Director, Portfolio Planning & Origination (hybrid)

NiSource • Columbus, OH

5d • $160,100 - $240,100 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Portfolio Planning & Origination is responsible for leading and maintaining a goal-driven, team-oriented culture within the department when interfacing with other departments, and with external stakeholders. The Director will deliver the required origination, energy supply planning, and regulatory support to meet the needs of all stakeholders within NiSource/NIPSCO. The Director will be the lead commercial contact in constructing RFP's (Request for Proposals) for electric capacity to meet the needs of NIPSCO's customers. The Director will select winning bidders and will engage in arms-length negotiations for all long-term supply deals required by the utility as defined within the Integrated Resource Plan or other long-term planning endeavors/construct. The Director will be responsible for managing the capacity position of the utility by purchasing in the open market, via RFPs, or through the applicable auction processes so the company will remain balanced between necessary supply and existing demand. The Director will lead, direct, and oversee existing generation commercial agreements representing over $5 Billion of capital investment across Indiana and Kentucky to meet NIPSCO's near-term capacity needs through 2030. Further, the Director will lead, direct, and oversee the Operations & Market Support, Regulatory Support, Market Settlements (MISO, RTO/ISO, and Bilateral settlements), and Commercial Support departments, and will partner with internal stakeholders to achieve the business objectives of the organization. These groups provide market and technical support to departments including Regulatory, Regulatory Policy, Financial Planning, Accounting, Risk, Environmental, Tax, Legal, etc. as well as ad hoc requests by any other department.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree In Engineering, Finance, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Extensive experience with wholesale electric market operations, gas trading, commercial negotiations/origination, renewable energy and deployment of battery storage.
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience in the electric utility, gas utility, or a related industry.
• Experience in leading a complex department covering a multitude of origination, market-facing, and regulatory-based processes
• Must have outstanding planning, organizational, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform duties effectively under normal, emergency, and contingency situations.
• Knowledge of regulatory processes, plant operations, fuel supply, project development (origination, permitting, and associated processes), rates, tariffs, State and Federal regulations, and gas operations.
• Financially competent in the areas of general accounting, financial statement analysis, general tax awareness (specifically renewable tax incentives) and an understating of credit ratings/other forms of securitization.
• Knowledge of rates, tariffs, cost allocation, and billing functions.
• Possess a working understanding of regulatory processes, bulk power generation, wholesale power markets, and renewable/thermal generation.
• Working understanding of market trends, deal structures, and legal “deal” making processes.
• Track record of commercial success from origination of commercial agreements and supporting those agreements through deal origination, regulatory approvals, construction, tax equity financing, asset in-service, and agreement tenure (10+ years or through applicable statute of limitations).

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree In Business Administration or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Supervise department personnel, manage the O&M budget and communicate applicable impacts to corporate O&M/CAPEX.
• Mentor, coach, and provide training to direct reports to ensure on-going development of the department.
• Lead all short-term and long-term generation capacity replacement activities.
• Lead the design and review of Requests for Proposals to address changing electric capacity needs.
• Lead commercial negotiations for asset acquisitions, purchase power agreements, or other off-take/M&A transactions to meet the energy supply needs of the Company and its Customers.
• Lead the on-going management of existing generation supply agreements (3,400 MW) totaling over $5 Billion in capital investment and $2 Billion in utility rate-base.
• Provide and support required testimony in CPCN, FERC, or other filings to support energy supply needs.
• Support tax equity financing and the due-diligence of asset acquisition constructs.
• Support the successful onboarding and market registration of new generation assets.
• Partner with Risk, Credit, and Treasury groups to creatively address potential counterparty and deal risk.
• Partner with necessary internal/external business partners in the creation of Board of Director materials, resolutions, and approvals.
• Direct the development and support of production costing computer models (PROMOD-Electric, Plexos – Gas).
• Provide and coordinate testimony and forecasts as required to support NiSource/NIPSCO’s involvement in the broader energy markets (e.g. FAC, GCA, RA, RTO, etc. – cost recovery trackers).
• Respond to Data Requests as required pursuant to audits, regulatory proceedings, or government investigations; participate in internal and external audits as required.
• Lead and coordinate all Energy Supply & Optimization related NIPSCO Gas and Electric Rate Case activities; write and review Rate Case testimony and provide timely responses to Rate Case Data Request Items.
• Interface with Regulatory, Finance, and Regulatory Policy departments in the development and review of Tariffs and Riders and in some instances lead the development of market-facing Tariffs and Riders.
• Assist Regulatory, Finance, and Accounting in performing the gas and electric monthly closing processes to include Resource Cost and Allocation, MISO Market Settlements, Gas Settlements and Planning.
• Provide forecast updates to Financial Planning to include Cost of Goods Sold (COGS).
• Ensure timely and accurate reconciliation and verification of all market settlement activity.
• Provide ad hoc analysis and forecasting in support of the Hedging Policy and lead the development of applicable hedging programs.
• Lead certain applicable market-facing interventions/engagement pursuant to FERC matters, MISO Market Stakeholder processes, Independent Market Monitor (MISO/PJM), etc.

Benefits

• As a public utility, NiSource provides essential services to customers 24/7. Emergency needs can arise at various times throughout the year, including during storm season. Employees may be required to support emergency response efforts, which could include working outside normal hours or assisting with tasks outside of typical responsibilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director