Senior NERC CIP Advisor / Engineer

~ FirstLight Power Resources (FLPR) is a New England power generation and energy storage company that owns and operates a strong portfolio of hydroelectric generation, energy storage, and Class I renewable energy generation. ~

FLPR’s New England generation fleet includes run-of-river hydro-electric facilities, pumped storage hydro-electric facilities, traditional hydro-electric facilities, and a solar farm.

Our facilities, located in Massachusetts and Connecticut, represent hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in clean renewable energy. We are committed to environmental awareness and sustainability. We maintain and operate nature trails and recreation and environmental programs at our facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Position Overview

The Senior NERC CIP Advisor / Engineer, based out of our Northfield, MA facility, is responsible for completing compliance tasks including documentation of CIP-related activities for FirstLight assets. The individual also provides oversight, guidance, and coordination in managing and developing programs and processes to monitor and implement risk-based compliance with NERC CIP requirements. The Senior NERC CIP Advisor /Engineer also supports creation and delivery of training related to risk-based compliance monitoring.

This position is responsible for creating and maintaining consistent environmental compliance, health, and safety programs across the company. This involves creating or updating existing policies, procedures, and training programs. This position is also responsible for thoroughly investigating any incidents that occur and continually creating proactive measures to ensure optimum safety at all our locations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage monitoring and oversight activities, including associated project plans and test procedures, to develop high quality oversight programs and processes to support NERC’s risk-based compliance monitoring and CIP enforcement program.
• Execute, control, and proactively manage project schedules, including risk identification, risk mitigation, and change management.
• Perform and track required updates to software, equipment, and documentation.
• Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls and prevent noncompliance with NERC CIP requirements.
• Execute oversight of programs/ processes/ activities to evaluate NERC Compliance Monitoring, and CIP Enforcement Program.
• Participate in compliance program audits. Review records and recordkeeping practices of compliance enforcement activities to document findings and observations that will be used to create detailed audit reports communicating the results of audits, including areas of strengths, areas for improvement, and observations to support company-wide consistency.
• Identify, develop, and effectively deliver training.
• Assist in the ongoing development and improvement of NERC CIP compliance monitoring and enforcement program policies, procedures, rules, and other activities.
• Interface with NERC CIP committees, subcommittees, and working groups and industry stakeholder groups as necessary on project activities.
• Work with and collaborate with the Corporate IT Department on planning and activities.
• Report on project status, risks, and achievement of key milestones.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or Information Technology is required.
• 5+ years of experience in the auditing, utility regulatory, compliance, and/or engineering experience.
• Experience with North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations and ISO-New England rules and procedures.
• Knowledge of the NERC CIP Compliance, NERC Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program, and NERC Rules of Procedure.
• Professional certification such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or other information security credentials are desirable.

Required Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Advanced knowledge and application of professional auditing standards and principles.
• Ability to communicate ideas and recommendations orally and in writing.
• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Well-developed multi-tasking skills.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to meet highest attendance requirements
• Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Complies with all FirstLight Power Resources policies and procedures.
• Travel requirements 25%.

Physical Requirements:

• Capable of frequently standing; walking; balancing; sitting; climbing (ladders, stairs, ramps, catwalks, stacks and the like as required); stooping; squatting; crouching; crawling; and kneeling as needed.
• This position may be required occasionally to move or lift equipment that is 50 pounds.
• Must be physically capable of entering and working in confined space (crawl spaces, shafts, small enclosed areas, pipes and the like) as needed.
• Must be physically capable of performing demanding work at various heights and in adverse conditions during operations, shutdowns, and in fire/emergency situations.