Critical Infrastructure Compliance Specialist

Physical office location: 1120 Cottonwood Creek Trail, Building A, Cedar Park, TX 78613. Hybrid work options available.

About the Role

This position supports the Compliance and Regulatory Department by executing processes or performing actions designed to maintain PEC’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and review data and information for accuracy to maintain compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Standards for its Operational Technology (OT) and Informational Technology (IT) environments utilized to operate PEC’s transmission and distribution systems.
• Analyze and evaluate reporting from PEC’s automated systems and PEC’s IT and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) groups to ensure the effective compliance of NERC CIP Reliability Standards.
• Verify operating system updates, patches, and configuration changes were performed in accordance with NERC Reliability Standards.
• Verify baseline documentation is completed and updated in accordance with NERC Reliability Standards.
• Verify system diagrams and documentation for installation of new and modified hardware, software, and networks.
• Verify system configuration for proper logging.
• Verify system backup and recovery policies and procedures including routine automated and manual backups and offsite storage for compliance.
• Verify backup and recovery procedures are per industry standards and/or regulatory compliance.
• Participate in performance audits on overall system architecture and system integration between various energy management system (EMS) applications and interfaces with other PEC systems.
• Verify account administration, system hardening, and vulnerability scans.
• Assist in development of procedures for specifying and maintaining servers, storage, and special purpose work stations.
• Assist in the development of requirements and verify the reliability and compliance reports related to the construction, operation, and maintenance of PEC’s Facilities and systems using a personal computer and Microsoft Office software.
• Analyze technical information and data needed to prepare reports.
• Develop reports and fill information and data requests.
• Assist subject matter experts in researching and preparing work plans, goals, procedures, and proposed solutions to complex reliability and compliance related issues.
• Recommend revisions to reliability and compliance related policies and procedures as a result of data gathered and feedback from staff performing NERC/Texas Reliability Entity (Texas RE) reliability and compliance related activities.
• Assist in the development of Self Reports, Mitigation Plans, and other external and internal reliability and compliance related documents.
• Lead internal cross functional teams to gather and verify reliability and compliance related data from a team of IT/OT System Administrators, Operations, and others.
• Maintain current technical knowledge of NERC/Texas RE Requirements in order to update policies and procedures.
• Implement required policies, procedures, and configurations; make recommendations for improvements.
• Prepare and present reliability and compliance related materials to a wide variety of audiences including senior management.
• Participate in industry stakeholder groups including CIPWG at ERCOT.
• Review and verify other types of information related to 693 Operations and Planning Standards.
• Prepare for and participate in Texas RE Audits.
• Maintain the security of confidential information.
• Stay abreast of advances in technology.
• Demonstrate regular and prompt attendance.
• Perform other related duties as necessary or assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Three years of directly related experience including but not limited to NERC, CIP, cyber security compliance, IT systems administration, or network administration background experience.
• Directly related experience may substitute for education.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Skills

• Knowledge of using computer systems, which may include setting up and using hardware and software programs, entering data, configuration, or processing information.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service.
• Skilled in time management.
• Skilled in prioritizing and managing changing priorities.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to listen and understand information verbally and in writing.
• Ability to anticipate, identify, analyze, and resolve conflict and problems.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee may be required to stand; reach with hands and arms, stoop, and kneel.
• The employee may be required to sit or stand for long periods of time.
• The employee may be required to lift, carry, push, pull, or move up to 25 pounds.
• The employee may be required to travel.
• Exempt employees receive a fixed bi-weekly salary to compensate them for all hours worked during each pay period.
• This position may be required to work more than 40 hours per week.