Associate Director - NERC O&P and CIP Compliance

Guidehouse•Middlebury, VT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled NERC Operations & Planning (O&P) 693 and Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) professional to advise Energy Provider clients on utility operations adherence to rigorous reliability standards, that will support the stability and security of the electric grid. This role requires deep expertise in NERC Operations & Planning (O&P) and CIP regulatory frameworks, best practices, and reliability standards within the Power/Electric Utilities industry. Work experience in Banking, Healthcare, Pharma, Manufacturing, Mining, Construction, or DoD is NOT applicable for this role.

Requirements

Due to nature of client engagements must be a US Permanent Resident or US Citizen.
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, business, cybersecurity, security management, homeland security, information security, or related discipline AND Seven (7+) plus years post-graduation working experience within the electric utility industry or a NERC related regulator; Or Master's degree in electrical engineering, business, cybersecurity, security management, homeland security, information security, or related discipline AND Five (5+) plus years post-graduation work experience within the electric utility industry or a NERC related regulator.
Work experience must be an emphasis on North American NERC Reliability Standards (USA and/or Canada) supporting regulatory framework and processes around NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) or NERC Operations & Planning and Regional Entities (US and/or Canada).
Proven experience in NERC 693 compliance management within electric utility or related energy sectors.
Strong understanding of operations & planning functions in power systems, including system modeling and analysis.
Exceptional communication skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams, regulators, and stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively with compliance, operations, IT, and engineering teams to align technical architecture with regulatory and business needs.
Ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail under tight deadlines.
Ability to travel to include potential international as needed.
Ability to work onsite in a Guidehouse Office or Client Office location.
Currently reside in the contiguous United States.

Nice To Haves

Preference will be given to candidates within reasonable driving distance of a core Guidehouse Office or Client Office location.
Deep understanding of NIST, ISO 27001, and CIS controls to architect secure systems and enforce security compliance.
Specific working experience related to any of the following: Bulk Electric System (BES) and power systems Electrical Reliability NERC/FERC Enforcement or Auditing

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of compliance programs aligned with NERC O&P and CIP standards.
Conduct detailed assessments of utility operations to identify compliance gaps and develop corrective action plans.
Prepare comprehensive documentation, reports, and audit responses demonstrating adherence to NERC standards.
Provide expert guidance for internal audits and external reviews, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance.
Facilitate training sessions and workshops for client staff on NERC requirements, emphasizing best practices in operational planning and reliability standards.
Stay current with evolving industry regulations, technological advancements, and emerging challenges affecting electric grid reliability.
Maintain data integrity, availability, and confidentiality through metadata standards, classification, retention, and purging policies.
Collaborate with compliance, operations, IT, and engineering teams to align technical architecture with regulatory and business needs.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend