Program Manager (Power Operations)

Full Job Description

The Power Operations Manager for WAPA's Rocky Mountain Region (RMR) provides critical leadership in power system operations.

This role involves planning and managing all regional power facilities, as well as negotiating and administering contracts for power sales, purchases, and related transactions.

*This is not a remote position, you will be required to report to the Loveland, CO office. Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.

This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

The experience need not have been in the federal government.

To be qualified at the GS-15: Applicants must have one (1) year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-14 grade level or equivalent pay band in Federal Service.

This experience includes all of the following: Managed cross-jurisdictional power flows and interchanges, negotiating agreements with neighboring balancing authorities to enhance system flexibility and market participation.

Developed and executed real-time operational strategies for managing system contingencies, minimizing service interruptions, and restoring power efficiently during grid disturbances.

Engaged directly with preference power customers to understand their evolving energy needs, negotiate service level agreements, and address operational concerns to maintain strong relationships.

Facilitated multi-agency working groups to ensure alignment on critical infrastructure projects, emergency response protocols, and long-term regional energy planning initiatives.

Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b).

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages.

If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Major Duties:

As a Program Manager (Power Operations), you will: Direct the preparation and implementation of power resource requirement studies and generation scheduling.

Ensure compliance with regulatory standards (FERC, NERC, WECC) for transmission facilities. Coordinate with internal and external teams on hydraulic and operational plans for integrated power systems.

Represent WAPA and RMR in various electric utility forums and liaisons with stakeholders. Perform full supervisory duties for a diverse workforce, including performance management and training.

Manage balancing authority energy management systems (EMS) and meter/scheduling data processing.