Advisor Program Performance

Independent Electricity System Operator; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 111,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

Learning and development

Career rotations

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Independent Electricity System Operator is seeking a senior program leader to oversee demand-side management initiatives, with a focus on Indigenous relations and stakeholder engagement. You will guide program development, manage contracts, and coordinate with partners to deliver energy efficiency results for Ontario.

The role requires 6–8 years in the energy sector, a bachelor's degree, and proven ability to translate complex analyses into actionable program design while working collaboratively

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of experience in the energy sector leading programs or projects with experience in Indigenous relations.
• Bachelor's degree in relevant field or equivalent working experience.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of Indigenous communities’ history, culture and treaty relationships.
• Experience working alongside and building relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations.
• Knowledge of demand-side management programs, energy efficiency measures, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Experience translating complex technical analysis into actionable program design recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Manage program administration, rules, participant contracts, partner contracts, budgets, calculation spreadsheets, and related information system content.
• Lead development and issuance of RFPs for external service providers, evaluate submissions, and contract development with vendors.
• Lead program launch activities, implement improvements, and ensure contract compliance while supporting negotiations.
• Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to optimize participation in demand-side initiatives.
• Develop external communications materials to train, educate and advise customers and stakeholder groups.
• Perform research and analysis to support program design, targets, and incentive levels.

Skills

Indigenous relations

Stakeholder engagement

Program management

Energy sector knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Step 1: $111,072 to Step 3: $126,932

The successful candidate will be placed at the appropriate step within the salary grade/band, based on relevant years of experience and other applicable considerations.

The IESO is committed to ensuring Ontario’s electricity system meets the province’s needs today and into the future. We are charged with purpose, delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for homes, businesses, and communities across the province. We are energized to grow, embracing opportunities to shape the future of a dynamic and evolving energy sector while advancing our careers. We are powered by teamwork, supported by diverse and passionate colleagues who foster respect, celebrate successes, and thrive on shared achievements. At the IESO, it’s not just what we do—it’s who we are!

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 is a unionized position that falls within the Residential & Community Program Performance department in the Power System Development Business Unit.

What makes this role exciting

Our work is rooted in respect, collaboration, and a commitment to creating meaningful and lasting impacts for Indigenous communities. Working in partnership with First Nation leadership, community organizations, utilities, and industry stakeholders, we design and implement programs that support energy efficiency, affordability, sustainability, and community-driven energy goals.

If you are inspired by the opportunity to contribute to reconciliation through meaningful action, this is the role for you!

This position is open to all applicants, however in accordance with our commitment to reconciliation, qualified candidates who self-identify as First Nation, Metis or Inuit, particularly those with lived experiences in or with First Nation communities in Ontario are strongly encouraged to apply.

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:

Delivery

• Responsible for program management, including administration and evolution of program rules, participant contracts, partner contracts, budget management, calculation spreadsheets, and related information system content.
• Manage the development and issuance of RFPs for external service providers, contribute to the evaluation of submissions, and manage the development of contracts with third-party vendors.
• Lead program launch activities, implementation of program improvements, and contract compliance, while supporting counterparty negotiations through analysis of offers and proposals to help extract fair value for the IESO.

Business and Stakeholder Advisory

• Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to optimize participation in demand-side initiatives.
• Provide issues management support, working with customers and internal stakeholders to bring forward and resolve issues and enhance programs.
• Develop external communications materials to train, educate and advise customers and stakeholder groups (e.g., public information sessions, webinars,etc.).

Technical

• Support the maintenance of the IESO’s library of prescriptive and quasi-prescriptive conservation measures, including its library of end-use load profiles.
• Perform research and analysis to recommend and establish end-use performance targets, assess the cost-effectiveness of energy conservation measures, and recommend technologies for demand-side management programs.
• Develop technical specifications, eligibility requirements, and measurement and verification processes for new conservation measures.
• Conduct peer reviews of technical work and collaborate with internal groups on application software tools, acceptance testing, and business requirements.

Leadership

• Maintain knowledge and awareness of innovation, technological developments, best practices and market transformation activities in the industry and make recommendations to support the continuous improvement and evolution of demand side management programs.
• Provide guidance to Analysts and junior staff.
• Direct the work of vendors to adhere to program requirements.

Design

• Responsible for analysis to support program design including but not limited to customer and market characteristics and cost effectiveness tests.
• Perform analysis to recommend and establish incentive levels for various energy saving measures, as well as to establish appropriate budgets for programs.
• Evalutate the effectiveness of existing processes and recommend action for continuous improvement.

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:

• 6 – 8 years of experience in the energy sector leading programs or projects with experience in Indigenous relations.
• Bachelor's degree in relevant field of study or equivalent working experience.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of Indigenous communities’ history, culture and treaty relationships.
• Experience working alongside and building relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations.
• Knowledge of demand-side management programs, energy efficiency measures, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Experience performing technical research and developing specifications for energy conservation measures.
• Experience translating complex technical analysis into actionable program design recommendations.
• Proven ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences and engage partners to support program goals.

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.
• 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: October 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM

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.

IESO will not conduct interviews or offer positions via online, text, chat or social media platforms. We will not gather personal information directly from candidates or potential candidates. Selected candidates will work with our Talent Acquisition team to ensure their application is processed.

The IESO currently has a 3-day in-office work week for applicable roles. Over the course of 2026, the IESO will advance plans to acquire additional office space to accommodate more in-office time. While the timeline for moving to a full 5-day in-office model has not yet been established, we are committed to keeping employees and candidates informed as plans progress and give them as much advance notice as possible to prepare for any changes.

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.