CAISO Energy Markets Manager or Sr Manager
CAISO Energy Markets Manager, Sr Manager, or Sr Manager II
About Ava Community Energy
Ava Community Energy (Ava) is a Joint Powers Authority comprised of Alameda County and its incorporated areas, and the cities of Lathrop, Stockton, and Tracy. Ava's charter is to provide its customers with low carbon, cost-effective electricity that integrates innovative energy products and maximizes local benefits through the development of local solutions, ranging from increasing access to rooftop solar to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles.
Culture and Commitment to Diversity
Ava believes in a vibrant culture that supports and nurtures a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission. We foster a culture of open communication, responsibility, curiosity, accountability, and teamwork. We want creative problem solvers that are excited to work in an entrepreneurial environment and grow our agency!
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of our service area's rich culture and communities. We welcome a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and skills.
We strongly encourage people of all characteristics to apply and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type based on age, religion, color, gender identity or expression, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics, and those with a disability as protected by federal, state and local laws.
Position Summary
Ava is seeking a full-time CAISO Energy Markets Manager, Sr. Manager, or Sr. Manager II reporting to the Director of Energy Analytics and Electric Supply. This individual will be the subject matter expert and strategic lead for market opportunities within CAISO, portfolio risk management, and asset and portfolio optimization with a focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), and renewable resources. They will elevate our participation in the CAISO energy market by implementing innovative bidding and scheduling strategies and building the tools to back them up. The CAISO Energy Markets Manager or Senior Manager will bring additional resource knowledge, market expertise, and fresh ideas on operating a modern clean energy portfolio. Working inter-departmentally, this role ensures market results (actual and forecasted) align with expectations and possibilities.
Position Details
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Portfolio Operations and Optimization
This position will be filled at the Manager, Sr Manager, or Sr Manager II level based on the candidate's experience and depth of expertise.
The annual salary for this position is between $183,243 (Manager) to $223,740 (Sr Manager II), with a total annual compensation of up to $201,568 (Manager) to $246,114 (Sr Manager II) based on performance.
Ava offers a generous benefits package which includes:
This position will be based in Ava headquarters in Oakland, near BART. Ava's team has a hybrid approach inclusive of in-office and remote work. This role is expected to go into the office Tuesdays, Thursdays and the first Wednesday of the month. We are not providing relocation at this time.
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. Ava is dedicated to reasonably accommodate an applicant for known physical or mental disabilities so that the applicant may participate in the application process. We will engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with any employee with a known physical or mental disability to identify potential reasonable accommodations, if any, to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their position.
Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternate transportation and a safe driving record.
Working at Ava Community Energy
Ava is committed to complying with applicable laws, including the Americans with Disability Act and Fair Employment and Housing Act, ensuring equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. Ava prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), genetic information or characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Ava strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment (exemptions will be evaluated by legal council).
The information contained herein has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The information also does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.
CAISO Energy Markets Manager, Sr Manager, or Sr Manager II
About Ava Community Energy
Ava Community Energy (Ava) is a Joint Powers Authority comprised of Alameda County and its incorporated areas, and the cities of Lathrop, Stockton, and Tracy. Ava's charter is to provide its customers with low carbon, cost-effective electricity that integrates innovative energy products and maximizes local benefits through the development of local solutions, ranging from increasing access to rooftop solar to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles.
Culture and Commitment to Diversity
Ava believes in a vibrant culture that supports and nurtures a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission. We foster a culture of open communication, responsibility, curiosity, accountability, and teamwork. We want creative problem solvers that are excited to work in an entrepreneurial environment and grow our agency!
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of our service area's rich culture and communities. We welcome a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and skills.
We strongly encourage people of all characteristics to apply and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type based on age, religion, color, gender identity or expression, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics, and those with a disability as protected by federal, state and local laws.
Position Summary
Ava is seeking a full-time CAISO Energy Markets Manager, Sr. Manager, or Sr. Manager II reporting to the Director of Energy Analytics and Electric Supply. This individual will be the subject matter expert and strategic lead for market opportunities within CAISO, portfolio risk management, and asset and portfolio optimization with a focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), and renewable resources. They will elevate our participation in the CAISO energy market by implementing innovative bidding and scheduling strategies and building the tools to back them up. The CAISO Energy Markets Manager or Senior Manager will bring additional resource knowledge, market expertise, and fresh ideas on operating a modern clean energy portfolio. Working inter-departmentally, this role ensures market results (actual and forecasted) align with expectations and possibilities.
Position Details
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Portfolio Operations and Optimization
- Develop and implement Day-Ahead and Real-Time bidding strategies with Ava's scheduling coordinator; build tools to operationalize strategies and track portfolio performance.
- Apply optimization models to assess resource availability, outage impacts, and bidding outcomes; recommend actions to improve portfolio value with a focus on BESS dispatch. Partner with optimization software providers to automate and operationalize resources.
- Coordinate with the VPP Manager to ensure VPP and DER resources are dispatched accurately and economically; refine optimization model inputs to improve outcomes over time.
