Senior Specialist Compliance Assurance

Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO); Mississauga; On-site; CAD 118,000 - 169,000; Full time

Job summary

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in Mississauga, Ontario, is seeking a senior compliance leader to guide regulatory filings and internal controls. The role supports governing bodies across North America and Ontario’s electricity market, ensuring reliability and adherence to market rules.

The position requires 8+ years in leadership roles, deep knowledge of NERC/NPCC/MACD, and the ability to mentor teams while coordinating with internal units and external regulators.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership in projects/programs enabling regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of NERC, NPCC, MACD and related governance bodies.
• Ability to synthesize information for stakeholder audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, maintenance, and submission of compliance filings, narratives, controls, and evidence to regulators.
• Develop and maintain internal compliance program documentation and controls.
• Supervise staff on projects and provide mentorship and performance coaching.
• Advise management on reporting compliance issues to NERC, NPCC, MACD.
• Coordinate regulatory communications and self-reports with enforcement authorities.
• Conduct risk assessments and support design of internal controls.
• Oversee the Internal Compliance Program and report on mitigation actions.
• Represent the organization in industry standards forums and committees.
• Deliver compliance and standards training to staff and market participants.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Compliance program

GRC tools

AI tools

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

GRC tools

AI tools

Job description

Date: October 2, 2026
Location: Mississauga, ON
Requisition ID: 21243
Status: Regular
Business Unit: Legal Resources and Corporate Governance
Grade/Band: MP5
Shift Work
Annual Pay Range: For standard 35-hour work week
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.

Why join us?

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.

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.

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