Lead Data Scientist
IESO
Lead Data Scientist
Date [[Today()]]
Location Mississauga/Oakville/Toronto, ON – Hybrid/On-site
Requisition ID 20325
Status Regular
Business Unit Planning Conservation and Resource Adequacy
Why join us?
Who we are
Our central role includes managing the provincial power grid in real-time, overseeing and evolving Ontario’s electricity market, engaging with government, municipalities and Indigenous communities, and planning for Ontario’s future electricity needs. Our employees play a key role in driving grid innovation, protecting the system from threats, advancing the province’s energy conservation programs, and forecasting and procuring the electricity resources we’ll need in the decades to come.
This role is a part of…
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What makes you a good candidate
The energy sector is rapidly evolving, offering exciting new opportunities for those who want to make a difference.
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What you’ll do
In this role, you’ll make a meaningful impact by contributing to the IESO team and supporting the electricity needs of the province through:
In 4-5 bullet points, list the most important job functions of this role
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In a typical day, you will (fill in 4-5 highlights)
Right now/recently, this position was part of (if you can, include a project that will give context to the position or generate excitement in the candidate)
Role Requirements
Our team consists of experts from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique perspectives and skills.
To succeed in this role, you’ll need:
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Header - Identifying Information
| Title | Lead Data Scientist |
| Occupational Code | 747545 |
| Grade | MP5 |
| Position Type | New |
| Union Affliation | Society |
| Hours of Work | 35 |
| Organization | Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) |
Job Purpose / Summary Statement (Part 1)
The Power System Planning Division is responsible for forecasting electricity system requirements in the near and long-term. This work involves forecasting electricity demand and developing technical assessments that inform the implementation of resource and transmission investments, at the provincial, regional and local level, and of distribution connected non-wire alternatives that enhance system performance, increase market efficiency and/or reduce cost for customers. As a part of this work, the Demand and Conservation Planning team will be implementing a zonal forecasting models and processes to be deployed as part of the Market Renewal project. The work will specifically focus on the electricity demand forecasts and models for the day ahead electricity markets.
The Power System Planning team continually develops and evolves its planning processes to ensure that processes continue to align with future acquisition activities, stakeholder expectations and other processes within the IESO.
The Lead Data Scientist will work in the areas of Demand Forecasting and Conservation Planning, to carry out planning activities as described in this document and will generally be working in the following areas:
- Demand forecasting and conservation planning
- Development, maintenance, and improvement of zonal demand forecast processes and models
- Regional planning
- Compliance assessments/reporting and standards development
- Planning process development
- Assist in conducting operational assessments to identify operating and ancillary services’ needs to mitigate any reliability and operability risks.
- Assist in executing of IESO forward markets and proper coordination of integration of emerging technologies/new market design into IESO operations
Job Purpose / Summary Statement (Part 2)
Job Description - Key Responsibilities (Part 1)
The IESO is looking for a data scientist that will help us discover the information hidden in vast amounts of data, and help us make smarter decisions to deliver even better products. Your primary focus will be in applying data mining techniques, doing statistical analysis, and building high quality prediction systems integrated with our products. Specifically, this role will support the Demand Forecasting team at the IESO, focusing on the development of the day ahead electricity market by evolving the day ahead demand forecasting process in order to meet the Ontario’s electricity needs of the future.
Lead Data Scientist responsibilities include conducting full lifecycle analysis to include requirements, activities and design for the zonal demand forecasting project. The Lead Data Scientist will develop analysis and reporting capabilities. They will also monitor performance and quality control plans to identify improvements.
The successful candidate will turn data into information, information into insight and insight into business decisions.
- Be an engaging member of the Demand and Conservation Planning team.
- Support the development, maintenance, and improvement of the electricity demand forecast processes and models.
- Lead and manage internal and external working groups and provide Operations perspective by participating in various stakeholder engagements that impact the operation of the IESO administered markets.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to other members of the team. This may include problem resolution, training, and quality checks on their work.
- Work with SMEs within and outside Operations as necessary to integrate new technology/market design into IESO Operations by:
- Maintaining a current knowledge of Operations processes (including but not limited to day-ahead scheduling, control room procedures, real-time scheduling) for the purposes of interpreting and assessing the priority of issues regarding Operations tools and processes.
- Provide guidance to other business units on market operations including, but not limited to, clarifying policies and principles in making operational decisions.
- Support, as required, specialized system and market efficiency studies
- Provide support, as required to other business units, agencies, and market participants to fulfill strategic plans.
- Interpret data, analyze results using statistical techniques and provide ongoing reports
- Develop and implement databases, data collection systems, data analytics and other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality
- Acquire data from primary or secondary data sources and maintain databases/data systems
- Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in complex data sets
- Work with management to prioritize business and information needs
- Locate and define new process improvement opportunities
- Perform other duties as required.
