Entry Resource Optimization Specialist

SMUD•Sacramento, CA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

SMUD is currently recruiting for a Resource Optimization Specialist (Entry) within the Energy Trading & Contracts Resource Optimization team. This team focuses on production cost modeling for the economic planning of SMUD's resource portfolio mix. Qualified individuals will possess a strong financial and mathematic background. Experience in data analytics, statistical analysis and data science is highly preferred. Purpose: To play a key role within the Energy Trading & Contracts Department, optimizing SMUD's resource portfolio to enhance efficiency and performance. Routinely assess optimization results and market data and provide insights that inform strategic decisions, ensuring SMUD effectively meets its energy supply and demand needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree majoring in Public or Business Administration/Management, Economics, Computer Information Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field from an accredited college or university. 4 years of additional related experience required without a degree.
At least one (1+) year of equivalent professional experience in a similar position or related area, such as, but not limited to, Portfolio Optimization, Energy Trading, Resource Planning, System Operations, Risk Management, Finance, Information Systems, Contracting, Regulatory, or a field that would provide the applicable knowledge and skills, or at least six (6+) months internship at SMUD or an electrical industry related employer.
5 years of related experience required without a degree.
Normal business practices and ethical behavior.
Contract fundamentals, accounting and financial statements, operations, maintenance, and capital budgeting fundamentals.
Qualitative statistical and economic analysis fundamentals.
Computers and Microsoft product suite, as well as analytical software fundamentals.
Basic electrical engineering.
Effectively communicate verbally and in writing internally and externally.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job duties.
Ability to prioritize work on multiple projects with multiple deadlines.
Interpret and apply industry and business policies and regulations.
Evaluate large data sets related to resource capacity, energy supply and demand, transmission and related transactions.
Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis to support portfolio decisions and evaluate economic impacts.
Implement relevant trading directives from Management.

Nice To Haves

Experience in data analytics, statistical analysis and data science is highly preferred.
Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university majoring in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Business finance or a related field is preferred.
Major coursework or experience using programming, such as Python, R or SQL.
Coursework or experience with data analytics, data sciences, or electrical or mechanical engineering.

Responsibilities

Learn about quantitative models to optimize the portfolio mix based on various parameters, such as risk tolerance, market conditions and strategic objectives.
Assist in various analysis of multiple horizon optimization of infrastructure and long-term resource opportunities.
Assist in ensuring all modeling inputs, including resource conditions, attributes, forecast weather, runoff, and solar are accurate and producing reasonable results for trading operations.
Learn the management of hydro reservoir levels and forecast inflows to ensure economic dispatch in adherence to FERC Licensing and operational constraints for the purpose of maximizing assets' value.
Learn about asset pricing signals for fuel and energy limited resources for the economic dispatch in ISO regulated markets.
Review CAISO Generator Resource Data Template, Default Energy Bids, major maintenance adders, and CAISO Market participation system configuration for trading software development.
Assist with all underlying assumptions of the market portfolio optimization tools and develop new functionality around trading interfaces for model interpretation and implementation.
Monitor resource outage conditions for the reliably economic dispatch of portfolio resources.
Assist in tracking and evaluating the performance of investments or assets within the portfolio, providing regular reports, and suggesting adjustments as needed.
Verify resources modeled are optimized to meet NERC/WECC reliability criteria during all operating conditions.
Review historical data for resource market and reliability performance for determination of market participation benefits.
Recommend, when necessary, adjustments for optimizing and balancing schedules to account for system outages.
Assess large sets of financial and operational data to determine portfolio performance and identify trends.
Learn to assess all forecasting tools, including but not limited to price, solar, weather, and load for significant variance and economic contract viability.
Conduct economic assessment of current resource options and market opportunities, utilizing historical and forecast data.
Grow a high-level understanding about integrated power system operations, NERC, WECC, FERC, and CAISO policies and procedures.
Communicate and maintain harmonious relationships with other SMUD and external stakeholders.
Review instructions for optimization, modeling and software processes.
Assist in the implementation of SMUD’s trading guidelines and management directives.
Assist as a liaison for SMUD with outside organizations on issues impacting SMUD generation portfolio, including but not limited to Upper American River Project and/or Chili Bar Hydroelectric Project interest groups.
Perform other related duties as needed; schedules, hours and locations may fluctuate based on business needs.