Associate Transmission System Operator
Job Description
Company Description Big Rivers Electric Corporation is a member-owned, not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative that supplies wholesale electric power and shared services to three distribution cooperative Member-Owners across 22 counties in western Kentucky. These Member-Owners—Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative, Kenergy Corp, and Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation—deliver retail electric power to more than 120,000 homes, farms, businesses, and industries. Since its incorporation in 1961, Big Rivers has focused on safely delivering low-cost, reliable wholesale power and cost-effective services that support its members. The cooperative operates according to seven core values: safety, integrity, excellence, member and community service, respect for employees, teamwork, and environmental consciousness, creating a mission-driven and values-based workplace for team members.
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Role Description The Associate Transmission System Operator is a full-time, on-site role based in Owensboro, KY, responsible for supporting continuous control center operations requiring sustained
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attention, timely response, and sound decision-making. Monitor and control transmission and
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substation systems using SCADA/EMS tools to maintain reliability, voltage, equipment loading,
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and situational awareness. Read and interpret transmission one-line diagrams, alarms, system data,
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operating procedures, and contingency information to assess conditions and support appropriate
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operating actions. Recognize and respond to alarms, abnormal conditions, system events, and
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reliability risks by analyzing available information, communicating clearly, and taking appropriate
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action. Support restoration, outage response, switching activities, field dispatch, emergency
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operations, load shedding, and black start restoration as required. Develop, review, and execute
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switching orders to support safe maintenance and reliable system operation. Document system
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activity, outages, switching, and events accurately in operator logs and related systems. Coordinate
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with internal teams, neighboring utilities, customers, MISO, field personnel, and reliability entities
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during routine operations, outages, abnormal conditions, and emergency events. Perform real-time
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operating duties in accordance with applicable NERC Reliability Standards, Big Rivers
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procedures, emergency plans, switching and tagging requirements, cyber and physical security
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requirements, and compliance documentation obligations. Perform control center duties
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independently when assigned, including working alone during nights, weekends, holidays, and
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other off-hour periods while making timely, sound decisions during real-time operating conditions.
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Pass the NERC Certified System Operator exam and complete Energy Control’s internal training
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program within the expected six- to twelve-month timeframe. After successful completion of
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training, transition to a Transmission System Operator position assigned to a twelve-hour rotating
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shift schedule.
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An associate degree in electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology, or related
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technical field required; bachelor’s degree preferred. Equivalent education and relevant experience
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may be considered, including utility, military power systems, power plant, substation, electrical
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maintenance, dispatching, or real-time control center experience. Strong analytical skills using
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spreadsheets, databases, grid monitoring tools, and related applications to evaluate system data
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and support sound operating decisions. Strong judgment and decision-making skills, including the
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ability to recognize risk and respond effectively during real-time operations along with strong
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verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly during
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routine and emergency conditions. Must be able to work under pressure, exercise sound judgment,
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and interpret color-coded system displays. Work twelve-hour rotating shifts, including nights,
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weekends, holidays, irregular schedules, emergency call-ins, and other off-hour assignments.
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Applicable NERC System Operator certification is required or must be obtained and maintained
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within the required timeframe; NERC Reliability Coordinator Operator certification is preferred.
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Valid driver’s license and ability to travel as required.
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