Job Description - Key Responsibilities (Part 2)
Requirements:
- You have a deep understanding of statistical and predictive modeling concepts, machine-learning approaches, clustering and classification techniques, and recommendation and optimization algorithms.
- Proven working experience as a Data Scientist, Data Analyst, Business Data Analyst, and/or other equivalent experience.
- Technical expertise regarding data models, database design development, data mining and segmentation techniques
- Strong knowledge of and experience with reporting packages (Business Objects etc), databases (SQL etc), programming (XML, Javascript, or ETL frameworks)
- Knowledge of statistics and experience using statistical packages for analyzing datasets (Excel, SPSS, SAS etc)
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy
- Adept at queries, report writing and presenting findings
- BS in Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Information Management or Statistics. Preference will be given to those with a Master Degree.
Job Description - Key Responsibilities (Part 3)
Job Description - Key Responsibilities (Part 4)
Education
Experience
8- 10 years of experience in a planning, regulatory, research, or analytical environment is typically required to complete the responsibilities of the job. Experience in the electricity sector is preferred.
Difficulty of Solution of Work Problems
Solutions to problems are often beyond the scope of past practice or precedent and require the development of new or unique approaches to power system operation. Requires considerable research and analysis of information drawn from a variety of sources, utilizing theoretical assumptions and considering the merits of various alternatives. The criteria for assessing the practicability of such solutions are based on the optimum combination of technical and economic considerations.
Requirement for Independent Action
Receive assignments from Supervisor together with a broad outline of requirements and/or limited discussions on method of approach and objectives. Initiates necessary actions to undertake investigations and the like with reference to Supervisor for consultation on highly unusual conditions encountered. Submit deliverables including recommendations for approval and implementation.
Nature of Supervision Given to Others
Requires exercising limited supervision over other professional and technical staff, including initiating and allocation of work, providing guidance, and checking finished product.
Number Supervised - Direct and Indirect
| Direct | 0 |
| Indirect | 2 |
Internal Contacts
Requires contact with various personnel (including but not limited to subject matter experts, managers, directors and vice presidents) to discuss problems relating to market and system operations and to provide technical advice and guidance on such subjects. Requires collaborating with other involved groups to reach a common understanding and agreement on dependent areas of work.
External Contacts
Requires collaboration with external contacts (for example, Market Participants – generators, transmitters, neighboring jurisdictions, NERC working groups) to gain an understanding of processes, computer applications, and best practices at other electricity providing organizations. Requires occasional participation in external stakeholder events. This requires studying and discussing power system operations in an attempt to develop mutually satisfactory solutions and recommendations on techniques and methods of operation. Requires participation in presentations in order to explain and advance organizational interests.
Responsibility for Accuracy - Effect of Errors
Due to the complex nature of the power system operation and the high degree of developmental work associated with the function, errors may not become apparent until discovered under actual operating conditions. Requires analysis, assessment, recommendations and implementation of changes. Failure to implement the changes may result in potential non-compliance to NERC Standards, NPCC Directories and/or IESO Market Rules.
Working Conditions
Work is conducted in a typical office environment.
Skills
Competencies
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How We Support You
From a comprehensive total rewards program to dynamic learning and development opportunities—including job rotations to broaden your expertise—we empower you to define and shape your own success. When you join the IESO, here’s what you can expect:
- Best-in-class benefits and long-term support in the form of a defined benefit pension plan.
- A commitment to flexibility where 95% of our workforce participates in a hybrid model. Employees work in-office a minimum of four days and work remotely up to six days over a two-week period with a goal of maximizing in-office time through the use of established team days. Remote work can be done from anywhere in Ontario.
- Work in a dynamic and evolving sector that offers exciting opportunities and the chance to explore new career paths.
- Leadership that values meaningful discussions, welcomes feedback, and prioritizes career development.
- A strong, inclusive culture and a collaborative team environment with a shared passion for impactful work.
- Compensation packages that are regularly reviewed to remain competitive and to best accommodate the diverse needs of our employees.
Deadline
Include the job application deadline. For future reference, please save a copy of the job posting as it will no longer be available once the posting closes.
Thank you for your interest in a career at the IESO. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please note that the successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to applicable background checks.
We believe in opportunities for everyone. At the IESO, we know that achieving great results depends on embracing diversity by attracting, developing, and retaining people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We do this by ensuring our recruitment and advancement policies are fair and equitable, and by creating an accessible and inclusive environment—one that values every team member’s unique skills and experiences and ensures they have the support they need to
achieve their potential. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know.
We’re proud to say we’ve been recognized as a supportive, inclusive employer.