The Council is seeking a Power System Analyst to support the Council in its power system modeling and power planning analysis.

The Council is an interstate compact agency formed by the states of Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho under the Northwest Power Act of 1980. Under the Act, the Council develops, with broad public participation, a regional conservation and electrical generation power plan, and a protection and mitigation program for fish and wildlife affected by the hydropower facilities on the Columbia River. The Power Plan and Fish and Wildlife Programs are largely implemented by agencies of the federal government, especially the Bonneville Power Administration. The Council consists of eight members. The governors of the four states appoint two members to serve on the Council. The members are supported by the central office staff based in Portland, Oregon and several staff located in each state office.

The Council is starting to prepare for its ninth power plan and is seeking a Power System Analyst to join the Power Planning Division during this important and exciting time. The Council is seeking an individual that has the ability to support several aspects of its power planning work, which include developing forecasts of demand, defining attributes of new resources options, and support power system modeling. Applicants with relevant analytical experience in power planning are encouraged to apply and may be considered for a Senior Power System Analyst position with pay commensurate with that experience.

During a time of rapid change in the region’s power system, forecasting loads and new resource potential, modeling of power system fundamentals, and evaluating tradeoffs associated with the addition of new resources are becoming increasingly complex analytical tasks. The Council’s Power Division is tasked with understanding these needs and conducting the necessary analysis to provide the Northwest with a strategy for ensuring an adequate, economic, efficient, and reliable power supply.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

  • Support the Council’s Power Division in researching a variety of topics to collect and develop the necessary data and analysis around new resource options and load forecasting
  • Develop an understanding of the Council’s power plan modeling, including the demand forecast models, capital expansion and production cost models, to ensure deep understanding of Council analysis, ensure seamless delivery of inputs, and provide analytical support as needed
  • Co-facilitate and chair one or more advisory committees, as needed
  • Track energy policies related to analytical efforts, including load forecasting, fuels analysis, or other areas of work
  • Convey analytical and modeling results to Council members and other interested parties in a clear and concise manner
  • Respond to inquiries from the public related to Council power plans and analyses
  • Lead or participate in other power-related analyses, as assigned

Essential Skills and Qualifications

  • Demonstrated ability to be an effective team player as a key member of the dynamic work of the division
  • Demonstrated ability and desire to learn on the job, be a self-starter, and have a curious mind about energy and policy issues
  • BS or higher in applied mathematics, economics, engineering or other quantitative discipline (demonstrated industry experience in these areas may substitute for a degree)
  • Ability to perform technical analysis, think critically, and make connections to other Council analysis or industry trends
  • Experience in the power industry, including knowledge of generating resources, demand-side resource potential, and power system operations is preferred
  • Experience in demand forecasting, production cost modeling, and/or capital expansion modeling is preferred
  • Familiarity with the integrated resource planning (IRP) process
  • Knowledge and use of financial and economic analysis and cost modeling tools
  • Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate complex issues and information to policy makers, industry experts, and the general public
  • Ability to travel to Council and other meetings across the region, as needed

Additional Desired Skills and Qualifications for Senior Power System Analyst

  • Extensive integrated resource planning experience (or equivalent relevant industry experience)
  • Eight or more years of experience in the power utility business or related field
  • Several years of experience frequently presenting to the public and to executives
  • Project management experience
  • Knowledge of programming at an advanced level in at least one programming languages and the ability to quickly learn to read or write in new programming languages as necessary
  • Graduate degree preferred

It is required that this position be filled by someone living within the Council’s four state region of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington and be available to travel to Portland to work from the Council’s central office on occasion.

The Council is seeking to hiring as soon as possible.

Application due by October 7, 2024. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, writing sample, and references electronically as a single pdf to shirotsu@nwcouncil.org.

The Council provides a competitive structure of compensation and benefits. The starting salary range for the Power System Analyst position is $108,000 – $114,000. The starting salary for the Senior Power System Analyst position is $124,000 – $132,000. Starting salary dependent upon experience. Benefits information available upon request to shirotsu@nwcouncil.org.

The Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Council does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, or military or veteran status. For more information, see the Council’s Inclusion Statement.