Manager, Operational Technology Systems

IESO Nova Scotia; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote 1 day/week

Competitive salary

Impact on Nova Scotia energy future

Job summary

IESO Nova Scotia invites a seasoned Manager, OT Systems to lead the development and operation of the utility's OT environment. You will oversee SCADA, EMS, load forecasting systems, and related cybersecurity technologies to ensure reliable, cost-effective grid operation.

As a relatively new organization, you will shape technology strategy, collaborate across Operations, Engineering, Cybersecurity, IT, and with external vendors to keep OT platforms secure, compliant, and performant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, CS, IT, or related field.
• 5-7 years in OT, ICS, electric utilities or related technical environments.
• 3-5 years of leadership or management experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the OT systems roadmap aligned with corporate, operational, and regulatory objectives.
• Lead and direct the management and evolution of OT systems and infrastructure
• Establish standards, policies and governance processes for OT environments
• Serve as the primary point of accountability for the overall performance and availability of OT systems
• Ensure reliable operation of in scope OT platforms
• Oversee system performance, availability, capacity planning and lifecycle management
• Lead software upgrades, hardware refreshes, and technology modernization initiatives
• Develop and maintain operational support processes
• Ensure effective resilience capabilities exist including disaster recovery and BCP
• Develop, implement and maintain OT security controls
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and industry requirements, including NERC CIP, ISO standards, utility regulations, and cybersecurity frameworks.
• Oversee vulnerability assessments, patch management processes, and security monitoring activities within the OT environment
• Promote a culture of security awareness across operational teams
• Provide leadership, coaching and performance management for OT systems personnel
• Establish team goals, priorities and performance expectations
• Promote collaboration between OT, IT and cybersecurity teams
• Oversee lifecycle management of OT asset inventories, software licensing, maintenance agreements, and support contracts.
• Develop capital and operating budget forecasts for OT systems and infrastructure.
• Evaluate and manage vendor performance against service level agreements.
• Support procurement activities, contract negotiations, and technology evaluations

Skills

Leadership

OT systems

SCADA

Cybersecurity

Budgeting

Vendor management

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Independent Energy System Operator (IESO) Nova Scotia is a new organization created by the Nova Scotia Government that began operations in 2025. IESO Nova Scotia will reform the way Nova Scotia’s energy system is managed by assuming responsibility for managing the power system in real-time, achieving clean energy goals and planning for the province's future energy needs.

IESO Nova Scotia employees are guided by exemplifying the behaviours of curiosity, collaboration, intent, and transparency with the purpose of energizing Nova Scotia and delivering a secure energy transition at the best possible cost for Nova Scotians.

Role Summary:

The Manager, OT Systems, will report to the Director, IT, and will be responsible for the development, leadership, administration, support, and continuous improvement of the utility's Operational Technology environment. This includes systems that monitor, control, protect, and optimize the operation of the electrical grid and related IESO’s responsibility.

As IESO is a relatively new organization, this role will help shape the technology and application systems required to enable reliable and cost-effective system operations. The Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for OT platforms such as SCADA, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Energy Portfolio Optimization Systems, load forecasting systems, outage coordination systems, Physical Access Control Systems, telecommunications systems, and associated cybersecurity technologies. The Manager will work closely with Operations, Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Finance, and external vendors to ensure operational systems remain reliable, secure, compliant, and aligned with the organization's strategic objectives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, IT, or related discipline
• 5-7 years of experience with OT, Industrial Control Systems, electric utility operations or related technical environments
• 3-5 years of leadership or management experience
• Experience supporting critical infrastructure systems within an electric utility

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the OT systems roadmap aligned with corporate, operational, and regulatory objectives.
• Lead and direct the management and evolution of OT systems and infrastructure
• Establish standards, policies and governance processes for OT environments
• Serve as the primary point of accountability for the overall performance and availability of OT systems
• Ensure reliable operation of in scope OT platforms
• Oversee system performance, availability, capacity planning and lifecycle management
• Lead software upgrades, hardware refreshes, and technology modernization initiatives
• Develop and maintain operational support processes
• Ensure effective resilience capabilities exist including disaster recovery and BCP
• Develop, implement and maintain OT security controls
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and industry requirements, including NERC CIP, ISO standards, utility regulations, and cybersecurity frameworks.
• Oversee vulnerability assessments, patch management processes, and security monitoring activities within the OT environment
• Promote a culture of security awareness across operational teams.
• Provide leadership, coaching and performance management for OT systems personnel
• Establish team goals, priorities and performance expectations
• Promote collaboration between OT, IT and cybersecurity teams
• Oversee lifecycle management of OT asset inventories, software licensing, maintenance agreements, and support contracts.
• Develop capital and operating budget forecasts for OT systems and infrastructure.
• Evaluate and manage vendor performance against service level agreements.
• Support procurement activities, contract negotiations, and technology evaluations

Core Competencies:

• Strong understanding of electric utility operations, transmission and grid reliability principles.
• Knowledge of SCADA systems, communication networks, industrial control systems, and utility automation technologies.
• Strong understanding of OT cybersecurity principles, standards, and frameworks.
• Familiarity with NERC CIP requirements and utility regulatory environments.
• Knowledge of network architecture, telecommunications, field communications, and cloud-connected utility technologies.
• In-depth working knowledge of IT Service Management practices (e.g. Incident, Change, Problem, Configuration management)
• Strong leadership, communication, relationship management, and organizational skills.
• Excellent problem-solving, risk management, and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

What we offer:

• Competitive benefits and paid time off
• Smart, collaborative team members
• The ability to work remotely 1 day per week
• A competitive salary commensurate with your experience
• A chance to make a big impact on Nova Scotia’s energy future!