About ENTSO-E

ENTSO-E is the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity. ENTSO-E coordinates the cross-border system operations, system development and electricity market activities of the 43 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) which cover 36 countries. ENTSO-E is assigned important tasks in EU legislation, including the development of Europe-wide electricity network development plans, and more than 10 network codes which themselves become binding European laws.

The ENTSO-E Secretariat in Brussels is the focal point for technical, market and policy questions for all European TSOs in their cooperation with each other, in their joint fulfilment of their legal mandates, and in the intensive interactions with European Commission, regulatory agencies, associations representing network users and other stakeholders. The role of the TSOs and their cooperation in ENTSO-E is crucial to ensure security of supply; complete the largest and most competitive electricity market in the world; and successfully integrate large volumes of renewable energy into the system.

ENTSO-E has recently strengthened its project-based approach towards implementation of critical legal mandates implying significant IT platform deliveries. This project-based approach includes:

  • The proper definition of scope program deliverables and business case to deliver associated legal mandates.

  • The setting up and governance of a robust program governance, covering clear roles for decision making and controlling responsibilities according to ENTSO-E IT strategy.

  • The management of associated resource plans budget over a 5-year time horizon as well as associated risk mitigation.

  • The best alignment of business objectives with associated IT deliveries, ensuring timely anticipation, arbitrage and escalation to Secretary General and relevant Committees when new risks are identified. The scope and diversity of ENTSO-E’s work has grown rapidly and is expected to grow further with the completion of the implementation of current network codes as well as new requirements arising from the Clean Energy Package overall growing in term of complexity.

General position description

The Common Grid Model Program of ENTSO-E

**CGM Program summary **

Electricity grid operators use complex calculation and simulation models to best anticipate their grid behaviour under various conditions, including normal and emergency operational conditions. Results of these calculations and simulations are notably used to decide on the list of actions transmission system operators (TSOs) need to take to maintain the operational security of the grid at the lowest cost for and minimum impact possible on, market participants (including generators), customers and all distribution grid operators connected to the transmission grid. These actions are further aligned and feed into market management applications, aiming to ensure a fair and consistent allocation of transmission capacity to market participants, across all timeframes.

In the past, each TSO has been using its own grid model. In recent years, the European TSOs have been using a simple and robust common grid model which has until the recent few years been sufficient for the needed calculations and simulations. With the dawn of distributed / RES generation and rapidly growing volatility, coupled with growing complexity of interaction of system and market operations, and ever more and strongly interconnected and meshed transmission grids of Europe, a need has emerged to develop a new pan-European Common Grid Model using a technology which will enable to address these mentioned challenges, be fit-for-purpose today, future-proof for the new developments, sufficiently complex and sophisticated but retaining robustness and stability in use. Such a new, pan-European Common Grid Model will ease the operational coordination and cooperation between TSOs, facilitating effective integration of volatile (RES) generation while at the same time substantially contributing to operational security and effective market. The need for such a new Common Grid Model has been recognised in the European legislation and has been specified in several network nodes (e.g. CACM, FCA and SO GL). According to these legal provisions, associated methodologies are built further on the basis of initial legal requirements, that form a platform and a framework for this new common grid model, supporting future simulations and calculations which European TSOs need. Eventually, these methodologies are also a subject of approval by the national regulatory authorities.

The Common Grid Model (CGM) Business process requires a significant data exchange amongst all ENTSO-E members. The IT data exchange system, which supports the data exchange, is under construction is called the Operational Planning Data Environment (OPDE) and is fully in scope of the Common Grid Model Program.

The Operational Planning Data Environment is built up out of 3 interacting IT layers:

  • TOM: the underlying physical communication network

  • Connectivity Platform: a distributed IT platform that allows secure and traceable data-exchange

  • Business Applications: multiple central IT business applications, which are plugged into the Connectivity Platform and process the data according to the agreed common grid model processes .

The successful candidate for the CGM Program Director (CGM PD) will be in charge of the full Program Management reporting to the Secretary-General and part of the ENTSO-E Management Team.

The CGM PD will be guided by a Program Steering Committee chaired by the Secretary General and will transparently interact with decision bodies transversally within ENTSO-E as required by the ENTSO-E IT strategy. The CGM PD has the duty to timely report on any material issue or new material risk on a weekly basis to the Secretary General and at the pace set by the ENTSO-E Board governance.

