Corporate Counsel - Senior Corporate Counsel

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources.  We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career.

ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

JOB SUMMARY

As the independent system operator (ISO) for the power system that serves the majority of Texas, Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) is responsible for operating and planning the ERCOT transmission grid and administering the ERCOT wholesale power market, among other critical functions including serving as the Reliability Monitor for the ERCOT Region. The ERCOT Legal Department is seeking an experienced attorney to join its team in support of ERCOT’s role as the Reliability Monitor. The ideal candidate will have excellent written communication skills, exceptional attention to detail, and a keen interest in supporting ERCOT’s Reliability Monitor function. 

The Texas Administrative Code defines the Reliability Monitor for the ERCOT Region as, “a person or entity selected by the commission to monitor compliance with all state reliability-related laws, rules, and ERCOT procedures including protocols, processes, and any other operating standards applicable to the ERCOT Region.” The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) appointed ERCOT as the Reliability Monitor. The ERCOT Reliability Monitor (ERM) is tasked with gathering and analyzing information and data to conduct reliability monitoring activities. More specifically, the ERM’s duties and responsibilities include:

Monitoring, investigating, auditing, and reporting to the commission regarding compliance with reliability-related ERCOT procedures, including Protocols, Operating Guides, and Other Binding Documents, the reliability-related provisions of the commission’s rules, and reliability-related provisions of the Public Utility Regulatory Act; Providing reliability-related subject-matter advice, expertise, and assistance to the commission as part of its oversight and enforcement activities; and Providing expert advice, analysis, reports, and testimony services relating to the Reliability Monitor’s analysis and findings as part of the commission staff’s case in enforcement proceedings.

This position will primarily support ERCOT’s ERM function, which includes working with the ERCOT Compliance Department and other ERCOT subject matter experts on ERM activities and drafting written analysis for presentation to the PUC. Accordingly, the individual must sign a PUC-required Code of Conduct in addition to the standard ERCOT Employee Ethics Agreement.

JOB DUTIES

• Provides advice and counsel on activities related to the ERM function
• Coordinates with ERCOT subject matter experts and the ERCOT Operations & Planning Compliance Department to analyze reliability-related issues
• Assists in drafting, reviewing, and revising reports to the PUC regarding reliability-related compliance matters
• Participates in monitoring, investigating, auditing, and reporting to the PUC regarding compliance with reliability-related laws, rules, and regulations, including ERCOT Protocols, Operating Guides, and Other Binding Documents
• Provides reliability-related subject-matter advice, expertise, and assistance to the PUC as part of its oversight and enforcement activities
• Provides expert advice, analysis, reports, and testimony relating to the ERM’s analysis and findings as part of the PUC staff's case in enforcement proceedings
• Monitors and tracks PUC, FERC, NERC, Texas Register, Federal Register and relevant legislative matters and other governmental proceedings for reliability-related items
• Contributes to the writing, editing, and publishing of reports and filings required by the PUC

Reviews and interprets ERCOT Protocols, Operating Guides, Operating Procedures, and Other Binding Documents for internal departments and external parties

• Works with ERCOT Market Participants to address reliability-related issues and implement corrective action plans
• Provides training and legal advice to ERCOT employees on reliabili