We’re committed to being the clean energy leader in Louisiana. By investing in renewables like solar and utilizing carbon capture and sequestration technology to make our air cleaner, we’re in this for the long haul, because our state and future generations depend on it. Come be a part of our journey at Cleco where we're Energizing Your Tomorrow.

The System Operator is an experienced technician with working knowledge and experience in monitoring and operating the bulk electric system in a safe and reliable manner to ensure the delivery of power to Cleco customers. This position performs and directs routine and emergency transmission switching safely, without loss of load, or damage to equipment and maintains accurate transmission system energy accounting. Responsible for complying with all applicable Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) reliability standards and business practices. Maintains system integrity with regard to safety of employees, customers and contractors without damage to equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Champions a corporate culture that emphasizes transparency, integrity, safety, environmental responsibility, employee development, diversity and inclusion, customer service, and operational excellence.

• Prepare and coordinate switching procedures for routine and emergency work on the electric transmission system and communicate this information to field crews in accordance with NERC Reliability Standards.

• Follows MISO transmission system directives as communicated. Schedule and coordinate outages of transmission, metering and control facilities with operating and maintenance personnel, interconnected utilities, and the Reliability Coordinator (MISO).

• Operate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) equipment.

• Monitor relaying alarms and sequence of events to interpret operation so as to diagnose causes of line and equipment outages.

• Take actions when necessary to ensure the stable and reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, shedding of firm load.

• Ordering appropriate operational changes to meet load fluctuations or loss of generation equipment, substation equipment or transmission lines.

• Issuing transmission switching orders to linemen and power plant personnel. Maintain required transmission voltage levels by coordinating adjustments through power plant personnel.

• Performing special operating studies and preparing reports, load flows and other operating and dispatching data. Review hour end data in historical data base for correctness.

• Direct and coordinate station electricians, plant personnel, system operators of interconnected utility companies and member cooperatives in the execution of switching orders.

• Provide communication to their supervisor to provide status updates on work, and identify risks in delivery or resourcing needs.

• During normal and emergency operating conditions, the System Operator has the authority to take or direct timely and appropriate real-time actions to maintain system reliability, including shedding firm load without obtaining approval from higher level personnel within the System Operator’s own Operating Authority.

Qualifications

Required Education, Skills & Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred

• 3-5+ years of related experience preferred

• Some business acumen pertaining to the Utility industry

• Working knowledge of leading practices in electric system operations

• Some planning and project management skills

• Willingness and ability to learn new technologies on the job

• Proficient at functioning effectively within a team environment, present ideas and opinions in a respective and collegial manner

• Step progression levels based on skill proficiency and scope of job.

• Progression to this level is strictly restricted based on critical individual capabilities and business requirements; must be supported by market survey data.

Licenses and Certifications

• NERC Certification required within 18 months of assuming position

Key Competencies

BEHAVIORAL

• Balances stakeholders

• Builds effective teams

• Business insight

• Communicates effectively

• Courage

• Demonstrates self-awareness

• Drives Results

• Drives Vision and Purpose

• Ensures Accountability

• Instills trust

• Nimble learning

• Plans and Aligns

• Safety

• Strategic mindset

TECHNICAL

• Analytical skills

• Compliance

• Equipment utilization

• Transmission operations

• Transmission operations quality

• Transmission operations resource management

• Transmission operations risk management

Salary dependent on experience, skills, education, and training.

Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC is a regional energy holding company that conducts its business operations through two subsidiaries, Cleco Power and Cleco Cajun. Headquartered in Pineville, Louisiana, and in business since 1935, the company has almost 1,500 employees.

Cleco Power

Cleco Power is a regulated electric public utility that owns 10 generating units with a rated capacity of 3,360 megawatts, 1,335 miles of transmission lines and 12,152 miles of distribution lines. Cleco Power uses multiple generating sources and multiple fuels to serve approximately 290,000 customers in 24 of Louisiana's parishes through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi. Parishes served include Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Catahoula, DeSoto, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Vernon and Washington.

Cleco Cajun

Cleco Cajun is an unregulated utility company that owns 14 generating units with a rated capacity of 3,379 MWs and wholesale contracts serving nine Louisiana cooperatives, three wholesale municipal customers and one electric utility.