- Monitor market and price movements; develop trading tactics and refine tools to improve CAISO market performance.
- Validate IRP model outcomes within the CAISO market context and ensure assumptions remain operationally current.
- Develop and enhance after-the-fact analysis and performance reporting to support Power Resources and executive decision-making on portfolio economics and risk exposure.
- Provide analytical support to the Power Resources team and scheduling coordinator for asset management and trading activities; coordinate with the data and systems team to ensure performance data is properly maintained and accessible.
- Support Ava's CRR program by maintaining congestion models and analyzing CRR performance and congestion risk exposure to inform strategy.
- Review and approve CRR submissions in partnership with the scheduling coordinator; assess auction outcomes and recommend adjustments aligned with Ava's risk policy.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to evaluate congestion risk, hedge effectiveness, and load-serving obligations.
- Support new resource onboarding through CAISO's NRI process; coordinate among suppliers, CAISO, Ava's scheduling coordinator, software vendors and internal teams to meet operational and contractual requirements prior to commercial operation.
- Monitor and assess CAISO policy changes, BPM updates, and market redesign initiatives as they relate to Ava's portfolio; analyze operational and financial impacts and provide recommendations to internal teams.
- Work with Ava's Policy and Regulatory team to evaluate proposed CAISO market design changes and ensure Ava's operational needs and portfolio positions are accurately represented through stakeholder processes.
- Stay ahead of CAISO's Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) and its evolving requirements; assess portfolio implications as EDAM expands Western market coordination and work with the scheduling coordinator and internal teams to adapt strategies and tools accordingly.
- Prepare decision-focused analyses and presentations for management and board communications; serve as a subject matter expert on CAISO markets, bidding strategy, and market design.
- Identify workflow inefficiencies and lead implementation of tools and automation to improve team scalability and market operations quality.
This position will be filled at the Manager, Sr Manager, or Sr Manager II level based on the candidate's experience and depth of expertise.
- Manager: 7+ years of relevant experience. You have substantial experience and proven expertise in CAISO markets, with a deep understanding of your domain. You work with minimal guidance, anticipate challenges, drive implementation of complex projects end-to-end, and make effective decisions that have an impact within and outside your immediate team.
- Sr Manager II: 9+ years of relevant experience. You bring deeper domain expertise and a more established presence in the CAISO and Western energy market community than the Manager level. You work more autonomously, proactively surface opportunities and risks before being asked, and have a demonstrated ability to influence outcomes across teams without formal authority.
- Deep expertise in CAISO market mechanics, including Day-Ahead and Real-Time bidding, outages, telemetry, settlements, Resource Adequacy compliance, and CRR markets.
- Expert in CAISO market applications including SIBR, CMRI, OASIS, MRI-S, ADS, CIDI, and CIRA.
- Expert in day-ahead and/or real-time resource optimization and power scheduling.
- Experience with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) operations and dispatch optimization in CAISO; familiarity with Gurobi or Pyomo optimization is a plus.
- Experience with modeling and valuation of electricity products and physical resource assets.
- Expert in energy trading, trade capture processes, and standard risk management policies and strategies.
- Ability to formulate logical approaches; question assumptions, influence group consensus, and make recommendations to address complex issues.
- Self-directed with strong attention to detail and organizational skills in a highly fluid and rapidly changing environment.
- Strong written and oral communication skills, with experience producing executive-level analyses and reports.
- Proficiency in MS Office with advanced Excel skills.
- Proficiency in Python or SQL required; experience with additional analytical tools is a plus.
- CCA experience is a plus.
The annual salary for this position is between $183,243 (Manager) to $223,740 (Sr Manager II), with a total annual compensation of up to $201,568 (Manager) to $246,114 (Sr Manager II) based on performance.
Ava offers a generous benefits package which includes:
- Zero cost Individual, family, and domestic partner health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
- Life and AD&D, EAP, STD, and LTD
- Retirement with Employer Matching
- Paid Time Off and Holidays
- Fertility & Adoption Benefits
- Pet Insurance
- Mental Health Support
- Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care accounts)
- Paid Volunteer Days
- And More!
This position will be based in Ava headquarters in Oakland, near BART. Ava's team has a hybrid approach inclusive of in-office and remote work. This role is expected to go into the office Tuesdays, Thursdays and the first Wednesday of the month. We are not providing relocation at this time.
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. Ava is dedicated to reasonably accommodate an applicant for known physical or mental disabilities so that the applicant may participate in the application process. We will engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with any employee with a known physical or mental disability to identify potential reasonable accommodations, if any, to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their position.
- General office environment is primarily sedentary work which requires the following physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, reaching, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, repetitive motions, talking, hearing and visual acuity.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- The noise level is usually moderate.
Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternate transportation and a safe driving record.
Working at Ava Community Energy
Ava is committed to complying with applicable laws, including the Americans with Disability Act and Fair Employment and Housing Act, ensuring equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. Ava prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), genetic information or characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Ava strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment (exemptions will be evaluated by legal council).
The information contained herein has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The information also does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.
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