The CGM PD will have responsibility for directing both the business and ICT teams under the program. It will be supported by the ICT delivery team within ENTSO-E. The CGM PD will be also supported by the Business Lead Manager appointed by System Operation Committee, Business delivery manager from ENTSO-E and Program Management Office reporting directly to the CGM PD and transversally within relevant ENTSO-E sections. CGM PD will also be coordinating end to end deliverables of the TSOs and RSCs to offer a comprehensive and integrated end to end view of the Program to ENTSO-E Board, Assembly as well as to other relevant bodies.

He/she needs to be full time allocated to the project and based at the ENTSO-E Offices in Brussels.

Specific responsibilities and tasks

  • Be accountable for the delivery of CGM program and business results.

  • Set overall direction for the program team including contractors and allocated resources.

  • Monitor progress to ensure program objectives are delivered on time and within budget, and business results are realised.

  • Ensure CGM Executive Steering Chair and Group receive the right information at the right time regarding program performance, risks and budget status.

  • Determine the impact of program changes on the business case as captured in associated Program Initiation documents and coordinate with CGM Exec Steering Chair or Group to get any necessary update to the PID. •

  • With the CGM Executive Steering Chair, develop associated program risk and opportunity reviews and develop critical sessionfile note to ensure key decisions within ENTSO-E Board and General Assembly.

  • Engage stakeholders and manage their expectations. Take corrective action to address gaps and follow-up associated change requests.

  • Manage the HR resources allocated to the program team.

  • Monitor program-level risks and associated mitigation and contingency plans.

  • Provide program performance dashboards to CGM Exec Steering Chair and Group, as well as to critical ENTSO-E decision making bodies (Dc, Rc, Board, Assembly) on ad hoc basis.

  • Monitor the delivery of business results assigned to the program.

  • Ensure that the program PMO develops, maintains, and manages the release of associated program plans, and dependencies.

  • Review key project deliverables and associated IT deliveries.

  • Overview the IT development process (design, development, and deployment effort) according to the Agile methodology. Ensures these developments are made within schedule and budget.

  • Utilise the latest Digital Section and derived program methodology and customise documents (tasks, deliverables) for the application to each project within the release. Educate project managers on the methodology.

  • Communicate or ensure the program PMO communicates program objectives, policies, standards, procedures, and processes to project managers. Verify compliance.

  • Communicate the release/cross-project view to project managers.

  • Provide the Solution Delivery Manager with standards and time frames.

  • Work with the program management team to ensure the integration of projects within and across releases.

  • Identify and track cross-project dependencies especially within the program but also related projects outside of CGM program.

  • Build relationships with the key users of the system (e.g. RSCs and also TSOs) and ensuring they develop in collaboration the business processes (‘end to end’ CGM works), business readiness, go-live co-ordination…

  • Identify scope changes (e.g., changes which may affect the release budget, timeline, or performance outcomes), and escalate them per scope control guidelines.

  • Facilitate the resolution of project team and cross-project team issues.

  • Assess current capabilities, define the target to fulfil business needs, and identify opportunities to create additional business value.

  • Define the business solutions needed to realise these opportunities.

  • Work with the project leads to explore specific solutions and define the scope of the project.

  • Help define the performance goals and metrics for the proposed solution.

  • Review prototypes, solution blueprints, and project scope to ensure that the needs of the business are being met.

Profile

  • Engineering degree, preferably in power systems engineering / IT developments.

  • Strong background of key business processes of Electricity Grid System and Market operation.

  • Complex program management capability, related to the management of complex multi sided IT-related projects competing for limited resources, strong skills on IT architectures and good understanding of Common Information models and associated integration framework.

  • Minimum of 10 years relevant work experience, should demonstrate strong delivery reference of complex IT-OT systems to Grid operators (ideally to members company of ENTSO-E), in different functions and/or in a complex IT environment involving high data volumes, real-time data exchange, complex IT outsourcing arrangements as well as the use of Utility reference standards from IEC TC57.

  • Strong program management experience (e.g. stage gate process/exit criteria) e.g. successfully implemented large utility IT projects with proven track records to control and manage budget (capital and operating expenditure).

  • Strong understanding of accrual based program finance reporting, combining both quarterly finance reporting as well as multi year program budgeting.

  • Demonstrated IT vendor management covering all scopes of communication, OT and IT system with proven track records / demonstrate neutrality and minimise potential conflict of interest versus the vendors offering solutions or services to CGM program.

  • Effective communicator, capable to efficiently report to senior levels (Director and above) within ENTSO-E relevant governance bodies (General Assembly and Board) with proven track record.

  • Strong leadership in managing critical Quality and risk management processes with relevant players.

  • Strong people management skills leading a team to be results oriented

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills both writing and oral.

  • Fluency in English is essential.