Salary
Period of appointment
Job description
The Utility Regulator (UR) is seeking to appoint up to 6 Independent Expert Panel members for its System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) Evaluative Performance Framework (EPF) Panel
These roles present an exciting new opportunity for an Independent Experts to become part of the EPF Panel, to assist us to assess and constructively challenge SONI’s performance as part of its EPF.
SONI is the electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) for Northern Ireland. Its performance can significantly affect consumer bills, security of supply and decarbonisation. Its influence on these outcomes is becoming even more important as our energy system rapidly changes, becomes more complex and integrates as we decarbonise.
A key element of the new EPF is to bring additional skills, insights and knowledge to our review of SONI’s performance as part of the UR’s EPF Panel.
The EPF Panel will draw on evidence and views provided by SONI, UR, SONI’s customers, consumers, their representatives and other stakeholders (or stakeholder groups) and independently assess SONI’s performance under the evaluative performance framework, providing recommendations to UR to assist us to assess and constructively challenge SONI’s performance.
As an independent expert EPF panel member, you will demonstrate all the following skills:
- Ability to evaluate critically based on a range of (potentially conflicting) evidence, and provide recommendations based on objective criteria as set out in the UR guidance;
- Ability to think strategically and ‘see the big picture’; and
- Ability to listen and challenge in a constructive manner and have the drive to proactively engage to deliver results.
- Display strong communication skills to make an effective contribution to discussions across multiple stakeholders.
Applicants should also demonstrate how they satisfy essentially one or desirably two or more of the following criteria:
- Proven knowledge, experience and understanding of electricity system operation and its effects on system operator customers, stakeholders and consumer outcomes: energy bills, security of supply and decarbonisation.
- Demonstrable understanding or expertise in energy system strategy and energy transition issues which may be relevant to SONI’s role. Such expertise or knowledge could, for example, relate to system adequacy and operability, and/or system planning during times of change and uncertainty, and/or system flexibility, and/or digitalisation and access to data, and/or customer engagement, and/or need for adaptive testing, and/or coordination and collaboration across an increasingly integrated energy system (whole systems thinking).
- Proven track record of operating at a strategic level or as an independent expert in other jurisdictions (perhaps applying electricity system operation knowledge) and/or from other regulatory utility sectors to the benefit of consumers.
Furthermore, any and all actual or potential conflicts must also be declared and submitted with your application.
It is intended that the interview process will take place online on 18 March 2022
Further information on the UR can be found within our website.
A full appointment pack can be downloaded below
The Utility Regulator is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.