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Form of workAEMO at the Heart of Energy
We are the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), committed to designing and operating a sustainable energy system that delivers safe, reliable, and affordable electricity and gas. Our mission includes facilitating the transition to a net-zero energy system by 2050, working collaboratively with industry partners to achieve 100% renewable generation capability by 2025. We have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to co-design the future of our energy systems, and our core values revolve around Character, Commitment, and Connection. Join us as we contribute to this significant mission in the energy sector.
About the Role
Sitting within the System Design division the Onboarding and Connections (O&C) department is responsible for the end to end connection process across the National Electricity Market (NEM). Operationally, it works closely with transmission and distribution network service providers in supporting project developers and equipment manufacturers through the application, registration, and commissioning phases of the project lifecycle to enable release to full operation. It is responsible for recommending projects for NEM registration, and full commercial operation. In its role, it provides guidance to all parties regarding how the National Electricity Rule (NER) should be interpreted regarding connection assessment requirements and materials to be provided.
This new position reports into the Manager – Connections Engineering and provides technical, regulatory and process leadership, direction, and advice into AEMO’s activities in relation to connection and reform processes, with an initial focus on developing Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (REZs), together with broader reforms covering integration of emerging technologies or connections, integration of major network augmentations, streamlining of connection processes, and implementation of regulatory changes.
The ideal incumbent hailing from a network service provider or consultancy background, brings extensive experience in due diligence, deep familiarity with the connections process, rules, and adeptness in collaborating with NSPs, OEMs, Governments and various connection projects. You will conduct workshops, engage stakeholders extensively and lead the implementation of process improvement for QLD REZ.
What you will be doing
- Lead approaches to the connection of renewable energy zones and testing their application across the National Electricity Market (NEM), with an initial focus on the REZ. This work would be undertaken in collaboration with AEMO colleagues and key external stakeholder groups.
- Provide specialist technical advice on the integration of emerging technologies or connections, integration of major network augmentations, streamlining of connection processes, and implementation of regulatory changes.
- Provide expert advice and guidance to staff and industry stakeholders in relation to technical, operational, regulatory and process matters associated with connections of major plant (customer, generation, network augmentations or storage) to the power system
- Represent AEMO on internal and industry working groups, and coordinate with other workstreams to ensure an aligned outcome where these workstreams overlap.
- Engage with a broad range of subject matter experts – both internal and external to AEMO – and facilitate workshops to identify common issues and agree outcomes.
- Supervise and provide direction to technical resources, including consultants, to deliver AEMO’s role in complex connections reform.
- Input into stakeholder management plans for the delivery of the project and lead technical stakeholder negotiations across a diverse set of stakeholders with embedded interests and strong commercial drivers.
- Lead or contribute specialist technical advice, and any interactions with regulation, to the development of Rule change proposals.
What you will bring to the role
- Engineering, stakeholder and/or project management qualifications.
- Regulatory/policy qualifications to support the above would be considered useful.
- Extensive demonstrated technical experience in working on establishment or reform projects that require extensive stakeholder engagement and negotiation, as well as NER change management and implementation.
- Experience in facilitating working groups and negotiating the resolution of technically complex issues across internal and external stakeholders with competing objectives and a variety of commercial and reputational drivers.
- Demonstrated experience in shaping and delivering outcomes across a variety of stakeholders with conflicting interests, negotiating agreed outcomes, and delivering these on time and to budget.
- Demonstrated experience in managing a diverse set of matrixed resources with differing skill sets and objectives to achieve time and budget requirements.
- Understanding of the NER, the NEM, and the Rule change framework.
- Understanding of the challenges experienced by transmission business, generation developers, customers and their commercial drivers or constraint
In return some of our benefits to you
- Flexible working: work from home, part time, job share, hybrid options, and additional leave options
- Professional development via projects, industry networks, job rotation, study assistance and more.
- Give back with up to 4 days of volunteering leave per year.
- Reward your hard work with annual performance bonuses (subject to eligibility).
- Embrace a healthier you with our wellness program, discounted health insurance, gym perks and our comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
About Our Process
AEMO values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, welcoming applications from all backgrounds without regard to age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, parental status, race, or religion. We are dedicated to accommodating applicants' needs during the application or interview process, simply let the us know by emailing us at ******@aemo.com.au
If you would like to know more about working at AEMO, please check out our careers page for more information.
