Director, Operational Policy & Market Operations

Director, Operational Policy & Market Operations

Halifax, NS

TP - IESO - 9311

Meridia Recruitment Solutions is pleased to partner with IESO Nova Scotia to recruit a Director, Operational Policy & Market Operations. This is a critical executive leadership role that will shape the rules, systems, and services required to run Nova Scotia's electricity market.

IESO Nova Scotia is an independent not-for-profit organization created by the Province of Nova Scotia to change the way Nova Scotia's electricity system is managed, by assuming responsibility for managing the province's power system in real-time, supporting Nova Scotia's clean energy goals under the province's Clean Power Plan and planning for the province's future energy needs. The organization is guided by operating principles and values that include credibility, transparency, collaboration, independence, innovation, respect, public service, safety and security and reliability for electricity customers.

Role Description

As a member of the Executive Team initially reporting to the CEO, the Director, Operational Policy & Market Operations will play a foundational role in designing and overseeing operational policy, market rules, market services, and settlement processes required for a fair, transparent, and reliable electricity market.

In this role, you will build, lead, and oversee the rulebook, services, and administrative systems that govern Nova Scotia's electricity market. This includes designing operational policies, creating and maintaining market rules and manuals, overseeing settlement and financial calculations, ensuring market transparency, and leading compliance and stakeholder engagement efforts.

This is a highly strategic role that blends policy design, technical expertise, regulatory understanding, and organizational leadership.

Your responsibilities will include:

Operational Policy & Market Rule Development

• Lead the creation and continuous improvement of operational policies, market rules, and market manuals that support reliable, fair system operations.
• Establish structured processes for rule development, consultation, approvals, and ongoing change management.
• Ensure rules align with regulatory expectations, reliability standards, and the evolving needs of a more renewable grid.

Market Arrangements & Market Services Design

• Design participant requirements, registration processes, and the administrative frameworks that enable market participation.
• Develop market services that support system reliability and future market evolution.
• Adapt market services and arrangements as Nova Scotia transitions to higher levels of renewable energy.

Settlement & Market Administration Oversight

• Oversee settlement processes, including charge types, calculation methods, reconciliations, and dispute management.
• Ensure all settlement systems are accurate, auditable, timely, and supported by strong internal controls.
• Lead the development of participant facing administrative processes that ensure fairness and clarity.

Market Data Transparency & Reporting

• Establish transparent data publication practices, including dashboards, operational reports, and public facing information.
• Ensure data governance frameworks support integrity, confidentiality, and public transparency.

Compliance, Enforcement & Market Integrity

• Build and oversee compliance and enforcement frameworks related to market rules and operational policies.
• Support investigations, escalation processes, and remediation activities.
• Work closely with Legal and Regulatory Affairs to ensure clarity, enforceability, and alignment with regulatory expectations.

Stakeholder Engagement & Consultation

• Lead engagement with government, regulators, utilities, market participants, and customers.
• Facilitate consultations, working groups, and technical forums.
• Represent IESO NS as a senior spokesperson on market design, policy, and operational matters.

Enterprise Leadership & Team Development

• Recruit, build, and lead a new team responsible for policy, market services, and administration.
• Contribute to organizational strategy, operational readiness, and cultural development.
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and Truth & Reconciliation.

Qualifications

You bring a depth of experience in electricity markets, operational policy, system operations, settlements, or regulatory environments. You thrive in high scrutiny, multi stakeholder settings and have the judgment, communication skills, and collaborative mindset required to design complex policies and build institutional credibility.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in electricity markets, system operations, operational policy, market governance, settlements, or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of market rule development, market operations, and policy frameworks, ideally within an ISO/IESO, utility, regulator, or similar environment.
• Experience designing or administering settlement processes and cost allocation methodologies.
• Demonstrated success in stakeholder engagement, consultation, and public facing communication.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and governance capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead teams, build new functions, and thrive in environments with evolving mandates.

To express interest in this opportunity please apply online by clicking "Apply Now" below.

For more information contact Thomas Pugh, Partner, at View phone number on jobs.swagapp.com and View email address on jobs.swagapp.com or Rick Neima, Senior Consultant at View phone number on jobs.swagapp.com and View email address on jobs.swagapp.com, or please apply online by clicking the "Apply Now" button below. If you require accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.

Meridia Recruitment Solutions connects leading organizations with top talent by building strong relationships and creating ideal matches with candidates because we are only successful when you are. We appreciate your interest in this opportunity.

To learn more about Meridia Recruitment Solutions, our job opportunities, and career advice we invite you to explore our site and subscribe for career alerts.