Career Opportunities: Project Manager (20038)

INDEPENDENT ELECTRICITY SYSTEM OPERATOR (IESO)

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

Reporting to the Supervisor, Project Manager, the Project Specialist is responsible for delivering multiple projects in parallel that meet their stated business objectives within agreed timeline and budget.  Further, the incumbent will be assigned projects than include medium to large scale enterprise wide projects utilizing cross functional teams consisting of both internal IESO staff as well as external service providers and/or vendors. 

What you will be doing 

• Acts as a project manager with overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of projects.
• Demonstrates influencing skills to accomplish project objectives in a matrix reporting environment.
• Utilizes change management discipline on project scope, time and cost changes.
• Manages the project budget to avoid deviations and recommends corrective actions.
• Upon Project approval, plans and prepares for the timely launch of project implementation and close out.
• Develops project documentation with accurate cost, resource, and time estimates.
• Identifies necessary technical and non-technical resources to ensure project objectives can be achieved and supports management in securing the resources. 
• Manages project interdependencies within the program/portfolio and ensures efficient resource management and utilization of project resources, in a shared matrix environment.
• Plans, acquires and engages external services through the IESO procurement process to resource and support project delivery.  
• Working with the contract managers and procurement in the development of RFPs, evaluation of vendor submissions, and the establishment of contracts to ensure on-time project delivery. This includes ensuring vendor resources are managed to statement of work and project objectives.
• Ensures effective and efficient project handover to responsible areas adhering to the appropriate processes and artefacts.
• Monitors and ensures effective and efficient use of the IESO control mechanisms so that major project decisions, such as solution design and scope changes, are approved by project sponsors and senior management; including stakeholders who are impacted by the outcome from the project.
• Works in compliance with all IESO Project Management governance, methodologies, standards, processes and templates.
• Tracks project metrics, and creates project dashboards for senior management.
• Ensures accurate and timely project level reporting, including scope, benefits, time, budget and risk.
• Promotes a project management best practice culture at all levels, ensuring a communication plan is developed and executed considering all project stakeholders and their needs.
• Engages with IESO’s QA function to ensure that an effective QA (Quality Assurance) plan is in place for all projects.
• Records and applies lessons learned from recent projects.
• Keeps current with latest trends in project management and maintains knowledge of current best practices in project management.
• Performs other duties (special assignments) as may be assigned by the immediate supervisor.

What you need to succeed

• Requires knowledge encompassing the technical fields; relevant to the areas of computer science, engineering, technical service delivery, and risk management.
• Requires strong knowledge of project management; theory, principles, and practices including the Project Management Institute (PMI) best practices.
• Requires knowledge of Business and IT business methods, procedures and organization structures in order to be aware of limitations that can be imposed and to recognize factors influencing the effective implementation of methodologies, risk and project management  activities
• Requires strong facilitation and communications (written and oral) skills to prepare accurate, concise, and clear correspondence, procedures, guidelines, and reports.
• This knowledge is considered to be normally acquired, either through the successful completion of 4 years of university education in an appropriate discipline or by having the equivalent education.
• PMP certification is required.

Skills Required

Communications

• Strong communication skills/experience including facilitation, presentations and written communications at senior management levels including Director, VP and CEO.
• Demonstrates well developed inter-personal skills, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Ability to clearly and concisely articulate project goals and objectives; listens actively and effectively and clarifies information as needed; interprets verbal and non-verbal messages; communicates tactfully and candidly.
• Presents oral and written reports defining plans, problems and resolutions to the appropriate level of management.
• Provides guidance to the team members about every aspect of the project so that the team members can understand their tasks fully and act on them efficiently.

Financial Management

• Ensures the project is meeting its stated objectives within the approved scope, budget and timelines.
• Delivers and manages demanding but viable project budgets and schedules including forecasting, monitoring and adherence to corporate business policies.
• Estimates costs to complete deliverables, activities and phases of the project.

Resource Management

• Limited supervision over others with an indirect reporting relationship including allocation of work project staff.
• Plans and manages project resources, and provide necessary alerts to senior management.
• Plans, assigns and monitors project work with appropriate instructions and technical direction while assuming primary responsibility for achieving overall project objectives.
• Creates a forum and format for open communications across project teams/stakeholders.

Stakeholders

• Understands who the client is, what are the clients’ needs/expectations and provides realistic responses and actively monitors the client from planning to closeout.
• Reviews plans and results as required with the steering committees, senior executive, and external customers ensuring appropriate stakeholder involvement throughout the project for improving delivery.
• Manages stakeholder understanding, engagement and active participation specific to project scope, risk, delivery and changes.

Decision Making

• Regularly makes decisions and takes action on matters directly affecting the project objectives. Some escalations to supervisor required.
• Supports project sponsors in understanding and creating opportunities for making timely choices/decisions.
• Delegates tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel.

Influencing and Leading

• Ability to work effectively and efficiently toward goals in a complex, diverse environment with multiple stakeholders and changing demands with some supervision.
• Challenges requirements, as necessary, in order to ensure that the project steering committee and project sponsor is aware of resulting cost benefit outcomes, human resources implications and impact on project schedule.
• Demonstrates strong collaboration skills and techniques which lead to conflict resolution, creating lasting productive partnerships.
• Fosters and manages productive relationships with executive level sponsors.
• Builds effective teams with technical and non-technical staff.

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: October 23, 2024

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 offers a hybrid work model program to most of our employees, based on business needs. Individuals participating in the program can work an average of three days per week remotely within Ontario. It also offers three flex weeks when individuals can work remotely within Ontario . When working in the office, you will be located at our Mississauga location.

Join our talent community

Sign up for talent community; stay in touch, find out about new opportunities – and discover how you can make a difference. Discover how we use our expertise and commitment to deliver reliable and affordable electricity to Ontario’s businesses and communities, and how we’re innovating to secure a stronger energy future for all Ontarians. Visit Careers at IESO and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.

Find out why we were selected as Greater Toronto’s Top 2024 Employers, and what we offer.