Customer Account Executive (Real-Time Technical Lead)

About the company

This position is within the Real-Time Trading and Scheduling (PTFR), Trading Floor (PTF) group of the Bulk Marketing (PT) organization within the Power Services (P) business line of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Elevate your career as a Technical Lead! Champion advanced power trading systems, train real-time market operators, and influence regional energy policy to ensure reliable, affordable electricity across the Pacific Northwest.

Your tasks

Power the Clean Energy Future of the Pacific Northwest: Lead at the Intersection of Technology, Policy, and Real-Time Energy Markets The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) plays an essential role in the Pacific Northwest, delivering reliable, carbon-free hydroelectric power to millions of homes and businesses while keeping energy rates affordable and championing environmental stewardship. At the heart of this critical mission is BPA's 24/7 trading floor, where energy is scheduled, balanced, and delivered in real time across an interconnected regional grid. As a Customer Account Executive (Real-Time Technical Lead), you will serve as the operational backbone and technical visionary for this fast-paced trading environment. Bridging the gap between software development, energy economics, and high-stakes operations, you will empower market specialists with advanced digital tools, guide strategic industry policy, and ensure the Pacific Northwest's power grid runs efficiently and reliably around the clock. Key Responsibilities & High-Impact Duties Lead the Evolution of Critical Energy Trading & Scheduling Systems Serve as the lead technical authority overseeing the systems that drive real-time power transactions. Partner directly with software engineers and IT specialists to design, modernize, and maintain advanced digital tools that adapt seamlessly to fluctuating market conditions, complex contracts, and grid interconnections. Represent the Agency on Regional and National Energy Committees Act as a key ambassador for BPA across inter-agency working groups, regional reliability organizations, and national energy policy forums. Influence emerging market designs, transmission policies, and technical standards while establishing collaborative relationships with external utilities and power-trading partners. Drive Workflow Automation and Process Innovation Analyze daily trading and dispatch workflows to identify bottlenecks and evaluate opportunities for automation. Champion cutting-edge analytical tools and streamlined practices that improve transaction speed, reduce operational risk, and maximize economic efficiency across the trading floor. Design and Champion Premier Training Programs Build, deliver, and continuously refine comprehensive training curricula that transform complex power-scheduling concepts into actionable expertise. Mentor emerging talent, onboard new operators, and ensure the trading floor is proficient in evolving market rules and technical procedures. Spearhead Operational Strategy and Policy Adaptation Translate intricate federal regulations, transmission tariffs, and commercial requirements into straightforward, standardized operating procedures. Continuously evaluate shifting energy market trends and proactively update internal protocols to keep operations compliant and agile. Foster High-Stakes, Cross-Functional Collaboration Serve as a vital liaison uniting diverse internal and external stakeholders-including day-ahead trading desks, transmission engineers, legal counsel, risk analysts, and customer utilities. Build consensus on complex initiatives and resolve operational challenges across organizational boundaries. Optimize Wholesale Power Resources and Contract Execution Provide authoritative technical guidance on power purchase and sales commitments, ensuring transactions maximize value for public power customers while strictly observing environmental constraints, river system requirements, and statutory obligations. Serve as the Senior Operational Subject-Matter Expert Step onto the trading floor as a premier technical resource during critical grid events, peak seasonal periods, or specialized market scenarios. Ensure seamless continuity of round-the-clock operations and maintain clear, high-level operational intelligence for executive leadership. ??????This position is located in Portland, OR which boasts huge spans of amazing trees, foliage, landscape, and everywhere you look you can appreciate beautiful greenery! It is known as the most bike-friendly city in America, has a train system that greets you at the airport spanning across the city, and is home to the Portland International Rose Garden, the oldest in the country! Portland is the one place where you will find lively festivals, energetic music, mouthwatering food, and for you basketball fans, the Portland Trail Blazers are a 7 minute walk from the HQs building! There is always something new to experience in this eco-friendly town!

Requirements

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS A qualified candidate's resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) performing real-time power scheduling and wholesale energy marketing operations, including utilizing energy management and scheduling systems, monitoring market conditions, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and transmission policies; and 2) developing standard operating procedures and training materials, providing technical guidance or on-the-job instruction to trading and scheduling personnel, and collaborating with cross-functional technical teams to test, update, and enhance power marketing and scheduling systems. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration. CTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

Other

Requirements In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully. Key Requirements: You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. You will be required to report in person to the official duty location. Conditions of Employment: Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually. Lead will be authorized to work either a Monday-Friday core hour position or a 10-hr shift "day shift" position working four days a week (Monday-Friday).