CAISO Energy Markets Manager or Sr Manager

About Ava Community Energy

Ava Community Energy (Ava) is a Joint Powers Authority comprised of Alameda County and its incorporated areas, and the cities of Lathrop, Stockton, and Tracy. Ava’s charter is to provide its customers with low carbon, cost-effective electricity that integrates innovative energy products and maximizes local benefits through the development of local solutions, ranging from increasing access to rooftop solar to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles.

Ava believes in a vibrant culture that supports and nurtures a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission. We foster a culture of open communication, responsibility, curiosity, accountability, and teamwork. We want creative problem solvers that are excited to work in an entrepreneurial environment and grow our agency! As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of our service area’s rich culture and communities. We welcome a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and skills. We strongly encourage people of all characteristics to apply and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type based on age, religion, color, gender identity or expression, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics, and those with a disability as protected by federal, state and local laws.

Ava is seeking a full‑time CAISO Energy Markets Manager, Sr. Manager, or Sr. Manager II reporting to the Director of Energy Analytics and Electric Supply. This individual will be the subject matter expert and strategic lead for market opportunities within CAISO, portfolio risk management, and asset and portfolio optimization with a focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), and renewable resources.

They will elevate our participation in the CAISO energy market by implementing innovative bidding and scheduling strategies and building the tools to back them up. The CAISO Energy Markets Manager or Senior Manager will bring additional resource knowledge, market expertise, and fresh ideas on operating a modern clean energy portfolio. Working inter‑departmentally, this role ensures market results (actual and forecasted) align with expectations and possibilities.

• Develop and implement Day‑Ahead and Real‑Time bidding strategies with Ava’s scheduling coordinator; build tools to operationalize strategies and track portfolio performance.
• Apply optimization models to assess resource availability, outage impacts, and bidding outcomes; recommend actions to improve portfolio value with a focus on BESS dispatch. Partner with optimization software providers to automate and operationalize resources.
• Coordinate with the VPP Manager to ensure VPP and DER resources are dispatched accurately and economically; refine optimization model inputs to improve outcomes over time.
• Monitor market and price movements; develop trading tactics and refine tools to improve CAISO market performance.
• Validate IRP model outcomes within the CAISO market context and ensure assumptions remain operationally current.

• Develop and enhance after‑the‑fact analysis and performance reporting to support Power Resources and executive decision‑making on portfolio economics and risk exposure.
• Provide analytical support to the Power Resources team and scheduling coordinator for asset management and trading activities; coordinate with the data and systems team to ensure performance data is properly maintained and accessible.

• Support Ava’s CRR program by maintaining congestion models and analyzing CRR performance and congestion risk exposure to inform strategy.
• Review and approve CRR submissions in partnership with the scheduling coordinator; assess auction outcomes and recommend…