(Medior) Analyst on system flexibility

Aether; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AETHER in Belgium seeks a Project Partner to assess electricity system flexibility and coordinate a systematic flexibility monitoring programme. The role blends analysis and project management (50/50) across technology types, voltage levels and regions to inform long-term adequacy and short-term mitigation.

Fluency in English, Dutch or French is required; a master's degree in engineering or economics is preferred.

Qualifications

• At least 3-5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Fluency in English, Dutch or French, with good knowledge of the others; fluent English required.
• Master's degree in engineering, commercial engineering or economics.
• Strong interest in energy sector and electricity market functioning; several years of market experience preferred.
• Strong analytical thinking and ability to translate questions into quantitative analyses.
• Knowledge of statistical methods and basic machine learning for large data sets.
• Ability to use Excel extensively; Python or similar programming languages welcomed.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Flexibility analysis across technologies and regions.
• Support collection of flexibility information via desktop research and interviews.
• Data analyses of smart metering, consumer injections and grid conditions.
• Develop information-gathering strategies using regulators, DSOs and sector bodies.
• Analyze grid consumption time series, forecast errors, market nominations and imbalances.
• Communicate findings through presentations to experts and management.
• Translate results into tools and strategic recommendations for IT and market teams.
• Project management of scope, timing, budget and governance.

Skills

Flexibility analysis

Data analysis

Interviews

Estimation methods

Machine learning basics

Excel calculations

Python or similar

Communication

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in engineering or economics

Tools

Python

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

AETHER is a key partner for intrapreneurial projects in Belgium, and we want to reinforce our support of key actors in the energy sector, who are facing interesting challenges regarding the assessment of electricity system flexibility to support a reliable energy transition.

New projects are therefore ongoing to ensure that Belgian companies have reliable information on available flexibility to improve long-term adequacy assessments, anticipate short-term flexibility shortages and guide flexibility development.

TASK DESCRIPTION:

As an AETHER Project Partner embedded within the project team, your objective will be to assess electricity system flexibility and coordinate the implementation and development of a systematic flexibility monitoring programme.

The mission combines analysis and project management, with an expected 50/50 allocation of time.

The programme monitors installed, unlocked and available flexibility by technology, voltage level and product type across all Belgian regions and future time horizons. It covers storage, generation and demand response on high, medium and low voltage grids, requiring collaboration with DSOs and market players.

The assessment covers Electric Vehicles, Batteries, Heat Pumps, Photovoltaics and industrial processes such as electric boilers, heat pumps and electric ovens. It considers participation in balancing services through activation signals and responses to day-ahead, intra-day and balancing market prices, dynamic tariffs and capacity tariffs. It also examines how many assets are capable of responding, how many already respond and their response profiles.

Results are used to:

• Improve long-term projections of adequacy, flexibility and balancing requirements.
• Improve short-term forecasts of flexibility shortages and mitigation measures.
• Provide strategic recommendations for flexibility development.

Key responsibilities might include:

• Flexibility analysis
• Support the collection of flexibility information through desktop research, interviews, data analysis and estimation methods.
• Support the development and execution of smart metering data analyses covering consumer offtake and injections, and establish relationships with system conditions, seasonality and other drivers.
• Develop and execute information-gathering strategies using regulators' websites, distribution system operators, sector federations and inventive approaches to retrieve unavailable information.
• Conduct analyses of grid user consumption time series, renewable energy forecast errors, market player nominations and adjustments, and system imbalances, applying basic statistical analysis and machine learning where needed.
• Arrange communication and dissemination of findings for experts, management and external audiences through clear presentations and communications.

Translate results and insights:

• Into tools and applications, guiding development with relevant IT departments.
• Into strategic recommendations for discussion with market departments.
• Into scenario inputs for discussion with grid study departments.
• Project management
• Manage programme implementation and growth in close collaboration with business experts, analysts and IT.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align programme objectives with organisational strategic goals. Oversee systematic monitoring to ensure accurate and timely data.
• Report programme progress and deliverables to management and governance bodies. Identify opportunities to improve programme processes.

Project management covers scope, timing, budget, resources and the communication plan, together with coordination across grid development, market development and system operation / control center functions.

PROFILE:

• At least 3-5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Fluency in English, Dutch or French, with adequate knowledge of the other languages; fluent spoken and written English is required.
• Preferably a master's degree in engineering, commercial engineering or economics, with a strong interest in a technical environment.
• Strong interest in the energy sector and understanding of the electricity market's overall functioning; several years of electricity market experience are preferred.
• Strong analytical thinking, with the ability to understand complex processes and turn abstract strategic objectives into realistic solutions.
• Ability to translate questions into quantitative analyses or approaches, supporting clear reasoning with facts, figures and quantitative results.
• Sufficient knowledge and experience of statistical methods, including machine learning, to analyse large data sets.
• Interest and experience in Excel calculations, willingness to use Python or similar programming languages when needed, and good knowledge of Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Ability to combine operational and conceptual tasks, organise work independently and distinguish priorities.
• Quick learning ability, a proactive and positive attitude, attention to detail without losing the overall perspective, and consistently accurate work.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, including the ability to steer projects towards concrete implementation and collaborate with diverse teams.
• Enjoyment of teamwork, a results-oriented approach and clear, fluent communication.
• An entrepreneurial experience or ambition is a plus, including extra-professional or extra-academic activities.

OUR VISION:

Success in industry often relies on key individuals who demonstrate intrapreneurial leadership - those who continuously initiate, transform, and pursue excellence.

The best way to develop this strength is through ad interim projects, i.e. working as a consultant with established intrapreneurs in international companies, to support their major expansion or improvement initiatives regarding governance, studies, or operations.

Since 2014, AETHER is managing these opportunities for outstanding consultants in key international groups, as these offer greater learning opportunities with multi-million impacts.