System Protection & Controls Director

Berkshire Hathaway Energy•Des Moines, IA

15h

About The Position

The System Protection and Controls Director provides effective utilization of Human Performance Improvement (HPI) tools while keeping safety as the primary objective. The director provides leadership and vision for system protection. The director is responsible for the development and implementation of protective relaying standards, practices and settings in the electric generation facilities to allow operation of the BHE Renewables fleet in a safe and reliable manner. The director may work with and oversee consultants and compliance partners to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the fleet. The director participates in the design and analysis of protection and control schemes for equipment and devices and provides technical assistance to other departments, particularly in the area of power system grounding, surge protection and analysis of system events. The director represents the company at public hearings, regulatory proceedings and other public meetings required for energy generating facilities. The director provides technical consultative services to other groups within BHE Renewables and ensures safety, environmental and regulatory compliance of the department. The director also recommends and implements policies affecting the BHE Renewables generation fleet.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with professional engineer's license.
Eight years of successful leadership experience in a technical role.
Extensive knowledge of protective relaying principles, standards and practices.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Effective understanding of utility and engineering economics.
Prior experience developing and implementing standards, practices and policies.
Demonstrated ability to prepare and review contracts, specifications and drawings.
Demonstrated knowledge of safety, environmental and regulatory requirements.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Strong leadership and organizational skills.
Prior experience presenting at public hearings, regulatory proceedings and other public meetings affecting BHER’s generation fleet.
Project management skills; ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects concurrently.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree is preferred.
(Typically six years of related, progressive work experience would be needed for candidates applying for this position who do not possess a bachelor's degree.)

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership and vision for BHE Renewables system protection and control, setting goals and objectives to meet customer needs.
Foster learning and collaborative environment within the substation operations.
Manage and direct the efficient design of BHER's system protection system.
Work with consultants or compliance partners performing highly technical work on BHER's system protection facilities including providing effective relay settings and reducing system mis-operations.
Foster a cooperative environment with other departments that are directly involved with system protection projects to help effectively achieve project and system reliability objectives.
Assure compliance with California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO), North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC), PJM Interconnection LLC (PJM), Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Reliability First (RF), SouthEastern Reliability Corporation (SERC), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), Texas Reliability Entity (TexasRE), Western Area Power Authority (WAPA), Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) standards.
Investigate system malfunctions, relay mis-operations and protective device mis-coordinations.
Recommend and implement corrective action.
Review technical documents such as contracts, specifications, drawings and regulatory requirements.
Direct the development and maintenance of protective relaying standards and practices.
Promote process improvement through cost reduction efforts, better software tools, innovative designs, improved technology and quality assurance.