Director, Compliance Monitoring

The Director, Compliance Monitoring, reporting to the Vice President, Compliance, leads NPCC's Compliance Monitoring program and is responsible for planning, executing, and ensuring the quality of compliance monitoring activities conducted as per the NERC Rules of Procedure and relevant Canadian agreements. This role oversees a team of compliance professionals responsible for audits, spot checks, investigations, self-certifications, internal controls evaluations, and other Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program (CMEP) activities for registered entities within the NPCC region. The Director ensures compliance monitoring activities are conducted in accordance with NERC Rules of Procedure, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Canadian provincial authorities, and NPCC policies and procedures. Working closely with the Vice President, Compliance, the Director provides leadership in the consistent application of regulatory requirements, risk-based monitoring practices, and continuous improvement initiatives that support fair, objective, and effective compliance oversight. The Director serves as a key liaison between NERC, ERO Enterprise counterparts, provincial and state regulatory authorities, registered entities, and industry representatives. This role requires a highly visible, relationship-oriented leader who engages stakeholders, develops strategic partnerships, and strengthens collaboration across the ERO Enterprise. By building credibility, fostering trust, and representing NPCC in strategic industry discussions, the Director advances NPCC's mission to promote the reliability, security, and resilience of the Bulk Power System through excellence in compliance monitoring and stakeholder engagement. Responsibilities Compliance Monitoring Program Leadership: Lead and continuously improve NPCC's Compliance Monitoring Program, ensuring alignment with NERC Rules of Procedure, CMEP requirements, FERC directives, Canadian provincial agreements, and NPCC policies. Develop and execute the annual Compliance Monitoring Implementation Plan and allocate resources to support program objectives. Plan, coordinate, and facilitate Compliance Committee meetings, including agenda development, materials, stakeholder communications, and follow-up activities that promote collaboration on compliance matters. Identify emerging regulatory and reliability risks through ongoing engagement with registered entities, Compliance Committee members, NERC, and ERO Enterprise counterparts, and recommend program enhancements to the Vice President, Compliance. Compliance Monitoring and Regulatory Oversight Oversee the execution of Compliance Audits, Spot Checks, Self-Certifications, Periodic Data Submittals, Complaints, and other monitoring activities within the NPCC Region. Manage U.S. and Canadian compliance monitoring engagements in accordance with applicable NERC and provincial requirements. Ensure monitoring activities are conducted consistently, objectively, and within established regulatory timelines. Serve as a primary liaison with NERC, FERC, Canadian regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders regarding monitoring matters. Risk Assessment and Enforcement Coordination Partner with the Registration, Certification and Risk department to support risk assessments and monitoring scopes. Coordinate with the Enforcement department regarding potential noncompliances, enforcement actions, and issues identified through monitoring activities. Promote risk-based monitoring practices that support effective oversight of registered entities. Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Establish and maintain quality assurance processes that ensure consistency and accuracy of monitoring activities and work products. Monitor program performance and implement improvements based on regulatory developments, industry trends, and lessons learned. Promote ERO Enterprise consistency through active participation in committees, working groups, task forces, and special projects. Leadership and Talent Development Lead, develop, and mentor Compliance Monitoring staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Manage performance, professional development, workforce planning, recruitment, and succession planning activities. Ensure staff maintain required auditor qualifications, certifications, and training. Corporate Leadership and Governance Contribute to NPCC's annual Corporate Goals, Business Plan, and Budget development. Participate as a member of the NPCC management team and provide strategic recommendations regarding compliance monitoring priorities and resources. Ensure adherence to NPCC policies governing ethics, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and antitrust compliance. Advance NPCC's mission by promoting fair, consistent, independent, and risk-based compliance monitoring oversight supporting the reliability and security of the Bulk Power System. Stakeholder Engagement Support the Vice President, Compliance in planning, coordination, and delivery of NPCC Compliance and Reliability Conferences, including agenda development, speaker coordination, session facilitation, and stakeholder outreach. Represent NPCC at Compliance and Reliability Conferences, Compliance Committee meetings, and industry forums, engaging with registered entities, NERC, ERO Enterprise counterparts, regulators, and other stakeholders to strengthen strategic relationships and advance NPCC's mission. Required Education Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Regulatory Compliance, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related field. Preferred Education Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Regulatory Compliance, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related discipline. Preferred Certifications NERC Certified System Operator Certification Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Project Management Professional (PMP) Other relevant compliance, audit, risk management, cybersecurity, or utility industry certifications Required Experience Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in electric reliability compliance, regulatory oversight, compliance monitoring, enforcement, risk assessment, audit, operations, planning, cybersecurity, or related field within the electric utility industry, including: Transmission protection system design, testing, and maintenance Generation protection system design, testing, and maintenance Transmission operations, generator operations, balancing area operations, reliability coordination Engineering planning studies for the transmission planning (TPL) standards Energy Management System (EMS) engineering SCADA modeling Substation project design and maintenance Transmission line design and maintenance Desktop and systems design Information security concepts and practices EMS and SCADA systems Networking Systems architecture Windows and Linux operating systems Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing compliance programs, regulatory functions, technical teams, or professional staff. Demonstrated experience applying NERC Reliability Standards, NERC Rules of Procedure, and CMEP. Experience leading or participating in Compliance Audits, Spot Checks, Self-Certifications, Compliance Investigations, Certification Reviews, or other CMEP activities. Experience interpreting and applying complex regulatory requirements and translating those requirements into effective compliance processes and procedures. Strong understanding of risk-based compliance monitoring, internal controls, compliance oversight, and regulatory enforcement processes. Knowledge of Bulk Power System operations, reliability planning, cybersecurity, and physical security requirements. Experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including registered entities, regulatory agencies, and industry organizations. Demonstrated success leading teams, managing competing priorities, and driving organizational and process improvements. A Plus Experience working within a NERC Regional Entity, NERC, FERC-jurisdictional utility, provincial regulatory environment, or other electric reliability regulatory organization. Experience managing compliance monitoring activities conducted under delegated regulatory authority. Experience working with Canadian provincial reliability agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, or cross-border regulatory frameworks. Experience implementing risk-based compliance monitoring programs and evaluating internal controls. Experience participating in ERO Enterprise working groups, committees, task forces, or industry initiatives. Experience developing strategic plans, departmental budgets, performance metrics, and organizational goals. Skills And Abilities Strong leadership, strategic planning, organizational management, and supervisory skills. Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with regulators, registered entities, industry stakeholders, and internal partners. Excellent conflict resolution, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. Strong analytical, problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making capabilities. Excellent organizational, project management, and time management skills, with strong attention to detail. Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex initiatives simultaneously while meeting deadlines and achieving business objectives. Ability to work independently with limited supervision while effectively leading and participating in collaborative team environments. Ability to lead through change while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Ability to participate in and lead virtual teams. Demonstrated sound judgment, professionalism, and commitment to integrity, confidentiality, and ethical conduct. Physical Requirements Prolonged periods of working on a computer. Travel to main office and in-person meetings, as required. Ability to work and travel within the U.S. and travel to Canada. EEOC Disclaimer NPCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions, including hiring, promotion, discipline or discharge, will be based on competence, performance, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, protected veteran status, race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship, or any other status protected under federal, state or local law. #J-18808-Ljbffr Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC)