Director Grid Interconnections

About the role

The Director Grid Interconnections oversees ERCOT’s grid interconnection activities for all new Generation Resources and Large Loads. This role focuses on integrating new technologies while maintaining reliability, aligning interconnection processes with evolving protocols, market design changes, legislation, and industry practices.

Responsibilities

• Directs all teams responsible for the integration of Generation Resources and Large Loads into the ERCOT System, from initial application through commissioning and approval for commercial operations.
• Develops, implements, and continuously improves processes for generation and large load interconnection, including screening studies, full interconnection studies, modeling requirements, and energization approval workflows.
• Develops revisions to ERCOT Protocols, Planning and Operating Guides, and internal procedures as required to accommodate new technologies (e.g., inverter-based resources, storage, large flexible loads) and ensure ERCOT’s reliability requirements are fulfilled.
• Aligns Interconnection, Network Modeling, Planning, Markets, and Operations on interconnection policy, study standards, and implementation practices.
• Develops and maintains tools and data flows (e.g., RIOO platforms, Network Operations Model interfaces, analytics and interconnection dashboards) used to submit, validate, track, and analyze Generation Resource and Large Load data.
• Evaluates interconnection study results and recommendations, ensuring consistent treatment across generation and load types, and alignment with NERC, ERCOT, and PUCT reliability requirements.
• Represents ERCOT in external meetings with the PUCT, stakeholders, and other policymakers, and in regional and national policy groups such as NERC and NAESB.
• Develops and maintains reports and metrics on interconnection queue status, study timelines, performance against targets, and emerging trends in resource and load additions.
• Coordinates with System Planning and Operations to ensure interconnection study assumptions, models, and criteria are consistent with regional planning and operational reliability needs.
• Identifies staffing, skill, and tool requirements to support current and future interconnection volumes and provides guidance and mentorship to Supervisors and Managers supporting grid interconnections.
• Develops and executes departmental O&M and capital budgets for grid interconnections, consistent with organizational policies and strategic priorities.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years job-related work experience and 5 years in a management or leadership role in excess of degree requirements.
• Prefer minimum 10 years of job-related work experience in transmission planning/analysis, system operations, and/or resource interconnection in excess of degree requirements.
• Prefer minimum 5 years’ experience in a management or leadership role directing engineering or grid planning/operations functions (may run concurrent with overall experience requirement).

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Electrical Engineering or related discipline (Required)
• Master's Degree: Engineering, Business Administration, or related field (Preferred)

Certification

• PE: Professional Engineer (Preferred)