NERC Regulatory Compliance Expert II

Duquesne Light Company, headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, is a leader in providing electric energy and has been in the forefront of the electric energy market, with a history rooted in technological innovation and superior customer service. Today, the company continues its role as a leader in the transmission and distribution of electric energy, providing a secure supply of reliable power to more than half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Duquesne Light Company is committed to creating a culture of inclusion. We value and respect the unique differences and experiences of our employees. We believe that our differences lead to better collaboration, innovation and outcomes. We want you to join our team!

Overall Purpose:

Responsible to lead and support the overall administration of the Company’s North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) internal compliance program including all aspects of compliance with Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), Operations & Planning (O&P) and PJM matrix requirements with a focus on maintaining a strong culture of compliance and continuous improvement. As a senior member of the corporate NERC Compliance team, support the Company NERC compliance processes, business units and oversight responsibilities. Responsible for assisting the Regulatory Compliance Senior Managers with NERC CIP and O&P compliance program management and coordination, including the investigation and mitigation of any outstanding compliance issues and partnering with the IT and Operations business units to develop and implement mitigation plans.

Location: Hybrid, downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership of the Company’s NERC compliance program including, but not limited to, providing oversight of compliance with applicable NERC Standards, completing self-certifications of compliance, responding to requests for data submittals, continual maintenance of evidence, investigations (both internal and external), self-reports and mitigation plans. This work would be performed with a focus upon always being “audit ready.”
• Responsible for assisting the Regulatory Compliance Senior Managers in coordinating compliance audits by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), NERC, PJM Interconnection (“PJM”) and/or ReliabilityFirst (“RF”). This responsibility includes internal and external coordination, as well as organization, review and preparation of Reliability Standard Audit Worksheets (‘RSAWs”) and evidence. Audit preparatory work will include conducting mock audits, and coordination of external assistance for mock audits, as required in support of the Regulatory Compliance Senior Managers.
• Maintain awareness of emerging utility industry issues through benchmarking and participation in appropriate utility forums/groups. Review all relevant communications from FERC, NERC, RF and PJM, distribute to appropriate SMEs within the Company, and respond to FERC, NERC, RF, and PJM as appropriate. Participate in monthly PJM and RF compliance calls and other regulatory and industry meetings, as required.
• Monitor the development of new/revised NERC Standards, notify appropriate individuals within the Company, and work with business units to ensure new NERC Standards/Requirements are implemented before the effective date, and ensure business units remain compliant with all effective Standards/Requirements.
• Review and update NERC compliance policies when required and perform various required annual reviews.
• Provide necessary assistance and training on NERC regulatory compliance to Company business units and SMEs.
• Investigate, document and manage potential violations of compliance related to NERC Standards and ensure effective mitigations plans are put in place and completed on schedule. Work closely with the Director NERC Compliance, the Regulatory Compliance Senior Managers and business unit leadership/SMEs to fully investigate and mitigate any discovered compliance issues.
• In conjunction with the Chief Compliance Officer and Director NERC Compliance, implement and monitor internal controls for the Company’s NERC compliance program in accordance with NERC’s risk-based Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program.
• Effectively lead and coordinate personnel within the Corporate Compliance team to support and meet NERC Compliance goals across the Company.
• Provide professional recommendations and insights to aid in the configuration, implementation and management of a compliance management system to effectively track and document the Company’s Internal Compliance Monitoring Program (ICMP).
• Coordinate Company’s responsibilities related to NERC Alert notifications concerning reliability, security and compliance.

education/experience/Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or related discipline required.
• 15+ years of related experience required
• At least ten (10) years of experience working with a regulated entity or regulatory organization required, particularly in the electric sector.

• Ten (10) or more years of experience with NERC compliance programs and implementation required.

• Knowledge and experience with transmission system operations/maintenance, Information Technology (IT) and/or Operational Technology (OT) is required.
• Advanced education such as a master’s degree, Juris Doctorate, PhD, or certification is preferred.

Skills and Experience Utilized in this Role

• Ability to work professionally and collaboratively with others on compliance initiatives.
• High attention to detail.
• Strong leadership skills to effectively work with business and regulators on compliance matters.
• Ability to quickly identify and adapt to changing priorities.
• Superior written and oral communications skills to communicate effectively in a concise and professional manner within all levels of the organization and with external parties.

Must possess a positive attitude and strong values that fit with DLC’s core values:

• Energized to shape the future;
• Bold in thinking and exploration of new possibilities;
• Collaborative in approaching all challenges;
• Responsible in commitment to safety, management of assets and finances and interaction with others;
• Selfless in serving the community, both on the job and through volunteerism.

Scope

Primary focus is on individual contributions which drive proactive improvement of business practices that typically have impact at the enterprise level. Confidently manages one’s own time and workflow and prioritizes work effectively. Responsibilities are strategic in nature – contributing directly to the development of long-term (3+ year) organizational plans. Daily work typically complex in nature requiring the incumbent to draw on previous knowledge to perform role. Has well-established capabilities; acts as an expert and thought leader on the organization’s most complex problems. May be recognized as an external thought leader within a function of the organization with leading-edge theories, and/or techniques within own field.

Decision Impact

Problems and issues faced are vague and require reasoning of a broad set of variables to identify root cause. Expert in their field, makes sound decisions regularly. Other employees (including peers and/or more senior leadership) typically seek advice and decisioning support from this role on a regular basis.

Hybrid Work

position follows our hybrid work model, with a minimum of two days working in the office and the remaining days working remotely. Reporting location and frequency may be subject to change based on job role and department needs.

Storm Roles

All Non-Union Employees will serve in storm roles as appropriate to their role and skillset. Please be sure to discuss storm roles with the hiring manager for this position, as duties can vary across the Company.Examples of storm roles could include but aren’t limited to duties such as: working with operations for service center support or with the communications, customer service or government affairs teams to respond to public and customer requests for information, etc.

Data Governance

Utilize data to make business decisions as appropriate for the position, support data stewardship activities and partner with IT on underlying data needs.

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Duquesne Light Holdings is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of the employment relationship, without discrimination because of race, age, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity or status as a Vietnam era or special disabled veteran or any other unlawful basis, as defined by applicable law, and fostering a workplace free of unlawful discrimination and retaliation. This policy affects decisions including, but not limited to, hiring, compensation, benefits, terms and conditions of employment, opportunities for promotion, transfer, layoffs, return from a layoff, training and development, and other privileges of employment. An integral part of Duquesne Light Holdings’ commitment is to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws concerning equal employment and affirmative action.

Duquesne Light Holdings is committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to foster an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone has the opportunity to be successful.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening, apply for a position, or participate in the interview process, connect with us at HR@duqlight.com and describe the specific accommodation requested for a disability-related limitation.