Recruitment posting
Alberta Electric System Operator
Competition #: 321
Ministry : Energy
Opening Date : 2016/10/07
closing Date : 2016/10/28
Role : Members
It is recognized in Alberta as a fundamental principle and as a matter of public policy that all persons are equal. Diversity and inclusion are valued and supported on the boards of Alberta's public agencies.
The Minister of Energy is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving as a Public Board Member of the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO). Up to 4 Public Members are required.
The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) is the business name of a statutory corporation, the Independent System Operator, established on June 1, 2003, under the Electric Utilities Act (“the Act”) of the Province of Alberta. AESO is responsible for the safe, reliable and economic planning and operation of the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). AESO provides open and non-discriminatory access to Alberta's interconnected power grid for generation and distribution companies and large industrial consumers of electricity. In doing so, AESO contracts with transmission facility owners to acquire transmission services and, with other parties, provides fair and timely access to the system. AESO also develops and administers transmission tariffs, procures ancillary services to ensure system reliability and manages settlement of the hourly wholesale market and transmission system services. AESO facilitates Alberta's competitive wholesale electricity market, which in 2014 had 196 participants and approximately $5 billion in annual energy transactions. The overall operation of the AIES involves several other statutory entities, including the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Market Surveillance Administrator and others, with roles and responsibilities that require bilateral interaction with AESO.
AESO ensures a fair, open and efficient market for the exchange of electric energy in Alberta and effective relationships with neighboring jurisdictions. AESO ensures that Alberta's competitive electricity markets continue to operate in the best way possible, demonstrating that reliability is not compromised and the structure is sustainable, predictable and adds long-term value.
AESO is governed by an independent board (“the Board”), which provides advice and direction and has a diverse background in finance, business, electricity, oil and gas, energy management, regulatory affairs and technology. The organization is independent of any industry affiliations and owns no transmission or market assets. In accordance with the Act, AESO cannot have a profit or loss. AESO conducts all business dealings with ambition, integrity, responsiveness and efficiency, delivering quality and innovation in a way that provides value to customers and stakeholders.
AESO Bylaws and the Board Charter and Governance Document (“the Charter”) set out the general responsibilities of the Board. The Board is responsible for overseeing the business and related affairs of the organization, and is actively involved with the executive team in the strategic planning process. AESO is governed by its Board, which is comprised of members appointed by Alberta’s Minister of Energy for three-year terms.
Board Members have the following responsibilities:
Governance, Compliance & Affairs of the Board
• Establish a mandate and Charter for the Board in compliance with all relevant Government policies and Ministerial directives along with all legal and regulatory requirements;
• Ensure the appropriate governance and control mechanisms are in place with respect to the management and operations of AESO;
• Establish such committees as it deems necessary to assist the Board in carrying out its duties and responsibilities, appoint Board committee members and approve the Committees’ respective Charters and any amendments, including but not limited to the following committees:
- Audit Committee;
- Power System Committee;
- Governance and Nominations Committee; and
- Human Resources Committee.
• Select new members and plan for member succession, including making recommendations to the Minister, Board Chair and Members;
• Ensure that appropriate compensation, orientation and ongoing education is provided to members;
• Assess the effectiveness of the Board, committees and individual members in fulfilling their responsibilities; and
• Approve and monitor the development and implementation of strategy, the business plan and the performance of AESO against such plan, including changes where necessary.
Public Interest and Stakeholder Relationships
• Upon approval of the strategy and business plans, support and guide the CEO, subject to the Board’s duty to act in the public interest of Albertans;
• Appropriately address conflict of interest matters and the ongoing independence of members as required by the Act; and
• Endorse a just and trusting relationship and collaborative culture between AESO and the Minister.
Fiscal Accountability and Reporting
The AESO Board’s financial and corporate responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Review and approve an annual Capital and Operating Budget, and monitor performance;
• Oversee the development of corporate financial strategy;
• Oversee the integrity and effectiveness of AESO’s internal control and management information systems (including internal audit resources and external auditors);
• Approve annual audited financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis and their release;
• Oversee the reporting of AESO’s financial performance to stakeholders and the public; and
• Oversee the reporting requirements of AESO pursuant to the Act.
