Team Lead - Reform Project Managers

AEMO 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 
AEMO’s System Design division is responsible for planning the power system in the context of unprecedented transformation. The rapid transition to renewable energy generation and electrification of many sectors (transport, industry etc) has seen sharp rises in proposed transmission and distribution connection projects.

The Onboarding and Connections group manages AEMO’s end to end process for connecting, registering, and commissioning generators into the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Reporting into the Manager Connections Reform, this position will lead a team (up to 8) of Project Managers and Project Co-ordinators responsible for the delivery of AEMO’s connections reform program. This role will have oversight of a range of reform activities including the Connections Reform Initiative (CRI) workstreams as well as other connections related regulatory reforms (e.g. Access Standard Review and System Strength Framework) and changes required for integration of emerging connections technologies - grid forming inverters and offshore wind.

Key stakeholders include State and Federal Governments, generation developers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Network Service Providers (NSPs), and industry associations such as the Clean Energy Council (CEC). Development of a project management framework and associated processes and documents will be key to the success of this role. It also requires the coordination of activities and outcomes with other parts of AEMO and industry partners to maximise the ability for this work to feed into other AEMO and industry processes, e.g. NSW Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), Queensland REZ, Connection Delivery and Engineering Framework.

In this role, you will be able to visit the projects you have helped create and develop long-term relationships with key energy industry players. Whilst providing training and mentoring to the team members, you will be given the opportunity to build your reputation through industry forums and working groups, conferences, and memberships. 

What you will be doing 

• Leading a team of Project Managers and Project Co-ordinators, taking ownership of team performance and capability development, daily team operations, identifying project resourcing risks and providing recommendations.
• Development and implementation of Project Management framework to ensure consistency of approach across Connections Reform workstreams.
• Providing approval recommendations for Connections Reform project management artefacts covering implementation, resourcing, budget, stakeholder engagement and change management.
• Proactively strengthen AEMO’s collaboration with government and industry bodies. 
• Management of Connections Reform revenue streams and budget forecasting.
• Provide mentoring, coaching and expert guidance and frameworks for project management employees to continuous improvement and development.
• Reinforce a service-oriented co-design culture, based on partnerships and close collaboration within AEMO and across industry.
• Ensure written communication and documentation prepared by the team is clear, concise, and appropriate for the intended audience (both technical and non-technical) before recommending management approval.
• Proactively build AEMO’s reputation as a trusted partner to generation developers, original equipment manufacturers, Government, Network Service Providers, Market Participants, Customers, and other stakeholders.

What you will bring to the role 

• Tertiary and/or post graduate qualifications in project management and/or active industry experience.
• Engineering or regulatory/policy qualifications to support the above would be considered useful.
• Demonstrated experience in leading medium - large project teams.
• Demonstrated experience in managing large programs of work involving multiple parallel workstreams and deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience in managing strategic Reform Projects that require extensive stakeholder engagement and negotiation, as well as NER change management and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in building and managing project teams – shaping a proactive and ownership based team culture, flustering a service oriented, outcome-focused, and pragmatic approach to problem solving.
• Demonstrated experience in shaping and delivering projects across a variety of stakeholders with conflicting interests, negotiating agreed outcomes, and delivering these on time and on budget.
• Flexible approach to project planning to accommodate industry, regulatory and policy changes.
• Understanding of the NER, the NEM, and the Rule change framework.

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.