Manager, Customer Access Studies

AESO•Calgary, AB

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is responsible for the safe, reliable, and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System. The Customer Access Study (CAS) team is responsible for delivering interconnection studies and engineering assessments that support customer projects through the AESO Connection Process. Reporting to the Director, Customer Access and Project Engineering, the Manager, Customer Access Studies provides leadership to a team of Engineers responsible for customer access studies and engineering assessments across a diverse portfolio of generation, load, storage, and transmission projects. This role combines people leadership, technical oversight, stakeholder engagement, and strategic decision-making. You will work closely with teams across the AESO, including System Planning, System Operations, Forecasting & Analytics, Legal, Regulatory, and Tariff, as well as external customers and industry participants, to support project execution and informed technical decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation with APEGA, or eligibility to obtain registration.
10+ years of progressive engineering experience within the power system industry, with expertise in transmission planning, interconnection studies, system analysis, or related technical disciplines.
Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing technical or engineering teams, including performance management, talent development, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.
Strong understanding of power system studies and engineering assessments, including power flow, short circuit, voltage stability, transient, and dynamic analysis.
Experience interpreting and providing technical oversight of studies completed using industry-standard tools such as PSS/E and PSCAD.
Broad knowledge of generation, load, energy storage, and transmission technologies, along with an understanding of how emerging technologies are shaping the evolving electricity system.
Sound engineering judgment with the ability to make risk-based decisions while balancing technical, regulatory, operational, customer, and business considerations.
Knowledge of Alberta's electricity industry, including the AESO tariff, regulatory environment, connection processes, and transmission system operations.
Proven ability to build strong relationships and influence outcomes across cross-functional teams, senior leadership, customers, consultants, and industry stakeholders.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
A strategic and continuous improvement mindset, with a passion for enhancing processes, developing people, and helping shape the future of Alberta's electricity system.

Nice To Haves

MSc. or Ph.D. in Electrical Power systems will be considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a team of engineering professionals responsible for customer access studies and engineering assessments, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
Provide leadership and oversight for the delivery of customer access studies, ensuring work products are completed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with AESO requirements, customer commitments, and business priorities.
Support employee performance and development through coaching, mentoring, feedback, workforce planning, and succession development, while creating an inclusive and engaging team environment.
Review and provide direction on complex, high-impact, and high-risk customer projects, applying sound engineering judgment and balancing technical, operational, regulatory, customer, and business considerations.
Guide and support engineers in the interpretation of power system studies, engineering assessments, and technical recommendations related to customer interconnections.
Establish, maintain, and continually improve customer access study practices, standards, quality assurance processes, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency and excellence across the team.
Partner with Program Managers and internal stakeholders to effectively prioritize work, allocate resources, and deliver customer projects in alignment with AESO objectives and timelines.
Collaborate with teams across System Planning, Forecasting & Analytics, System Operations, Regulatory, Legal, Tariff, and Engineering to support technical decision-making and advance strategic initiatives.
Provide expert technical advice and recommendations to senior leadership, supporting informed decision-making on customer access, transmission planning, and broader grid-related initiatives.
Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, facility owners, consultants, and industry stakeholders, helping to resolve complex technical issues and support successful project outcomes.
Represent the AESO in stakeholder engagements, industry working groups, and regulatory proceedings, providing technical expertise and contributing to industry discussions that shape Alberta's evolving electricity system.
Champion continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance processes, tools, and ways of working that improve efficiency, quality, and the customer experience.