Enterprise Risk Management
• Understand and assess the principal risks associated with AESO’s duties and responsibilities and confirm that there is a structure for the protection and enhancement of its assets;
• Review Management’s processes used to identify the material risks associated with the AESO’s duties and responsibilities and review Management’s implementation of appropriate systems to identify, manage and mitigate those risks;
• Review coverage, deductibles and key issues regarding corporate insurance policies;
• Receive annually (at a minimum) reports from management on matters including but not limited to: ethical conduct, employee recruitment, retention and succession; and
• Monitor that the resources of AESO are appropriately safeguarded.
Information Technology (IT) and Cyber Security
• Exercise broad IT management expertise in overseeing the translation of business critical operating requirements into secure networks, systems, telecommunications and infrastructures;
• Participate in the development of the strategic direction by applying subject matter expertise and leadership in enterprise IT security risks, trends, options, policies, processes; and
• Provide oversight of management in IT security matters as needed.
Human Capital Management
• Appoint and manage the succession of the CEO and monitor the CEO’s performance;
• Approve the CEO’s compensation;
• Review the CEO’s performance regularly against agreed objectives;
• Provide advice and counsel to the CEO in the execution of the CEO’s duties; and
• Ensure effective policies and procedures are in place relating to recruitment, compensation, performance evaluation, management succession planning, and the development and continuity of human resources.
Given the extent to which these member positions can positively influence the future direction and success of AESO and to ensure that the Board composition represents a diverse range of both general and special skills and personal backgrounds and experiences, AESO is seeking members who possess a combination, but not necessarily all of the following knowledge, skills and experiences:
Corporate Governance Experience
Prior Board Experience
- Experience as a Board Member of a major organization, private or public sector is an asset, but not required; and
- Confidence in providing advice and stewardship to the executive team of an organization.
Governance
- Understanding or experience in governance processes, policies and accountabilities by which organizations are directed and controlled, including, understanding the role and relationships between stakeholders, directors and management;
- Direct experience with corporate board governance as it relates to strategy, stewardship, oversight, and measurement of results; and
- Familiarity with operating in an environment which includes economic regulation.
Leadership Experience
Executive Leadership (Industry experience is preferred)
- Experience driving strategic insight and direction to continuously challenge organization;
- Experience in understanding and balancing political and regulatory requirements; and
- Experience in a position of leadership, ideally within an environment similar to AESO which involves elements of both regulated and unregulated utilities.
Enterprise Risk Management
- Experience in the process of identifying organizational risks in a wide range of areas, and ensuring that management has implemented the appropriate systems to manage risk; and
- May include experience in establishing and/or implementing a risk control framework, or compliance oversight.
Strategic Planning
- Experience in strategic planning, including a demonstrated ability to focus on longer term goals and strategic outcomes, as separate from day-to-day management and operational experience.
Organizational Acumen
- Acumen developed within a business, public service or non-profit environment; and
- Knowledge/experience with performance measurements of organizational objectives.
Financial Literacy
- Knowledge of financial reporting standards; and
- Ability to read and understand financial statements.
Human Resource Management
- Experience in, and a thorough understanding of, human resources issues including: board and executive recruitment and succession planning, talent development, diversity, retention, change management, and compensation programs.
Organizational Effectiveness
- An understanding of organizational design and management for public or private sector entities.
Information Technology & Cyber Security
- Direct experience or strong understanding of the role and responsibility of IT and cyber security in an organization; including IT project management, information management, data protection, electronic record management and security risk management;
- Well-developed understanding of systems security, implementation and operations, ideally developed in an IT-reliant business environment with a comprehensive IT security program; and
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Broad range of experience with corporate IT solutions to diverse and complex business issues.
Industry-Related Technical Experience
Engineering
- Prior experience in the electricity generation and power delivery sector;
- Experience in or strong knowledge of renewable electricity development, generation and integration;
- Experience overseeing planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of similar infrastructure to that on the AIES;
- Understanding of deregulated electricity market structures; and
- Professional engineering designation (P.Eng) is an assest, but not required.
