Real Time Trader/Dispatcher I

Real Time Trader/Dispatcher I

Location: Houston, TX, US, 77010 Company: NRG

Job Summary: The Real-Time Dispatcher works within NRG's NERC-qualified operating environment and is responsible for live operational execution, real-time market response, unit dispatch, optimization, communication, and short-horizon decision-making across ERCOT, PJM, NYISO, and ISO-NE. This role coordinates with Day-Ahead traders and schedulers, plant and field personnel, Transmission Operators, Reliability Coordinators, ISO control centers, and fuel support groups while making timely decisions that may carry operational, reliability, compliance, and financial impact.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Comply with applicable ERCOT or NERC Reliability Standards, ISO rules and tariffs, and NRG policies and procedures while supporting reliable Bulk Electric System operations.
• Start, stop, dispatch, or adjust generating units based on unit capability, plant status, market conditions, ISO instructions, fuel constraints, reliability needs, and commercial opportunity.
• Monitor unit status, market prices, bid curves, operating limits, weather, transmission constraints, outages, fuel conditions, and short-horizon system outlooks.
• Communicate with ERCOT, PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, Balancing Authorities, Reliability Coordinators, Transmission Operators, plants, field personnel, and internal commercial teams using clear and disciplined communication practices.
• Own current-day and intraday operational updates, including forced outages, derates, returns to service, operating limitations, emergency tickets, and material asset status changes in approved ISO and internal tools.
• Support Distributed Generation assets by maintaining awareness of unit availability, testing schedules, alarms, fuel constraints, and expected run conditions.
• Execute documented Day-Ahead handoff instructions, after-hours reoffers, OATI tagging support, gas scheduling actions, and related tasks when authorized and supported by clear instructions.
• Maintain accurate shift logs, document decisions and notifications, provide structured shift turnover, and escalate compliance, reliability, operational, contractual, or risk concerns as appropriate.
• Complete required training, maintain applicable continuing education requirements, obtain PJM or ERCOT certification within 6 months of hire, and obtain NERC certification within 18 months of hire.

Working Conditions: Requires participation in a rotating 24-hour operational schedule, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and work outside regular business hours. Initial training may occur during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, for up to three months. Must remain awake, attentive, and fully engaged during assigned shifts and be available for storm, emergency, or event-duty coverage, including extended shifts when required.

Minimum Requirements: High School Diploma or GED equivalent, relevant experience, or equivalent military experience. Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to work a rotating 12-hour shift schedule, including days, nights, weekends, holidays, and required event coverage.

Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Previous energy industry, generation dispatch, power operations, scheduling, control-room, or market operations experience. NERC or PJM certification. Familiarity with ERCOT, PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, eDART, Markets Gateway, ISO market systems, unit dispatch tools, or gas scheduling processes.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong situational awareness and ability to identify abnormal operating, reliability, or market conditions. Ability to make independent decisions, exercise sound judgment, and act confidently under time pressure and ambiguity. Clear, accurate, and professional communication by phone, email, Teams, and shift logs. Ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining accuracy, attention to detail, and compliance discipline. Commitment to disciplined execution, clear handoffs, continuous learning, reliability, accountability, teamwork, and commercial awareness.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills. EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at Official description on file with Talent.