Senior Specialist Compliance Assurance

Independent Electricity System Operator; Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 118,000 - 169,000; Full time

Job summary

Independent Electricity System Operator in Mississauga, Ontario, is seeking a senior compliance leader to guide regulatory programs and ensure adherence to market rules. You will shape internal controls, risk assessments, and reporting to enforcement authorities.

You will lead filings, provide guidance to stakeholders, mentor teams, and help elevate the organization’s compliance posture in a dynamic energy market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in leadership roles delivering regulatory/compliance programs.
• Knowledge of NERC, NPCC, MACD and related authorities.
• Strong understanding of electricity market regulations and standards.
• Ability to tailor materials for diverse audiences.
• Proven mentoring and team leadership experience.
• Experience using governance, risk and compliance (GRC) tools.
• Experience leveraging AI tools to improve productivity.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and submission of compliance filings and evidence to regulators.
• Maintain internal compliance program documentation reflecting regulatory requirements.
• Supervise staff on projects, including mentorship and performance management.
• Consult with IESO units to complete submissions and identify risks.
• Advise management on reporting to NERC, NPCC, MACD.
• Coordinate regulatory communications with enforcement authorities.
• Conduct gap analyses and risk assessments on evolving standards.
• Oversee the Internal Compliance Program and progress of mitigations.
• Represent IESO in industry standards forums and stakeholder groups.
• Develop and deliver training on compliance standards.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Stakeholder management

GRC tools

AI tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or law

Tools

Copilot AI tools

Job description

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Business Unit:Legal Resources and Corporate Governance

Grade/Band: MP5

Shift Work:

Step 1:$118,456 to Step 10: $169,208

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 Compliance Assurance department in the Legal Resources and Corporate Governance Business Unit.

What makes this role exciting

The energy sector is rapidly evolving, offering exciting new opportunities for those who want to make a difference.

Reporting to the Manager, Compliance Assurance, you will lead IESO contributions in the development of reliability standards and criteria established by Standards Authorities such as NERC and NPCC, and promote awareness amongst Ontario market participants (MP) and IESO business units of applicable reliability standards and criteria and their compliance obligations. You will lead the development and maintenance of processes and procedures to enhance the culture of compliance at the IESO, identify reliability and compliance risks, and lead the development of appropriate controls to mitigate risks. You will oversee the reporting of IESO compliance status to senior management and Compliance Enforcement Authorities (CEA) such as MACD, NERC and NPCC. You will lead and perform compliance readiness and risk assessments, and conduct self-assessments of IESO compliance to make recommendations to management on ways to mitigate the risk of potential non compliance (PNC) events. You will facilitate MP compliance efforts and support the Market Administration and Compliance Division in monitoring and reporting on the compliance status of Ontario MPs.

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:

• Lead the development, maintenance, and submission of compliance filings, narratives, controls, and evidence to regulatory and enforcement bodies (e.g., NERC, NPCC, MACD) to demonstrate compliance with market rules and reliability standards.
• Develop, review, and maintain internal compliance program documentation, ensuring processes, controls, and procedures reflect current practices and regulatory requirements.
• Supervise staff on special projects as needed including mentorship, coaching, and performance management.
• Consult with IESO business units to complete compliance submissions, identify risks, and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Advise management on reporting compliance issues to North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC), Market Assessment and Compliance Division (MACD).
• Serve as the primary liaison with compliance enforcement authorities, coordinating regulatory communications, self-reports, information requests, industry alerts, and official responses.
• Conduct gap analyses and risk assessments related to evolving reliability standards, market rules, and compliance obligations, and support the design and documentation of effective internal controls.
• Oversee the IESO’s Internal Compliance Program to report on compliance status, enforce compliance standards, and report on progress of mitigation actions addressing current gaps.
• Represent the organization in industry standards development, regulatory forums, committees, and stakeholder groups.
• Develop and deliver compliance and standards based training to IESO staff and where necessary market participants, to promote awareness and educate key partners of their obligations.

Recently, this position was part of the development of IESO’s position and related balloting activities on proposed reliability standards changes, with a particular focus on emerging large-scale computational load growth. Responsibilities included leading the coordination of input from technical and regulatory stakeholders, developing ballot positions, and supporting leadership decision-making to help ensure IESO’s interests were represented in the evolving reliability standards landscape.

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:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field of study such as business, finance, management, engineering, computer science, economics, or law, or equivalent working experience.
• 8+ years of experience in progressive leadership roles leading complex projects and/or programs facilitating compliance with regulatory standards.
• Knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of Compliance Enforcement Authorities (CEA) such as the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC), and Market Assessment and Compliance Division (MACD).
• Strong understanding of the electricity industry, including how electricity markets work, how the power system is operated, and the rules and regulations that govern the sector.
• Ability to synthesize information, tailor and present compliance materials to various audiences.
• Proven ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience leading teams to execute projects of broadly defined scope and objectives while developing talent as a mentor to direct reports and team members.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and gain commitment to ideas, recommendations, and project outcomes.
• Experience leveraging technology tools including the use of AI tools (e.g. Copilot) to perform analyses, conduct research and improve productivity.
• Demonstrated ability in the use of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) tools to manage compliance obligations and administer a compliance program.

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 30, 2026. 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.