Job Description

INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR (IESO) Requisition ID: 18275
Location: Toronto and/or Oakville, Hybrid
Temporary Assignment: Regular
Business Unit: Market Assessment & Compliance

Why join us?

You've got great skills. And you want to use them in an organization where you know what you do every day matters. We get that.
We also know that ensuring Ontarians have access to affordable and reliable power doesn't happen by accident. So we give you the tools, flexibility and support you need to achieve your goals, and development opportunities to help you grow. You'll thrive in a collaborative, team-based environment that values your unique skills and experiences - and recognizes that when you do better, we become even better too.

Who we are

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) works at the centre of the province's power system, ensuring Ontarians have access to reliable and cost-effective electricity when and where they need it. We operate the province's electricity grid 24/7, design, run and oversee the wholesale electricity markets, and plan and prepare to meet Ontario's electricity needs - now and into the future.

The Opportunity

Senior Counsel I provides a high level of professional legal service to the organization. Senior Counsel I is responsible for a variety of complex, significant and multi-disciplinary legal projects with emphasis on market rule enforcement, adjudication, dispute resolution and market oversight matters, and plays a leading role in providing legal advice and managing legal and regulatory matters for MACD. Senior Counsel I provides leadership, strategic guidance and facilitates policy and business development, while ensuring risks are identified and mitigated.

Senior Counsel I is accountable to the Director, Enforcement & Legal.

What you'll be doing

• Supports the operations of the Market Assessment and Compliance Division (MACD) of the IESO by providing legal advice and guidance on a full range of legal matters including, fostering compliance with and overseeing enforcement of the Ontario market rules governing the IESO-administered electricity markets and the North American Reliability Standards (Market Rules), requiring a depth of knowledge in many different areas of law including, administrative law, regulatory compliance and enforcement law, energy law with a focus on electricity markets, and competition law.
• Manages strategically important matters for MACD and for the organization requiring sophisticated legal knowledge and experience and in-depth understanding of the organization.
• Provides specific legal research, advice and opinions.
• Excellent file management. This includes personally carrying files to completion, knowing when to seek and obtain approval to retain and direct obtaining expert outside advice, when needed, and supervising the research and analysis work of these counsel and other, less experienced, counsel to ensure consistency of quality and substance with affirmed jurisprudence and approved enforcement policy.
• Manages outside counsel on retainers, including work quality, cost control and customer service and evaluates services provided by outside counsel.
• Works to ensure legal advice and activity is linked to MACD objectives and the IESO's objectives, as applicable; acts as an integral part of internal and external project teams that work on the substance of the targeted issues.
• Assists in the development and articulation of legal department (MACD and IESO Legal) processes and contributes to the development of knowledge management for areas of responsibility.
• Senior Counsel I will be called upon to assist with the optimization of the functions and processes of MACD, to achieve the department's and the organization's objectives. Matter-specific roles will include the responsibility to resolve conflicting issues, address unique situations, recommend new and innovative courses of action to meet goals and objectives for MACD and for the organization.

In particular respect of playing a leading role in MACD, lead and conduct all legal processes related to enforcement of the Market Rules, including legal analysis, administrative investigations, audits, dispute resolution and litigation services, with particular emphasis on:

• Drafting and overseeing the drafting of complex assessments, findings, determinations and orders, including the issuance of substantial financial penalties, which can exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as orders suspending or terminating companies from participation in the Ontario wholesale electricity market.
• Leading and supporting the investigation process, up to and including the negotiation of resolution and adjudication of disputed matters with market participants and their executives and senior legal counsel (internal and external).
• Supporting and advising the Vice President, MACD in the drafting of determinations and orders at the conclusion of complex investigations with the potential for significant sanctions.
• Leading and supporting litigation and dispute resolution processes, including mediation, arbitration, Ontario Energy Board hearings and court proceedings when MACD determinations and orders are disputed by market participants.
• Analyzing and overseeing the analysis of events, activities and conduct in the wholesale electricity market in relation to the Ontario market rules and North American reliability standards, covering a wide variety of market, reliability and technical matters.
• Provide advice and direction to be followed by IESO staff, including ongoing legal support and legal services directed to a wide variety of IESO or employee matters.
• Anticipate issues and assess risk.
• Provide proactive, preventive legal advice on potentially significant legal matters involving the IESO and employee matters, and mitigate risk.
• Review and interpret case law, statute law, regulations and orders that relate to the IESO's market oversight mandate.
• Prepare legal opinions on a wide variety of matters, with special emphasis on administrative and regulatory law.
• Review letters of intent and Request for Proposals (RFPs) and assist in the review of Proposals and resulting contracts. Provide guidance, recommendations and support adherence to established policies and practices.
• Leading and participating in IESO committees and working groups.
• Interpreting policy requirements and problem-solving potential conflicts of interest and identifying appropriate safeguards.
• Supervise work and direct as required legal staff including junior counsel, students, and external counsel on MACD cases, investigations, audits, hearings and other activities
• Provide direction to analysts, investigators and other staff in MACD in relation to enforcement and litigation matters.

What you need to succeed

• Has mastered legal skills with significant experience in one or more "specialty" areas (such as: administrative law, litigation and litigation management, adjudication, compliance, governance, energy regulation, laws of evidence, dispute resolution).
• Ability to serve as a resource and trusted advisor in one or more "specialty" areas.
• Knowledge of electricity or energy related law and/or a willingness to gain or expand knowledge and experience in this area.
• Excellent written communication and drafting skills.
• Superior oral communications skills, the ability to articulate legal issues clearly and concisely and advocate positions effectively; must be comfortable leading negotiations at a senior level.
• Strong organizational, responsiveness and time management skills, work ethic and ability to manage a portfolio of larger files (which may include multiple internal and external stakeholders) and smaller files effectively.
• Strong file management skills and proven ability to effectively manage teams, including outside counsel.
• Proven ability to identify risks and potential solutions, and think strategically when providing legal and business-related advice.
• Generally, 8 to 12 years of legal experience in relevant subject matters.

What's in it for you

• A comprehensive total rewards program, including best-in-class benefits and a flexible workplace
• A challenging, fast-paced and collaborative team environment, where your perspectives and experiences matter
• Leaders who support your growth and success through regular feedback and coaching
• The opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry

Deadline: November 14, 2022

For future reference, please ensure to save a copy of the job description as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.

At the IESO, we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment - one that values every team member's unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know.

We thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO, but we will only contact those candidates selected for an interview.

Note: The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to a background check.

The IESO commenced its 6 month Hybrid Work Model Pilot Program. The Model allows for remote working up to three days per week, based on business needs. When working in the office, you will be located at our Toronto or Oakville office.

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