System Operator II

System Operator II (Energy Services Department)

Power South Energy Cooperative, headquartered in Andalusia, AL, is a generation and transmission electric cooperative with 22 distribution members in Alabama and northwest Florida. Power South’s member systems provide power to end‑use consumers across 51 counties in Alabama and 10 counties in Florida.

Power South’s most important asset is a workforce of more than 560 individuals at nine Power South locations. Safety is the company’s number one core value.

The purpose of this position is to assist in operating Power South's electric system in a safe, reliable and economic manner in accordance with NERC reliability standards and requirements. Responsibilities include real‑time continuous monitoring of the bulk electric system (BES) to maintain system frequency, voltage, and power flows within established limits. The operator maintains situational awareness and takes emergency actions to maintain reliability, responding immediately to abnormal conditions such as equipment failures, voltage instability, generation capacity shortages, severe weather events, and cyber and physical threats, utilizing EMS/SCADA and other real‑time tools to support decision making.

The role also develops and executes switching orders, dispatches personnel, coordinates generation resources, and adjusts system topology to mitigate transmission constraints and congestion. Additionally, the operator coordinates and communicates system conditions with the Reliability Coordinator and neighboring systems, issues and receives operating instructions, participates in drills and training exercises, logs system conditions, and provides detailed documentation for audits and post‑event analysis.

The operator assists the lead operator on shift in real‑time operation of Power South’s bulk electric system and works rotating 12‑hour shifts in a control room environment.

Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree preferably in Engineering, Mathematical Science or a comparable technical field. Alternatively, a minimum of five (5) years of appropriate experience in substation operations, system protection, or power plant operations. The incumbent must successfully complete a placement exercise, direct the actions of personnel, communicate effectively, implement emergency procedures, achieve NERC System Operator Certification within three (3) attempts, maintain certification, and comply with NERC Reliability Standards.

• Maintain technical training in continuous monitoring of system frequency, voltage, and power flows on Power South’s bulk electric system in real time to ensure system reliability.
• Develop and issue transmission and distribution switching to safely isolate equipment during normal and emergency conditions, maintaining records of switching operations, clearances, and hotline permits, and providing documentation of system disturbances.
• Operate the electric system to ensure reliability according to NERC Operating Standards and Requirements.
• Coordinate and communicate system conditions with the southeastern Reliability Coordinator (SeRC) and neighboring systems, including issuing and receiving operating instructions.
• Promote teamwork, group goals, and objectives, communicate and cooperate within the Power South organization and with member systems, and demonstrate respect, dignity, accountability, integrity, and trustworthiness.

• Medical and Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pension Plan funded 100% by the company
• 401(k) Plan with up to 5% employer match
• Group Life Benefits
• Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Personal and Sick Leave
• Educational Assistance