Compliance Assurance Specialist – O&P

City of Garland

22h•$82,452 - $110,319•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for the architectural integrity, continuous oversight, and technical documentation of NERC Operations and Planning (O&P), ERCOT, and PUCT regulatory frameworks. It serves as a critical "checks and balances" for Garland Power & Light (GP&L), transforming legacy "institutional knowledge" related to grid reliability, transmission, and generation into sustainable, database-backed Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) workflows. The Compliance Assurance Analyst - O&P is tasked with breaking down departmental silos across Operations, Engineering, Transmission, Distribution, and Production by implementing standardized data structures and providing ongoing training to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). By maintaining a proactive cycle of internal "spot-checks" and evidence validation for reliability standards, this position ensures the utility remains continuously audit-ready and protects against the loss of institutional knowledge during transitions of key compliance team members.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
3+ years in Power Systems, Utility Operations, or Regulatory Compliance.
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
Foundational knowledge of Transmission, Distribution, and Generation operations.
General knowledge of the principles and practices of business organizations.
Basic knowledge of NERC O&P standards and ERCOT protocols.
Expert-level skill in Microsoft Visio to map complex engineering workflows.
Strong proficiency in SQL (Relational integrity) and Advanced Excel to manage high volumes of reliability evidence.
Ability to take on challenges and learn at a quick pace.
Hold one or more of the following certifications: CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor, PMP – Project Management Professional, Or any other industry security certification.

Nice To Haves

2–5 years of experience in utility operations, including Power Systems Engineering, Grid Operations, Transmission/Generation maintenance, or SCADA systems.
NERC System Operator certification (not required, but highly preferred for technical context).

Responsibilities

Ensure Transmission and Generation systems comply with NERC O&P standards (e.g., COM, FAC, MOD, PRC, TOP, VAR) and related ERCOT and PUCT requirements.
Interview Operations and Engineering SMEs to translate undocumented "institutional knowledge" regarding grid reliability and maintenance into formal, audit-ready Visio process flows.
Assist in the design and implementation of the O&P modules within the GRC web application, ensuring SQL-based data normalization for reliability evidence.
Perform regular internal "spot-checks" of O&P evidence—such as relay testing records, vegetation management logs, and voltage stability reports—to ensure processes are followed consistently.
Develop and deliver training programs for current and incoming technical staff on O&P GRC workflows and "documented" reliability standards.
Lead the cleanup and migration of legacy O&P Excel data and maintenance logs into structured database environments without loss of metadata or historical context.
Lead the preparation and "packaging" of technical evidence for NERC/ERCOT audits and self-certifications, serving as the primary point of contact for reliability evidence defense.
Identify reliability risks within current transmission and generation workflows and author the documented procedures necessary to mitigate those risks.
Monitor emerging NERC O&P, ERCOT and PUCT regulatory changes; assess the impact on current utility operations and update Visio workflows accordingly.
Prepare formal reports and presentations for upper management regarding reliability compliance status, grid risks, and process architecture.
May attend various events and functions.