OVERVIEW
Under the general direction of the System Planning & Research Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for Performing general Administrative, Managerial and Technical functions, encompassing data-driven, least-cost and sustainable generation resource and capacity plans that ensure adequate, reliable and affordable electricity supply, support the integration of natural gas, hydropower, solar, battery energy storage and other renewable resources, and align with GPL’s Corporate Strategic Plan, the System Planning & Research Department Action Plan, LCDS-2030 and national energy priorities, while complying with ISO 9001 Quality Management System, GPL’s Performance Management System (PMS), and the other policies and management systems of the Company.
KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS:
Support the Manager of the System Planning and Research Department by leading, coordinating, reviewing and/or completing the following key outputs:
- Quality-assured generation-planning databases, assumptions, models and documentation, reconciled with operating data.
- Generation component of GPL’s Annual Development and Expansion Programme and long-term Integrated Resource Plan, including the implementation schedule and approved demand, resource, cost and policy assumptions.
- Production-cost, capacity-expansion, unit-commitment and economic-dispatch models, with documented scenario and sensitivity analyses.
- Annual least-cost generation expansion, capacity adequacy and reliability assessment covering reserve margins, loss of load probability, contingencies and system flexibility.
- Generation resource and techno-economic feasibility studies for conventional generation, natural gas, hydropower, solar, wind, battery energy storage and other viable resources, including addition, retirement, repurposing and retrofit options.
- Generation integration and fuel-security assessments addressing interconnection, protection, metering, communications, SCADA/EMS/AGC, dispatch, control, fuel diversification, logistics, cost, reliability and emissions.
- Bankable project-development and procurement documents, including Project Concept Notes, Terms of Reference, technical specifications, evaluation inputs and EPC/IPP technical requirements.
- Quarterly generation performance reports and dashboards covering approved technical, operational, financial and environmental indicators, trends and recommended actions.
- Technical submissions and advisory inputs for regulatory filings, stakeholder consultations, national planning and regional energy-integration initiatives.
- Unit work plan, budget, procurement plan, risk register and monthly performance reports, together with staff performance, appraisal, work-allocation, succession and development plans.
- Establish, maintain and quality-assure the generation-planning data, assumptions, models and documentation required for consistent and auditable analysis, and reconcile them with actual operating performance.
- Develop and maintain GPL’s long-term Integrated Resource Plan and generation expansion plan in alignment with demand forecasts, the Corporate Strategic Plan, LCDS-2030, national energy priorities and applicable policy and regulatory requirements.
- Develop, validate and apply production-cost, capacity-expansion, unit-commitment and economic-dispatch models to evaluate generation portfolios, operating strategies, sensitivities and uncertainties.
- Assess generation adequacy, energy security, reserve requirements, reliability and system flexibility using approved criteria, including reserve-margin, loss-of-load and contingency-based methods.
- Assess and recommend the least-cost, reliable and sustainable generation resource mix, including conventional generation, natural gas, hydropower, solar, wind, battery energy storage and other viable technologies.
- Lead technical, resource and techno-economic studies for the addition, retirement, repurposing or retrofit of generation assets, considering cost, performance, environmental obligations and implementation risk.
- Coordinate with the Demand Forecasting, Network Upgrade and Expansion Planning, Grid Integration and Automation, and Data Analyses Units to define generation interconnection, protection, metering, telecommunications, data-exchange, cybersecurity, SCADA/EMS/AGC, ADMS, dispatch, control and relevant smart-grid integration requirements.
- Evaluate fuel-supply security, diversification, conversion opportunities and logistics, including the cost, reliability and emissions implications of natural gas and alternative fuels.
- Prepare and review Project Concept Notes, Terms of Reference, technical specifications and other bankable documents, and provide technical support during procurement, bid evaluation, contract clarification, commissioning and post-implementation review.
- Develop and maintain an implementation schedule for generation expansion projects that is coordinated with forecast demand, grid readiness, project dependencies and national development priorities.
- Monitor and analyse generation performance using approved key performance indicators, dashboards and analytical techniques; identify trends, anomalies and performance gaps; and recommend corrective actions and investment priorities.
- Provide technically sound generation-planning inputs for regulatory filings, stakeholder consultations, national planning exercises and regional energy-integration studies.
- Prepare and manage the Unit’s annual work plan, budget, procurement requirements and risk register; monitor delivery against approved milestones; and report monthly on performance, achievements and emerging risks.
- Lead, allocate and quality-assure the work of Unit staff; establish performance expectations; conduct appraisals; and provide coaching, training, succession planning and development in generation planning, modelling, data analysis, project development and report writing.
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, the Grid Code, licence conditions, applicable legislation, environmental and emissions requirements, occupational safety and health obligations, Company policies and approved procedures; investigate and report non-conformities and recommend corrective action.
- Prepare the Unit’s annual work plan, budget, procurement requirements, risk register and monthly performance reports, and monitor delivery against departmental milestones and corporate objectives.
- Orient, mentor, coach and train direct reports in generation planning, modelling, data analysis, project development, report writing and relevant software applications.
- Manage staff performance, work allocation, quality assurance, succession and development; ensure compliance with Company rules and initiate corrective or disciplinary action in accordance with applicable procedures.
- Enforce compliance with safety and health legislation, regulations and contractual obligations, and promptly investigate and report infractions with appropriate recommendations.
- General responsibility: Perform other duties pertinent to the Department’s Action Plan, the Engineering Services Divisional Business Plan and GPL’s Corporate Strategic Plan, as assigned by the Manager or the Divisional Director – Engineering Services.
COMPETENCY PROFILE:
- Use of Microsoft Office Suite and data visualization tools
- Problem-solving, quantitative analysis and decision-support skills
- Conflict resolution, stakeholder coordination and negotiation skills
- Ability to perform effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines
- Knowledge of electricity demand forecasting and its application to generation capacity planning
- Knowledge of transmission constraints and generation interconnection requirements
- Advanced knowledge of renewable and conventional generation systems, natural gas, hydropower, solar and battery energy storage
- Knowledge of substation, protection, control, metering and communication requirements relevant to generation integration
- Conversant with the Occupational Safety and Health Act, GPL Safety Handbook and applicable safe systems of work
- Conversant with applicable IEEE, IEC, ANSI, environmental, ESRA, Grid Code and interconnection standards
- Ability to manage multiple studies, projects, deliverables and deadlines
- Ability to analyse engineering drawings, technical designs, model outputs, cost estimates and project schedules
- Advanced knowledge of production cost, capacity-expansion and reliability modelling using PLEXOS, SDDP or equivalent tools.
- Conversant with ISO 9001 Quality Management System and document-control requirements
- Conversant with GPL Performance Management System (PMS), budgeting, risk management and staff development
- Be conversant with the FACTORIES ACT CHAPTER 95:02, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT CHAPTER N0 32 OF 1997, ELECTRICITY SECTOR REFORM ACT CHAPTER 57:01 OF 1999, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT NO 11 0F 1996 of the laws of Guyana, and the Guyana Power & Light License which include the STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ELECTRIC SERVICES of October 2010.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution, with at least four (4) years of relevant utility experience related to the Key Responsibility Areas.
OR
- Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited institution, with at least two (2) years of relevant utility experience related to the Key Responsibility Areas.
