Technical Director – Power System Capability and Planning

GHD; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD Advisory is seeking a Technical Director for Power System Capability and Planning to drive the growth of its Power Advisory Group across Australia and New Zealand. The role combines technical leadership with strategic client engagement and project delivery on major transmission and renewable integration initiatives.

The position offers flexibility in location (Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne) and a hybrid work arrangement, with a focus on guiding complex power system studies and mentoring

Qualifications

• Degree qualifications in Electrical Engineering and eligibility for Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status.
• Significant experience in Power System Capability and Planning in Australian electricity market.
• Proven track record leading complex planning and capability assessment projects for utilities or energy developers.
• Strong understanding of power system security, stability, reliability and operability in NEM.
• Experience with transmission planning and renewable energy integration studies.
• Knowledge of system strength, inertia, voltage stability and energy transition challenges.
• Ability to provide strategic and technical advice to clients on power system capability and planning outcomes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and delivering technical and commercial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow GHD's Power System Capability and Planning offering across Australia and New Zealand.
• Lead technical studies relating to transmission network capability and future grid development.
• Provide strategic advice to utilities, network service providers and regulators.
• Offer technical leadership and mentoring to engineers and consultants.
• Generate technical reports and advisory outcomes for connecting parties and system operators.
• Collaborate with national and international teams on complex power sector projects.

Skills

Leadership

Power System Planning

Stakeholder Engagement

Mentoring

Python Programming

Power System Analysis

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

CPEng eligibility

Tools

PSS/E

PSCAD

PowerFactory

MATLAB

Python

PLEXOS

Job description

Job Description

At GHD Advisory we are invested in creating sustainable commercial outcomes with clients driving change in water, energy and urbanisation. Join a team committed to solving complex challenges across the value chain, from capital deployment to asset management, enabling resilience, growth and sustainability. Together, we'll help create a future for generations to come.

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for a Technical Director – Power System Capability and Planning to join our Power Advisory Group. The nature of the business model at GHD allows for a high level of flexibility in where it is located, and this can be done from our Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne office. At GHD we are excited by the energy transition challenge and the prospect of assisting our clients meeting their decarbonisation goals. Our Future Energy initiative is focused on enabling this change and making a difference. GHD recognises that understanding the capability of the power system is crucial to provide sound advice to assist our clients achieve their Future Energy goals. We are growing our Power Advisory team to meet this requirement. This is a great opportunity for a driven professional to work alongside the top talent in the power systems industry while building your career working on leading edge projects. You will fulfill a leading role and support a team of talented individuals to follow you in this journey.

Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in:

• Directly influence the commercial performance of the team by ensuring assignments are appropriately scoped and priced, project risks are managed, and commercial outcomes are achieved.
• Lead and grow GHD's Power System Capability and Planning offering across Australia and New Zealand.
• Lead technical studies relating to transmission network capability, power system planning, renewable energy integration and future grid development.
• Provide strategic advice to utilities, network service providers, developers, market operators and government agencies on power system capability and planning challenges.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to engineers and consultants across power systems and future energy disciplines.
• Generate technical reports and advisory outcomes for connecting parties, network companies, system operators and regulators.
• Work as part of multidisciplinary teams to deliver future energy and decarbonisation solutions.
• Collaborate with our national and international teams to deliver complex power sector projects across Australia and internationally.

What you will bring to the team?

• Degree qualifications in Electrical Engineering and eligibility for Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) status.
• Significant experience in Power System Capability and Planning, preferably gained within the Australian electricity market.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex power system planning and capability assessment projects for utilities, transmission and distribution network service providers, government agencies or major energy developers.
• Strong understanding of power system security, stability, reliability and operability considerations across the National Electricity Market (NEM).
• Experience undertaking transmission and network planning studies, renewable energy integration studies and future grid development assessments.
• Demonstrated knowledge of system strength, inertia, voltage stability, oscillatory stability and emerging power system challenges associated with the energy transition.
• Proven ability to provide strategic and technical advice to clients on power system capability, network development and long‑term planning outcomes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and delivering successful technical and commercial outcomes on large-scale projects.
• A passion for developing people, with a demonstrated ability to mentor, coach and support engineers at all career stages.
• Expertise in power system analysis software including PSS®E, PSCAD, PowerFactory and MATLAB.
• An understanding of electricity market modelling and the use of PLEXOS.
• Advanced programming capability using Python and other technical computing tools.
• Experience with grid‑forming technologies, inverter‑based resources and virtual power system technologies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Australian National Electricity Rules (NER), AEMO frameworks and relevant international standards.
• Experience conducting load flow, fault level, dynamic, EMT and power system performance studies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, develop new business opportunities and contribute to the growth of a leading power advisory practice.

GHD is an equal opportunity employer, and we want everyone to be able to fully participate in our recruitment process. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of all identities.

GHD embraces hybrid work arrangements to create a work environment focused on well‑being, flexibility and productivity where GHD people can thrive. This supports the diverse needs of our workforce while balancing the benefits of remote working with the value of face‑to‑face collaboration in the office.

About Us

Come together and make a meaningful impact. We bring our people together to create something bigger and solve some of the world's most complex problems. Come and experience the power of commitment and see strategy and ideas come to life when you join GHD.

Our Pledge to You

At GHD, we don’t just believe in the power of commitment, we live and breathe it every day. That’s why we pledge to empower our people to make a positive impact. Combining our deep technical expertise with the capabilities of our clients and partners, we respond to some of the most complex challenges facing our planet today. See where your commitment could take you. That’s the #PowerOfCommitment

Who We Are

GHD is a global professional services company that leads through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise. We are an employee‑owned company with over 11,000 diverse and skilled individuals, across more than 200 offices spanning five continents. The Power of Commitment is our brand promise. It’s what makes us different. We are bound to our stated vision and determination to address humanity’s most urgent needs: to make water, energy and urbanisation sustainable for generations to come.