholders, including entities such as EIM entities, Utility Distribution Companies, Metered Subsystems, Participating Generators, Transmission Owners, adjacent Control Areas, and new market entrants.  Manages a variety of client interactions with the ISO on strategic issues and initiatives related to markets, business and grid operations.  Proactively monitors client strategies, identifies issues, investigates emerging trends and assesses impact.  Works closely with Client Representatives as well as staff from other departments, such as Market & Infrastructure Policy, to support clients in their day-to-day interactions with the ISO. 

 What You Will Be Doing

• Acts with other account managers as a central point of business contact between the client and the ISO. Works proactively with clients at senior and executive levels to help them engage with the California ISO more effectively according to their business needs and in accordance with the tariff, strategic initiatives and operating procedures. Investigates emerging client trends, assesses impact to the ISO and clients, develops strategies and works closely with other ISO departments to deliver value-added services.   
• Initiates short and long term planning sessions between the clients and the ISO.  Advises clients on emerging issues that impact their business. Manages client issues related to control area operations, market transactions, ISO contracts, scheduling, real time operations, metering, settlements, tariff interpretation, financial security, and information technology. Identifies and helps solve tariff, policy or structural business problems for clients and the ISO. 
• With other account manager maintains a portfolio of strategic ISO accounts and manages each account. Creates and maintains detailed client account plans, identifies client needs, tracks client action plans. Coordinates with colleagues to develop and implement integrated customer care strategies and tactics. Maintains an up-to-date register of client interactions in the ISO’s customer relationship management system. Collaborates with senior and executive ISO management to set client service strategies. 
• Provides updates to management on client issues and trends. Administers a client engagement plan, to enable ISO officers to interact with their client peer executives. May serve as lead negotiator on good faith negotiations with clients. Attends client meetings and industry forums, including ISO Board meetings, regional client forums and other events, as required.  Prepares written and oral presentations.
• Contributes to the ISO’s stakeholder process by monitoring policy, tariff, infrastructure planning and strategic initiatives, and ensures clients are engaged in initiatives that they may influence or shape. Periodically samples stakeholders on ISO draft proposals and positions. Communicates clients’ messages within the ISO, and communicates ISO positions to clients. Works to understand clients’ position on strategic initiatives for internal communication, board preparation and issue resolution.
• Serves as a partner and escalation point for Client Representatives. Administers the touch point mapping process to capture detailed client inputs on market, grid planning and implementation processes. Provides briefings to educate external