Public Affairs
Public Scrutiny & Accountability
- Experience in public accountability and scrutiny in a political setting combined with a strong understanding of the connections between customers, business, stakeholders and strategic goal achievement; and
- Demonstrated commitment to acting in the public interest in all business dealings.
Environmental/Regulatory Affairs
- Broad regulatory, political and public policy experience at municipal, provincial or federal level, ideally with matters pertaining to environmental policy and power generation.
COMPETENCIES & ATTRIBUTES:
• Be independent and maintain independence of any material interest in the Alberta electric industry;
• Willingness to commit to an extremely steep learning curve;
• Superior interpersonal skills that demonstrate a respect for diversity of thought, opinion and experience;
• Familiarity with Alberta’s economy, distribution and generation geography, and business environment;
• Unwavering personal and professional ethics, integrity, values, and a commitment to the long-term interests of Alberta's energy future, the organization, and its stakeholders;
• Highly engaged, responsive, and willing to express opinions on matters presented to the Board;
• Excellent judgment, sound business acumen and the ability to deal with competing demands;
• Comfortable with managing in ambiguity and uncertainty;
• Creative, strategic thinker, and visionary who can deal with issues of the day without losing sight of the big picture; and
• An inquisitive and objective perspective, practical wisdom and mature judgment, results oriented and decisive nature, and a willingness to devote necessary time to Board matters.
Corporate Governance Experience
Prior Board experience
- Experience as a Board Member of a major organization, private or public sector is an asset, but not required; and
- Confidence in providing advice and stewardship to the executive team of an organization.
Governance
- Understanding or experience in governance processes, policies and accountabilities by which organizations are directed and controlled, including, understanding the role and relationships between stakeholders, directors and management;
- Direct experience with corporate board governance as it relates to strategy, stewardship, oversight, and measurement of results; and
- Familiarity with operating in an environment which includes economic regulation.
The AESO’s Board Members will serve up to a 3-year term, subject to the Minister’s discretion. Board meetings will be held quarterly, at minimum, and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings. The AESO currently has four Board Committees, Audit, Governance and Nominations, Human Resources and Power Systems. All meetings are held in Calgary.
Board Members serving on the AESO are compensated on the basis of an annual retainer and meeting fees. Members receive an annual retainer of $27,500, Committee Chairs an annual retainer of $5,000 and Board Members received $1,000 per AESO Board and Committee meeting attended.
To apply for the opportunity of Board Members(s), please submit your resume and application to Conroy Ross Partners mailto:apply_nfp@conroyross.com or contact Kara Watson directly at kwatson@conroyross.com.
Copy and Paste the following job title and code and place it in the subject line of your email so we can identify the application: AJVA-710662 Board Members, AB – Calgary and Area (CRPAPPLY).
Carefully read the Recruitment Posting and the Position Profile to ensure this is an appropriate opportunity for you. Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements.
Online applications are preferred. To apply, click on the 'apply' button, create or sign into your account in the ePAAS system; upload your resume, view the listing under Current Opportunities and click on 'submit application'. The uploaded resume will be automatically attached.
Provide a short (maximum 200 words) biography using the Biography template found under additional documents section. Your biography should contain general information about your education, experience, community involvement, skills, etc. Please note that biographies may be edited for length and clarity.
Once your biography and other required form(s) are completed, save it to your PC. When you hit 'submit application', you will be prompted to upload additional documents. Drag and drop (or upload) your completed cover letter, biography and other form(s) into the 'Drop files below or click to upload' section before clicking the 'apply' button.
If you are unable to apply online, please submit a cover letter and resume, quoting the recruitment posting competition number, to the contact provided on the posting. We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to assess which candidates' qualifications most closely match the agency's requirements. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted to advance to the next step in the appointment process. You can check the status of each competition on-line at https://www.alberta.ca/public-agencies.cfm.
All potential candidates will be screened for potential conflicts of interest. Please Note: Successful applicants will have the following information about them made publicly available on the Public Agency Secretariat Website: name,biography, public agency, position appointed to.