Job Title: Long Term Planning Specialist
Department: Strategy
Location: Amarillo, TX; in-office
Employment Type: Full Time; Exempt
About Us
Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Inc. generates electricity for the purpose of delivering cost-effective and reliable power to our 16 Member Distribution Cooperatives. As a cooperative, we are not-for-profit and provide services exclusively for our Members. Our team values integrity, respect, cooperation, and service.
Position Summary
GSEC is hiring a Long Term Planning Specialist to lead load forecasting and resource planning, partnering with ACES and Member cooperatives to deliver data-driven insights and ensure regulatory compliance. This role requires strong analytical skills, forecasting expertise, and the ability to communicate complex results to leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Engage with generation developers to evaluate opportunities, while maintaining and leveraging key market intelligence, data, and relationships.
- Provide technical oversight and coordination of Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) activities performed by ACES, ensuring alignment with GSEC objectives and planning assumptions.
- Lead the preparation and submission of IRP deliverables to regulatory agencies and stakeholders, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
- Serve as the primary subject matter expert and point of contact for Member cooperatives on load forecasting methodologies, assumptions, and results.
- Develop, validate, and continuously refine data inputs and assumptions supporting long-term load forecasts, ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Perform in-depth review and validation of forecasting and IRP model outputs from ACES to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with approved inputs.
- Analyze forecast performance and variances, identify underlying drivers, and communicate insights and recommendations to leadership and Member cooperatives.
- Maintain comprehensive, audit-ready documentation of forecasting methodologies, assumptions, and results.
- Prepare and deliver load forecast submissions for SPP, ERCOT, and internal planning processes, ensuring compliance with all market and regulatory requirements.
- Apply and support advanced econometric and statistical modeling approaches incorporating weather, economic, demographic, and judgment-based inputs.
- Ensure forecasting processes meet high standards for accuracy, timeliness, and continuous improvement.
- Partner with ACES to develop detailed 8760 load forecasts and annual demand and energy projections for GSEC and its Member cooperatives.
- Contribute to the development of delivery point load forecasts supporting market operations, transmission planning, and reliability requirements.
- Present complex forecasting results, resource adequacy, and regulatory insights clearly through written, visual, and verbal communication to diverse stakeholders.
- Respond to regulatory, audit, and stakeholder data requests with accuracy and professionalism.
- Maintain the SPP Resource Adequacy workbook, which includes modeling of generation capacity accreditation.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, finance, engineering or related field, with coursework in econometrics or statistics required.
- Master’s degree preferred. 6+ years’ experience in load forecasting or 7-10 years’ energy market operations experience may substitute.
- Minimum 6 years’ experience in load forecasting, economic analysis, power resource planning, statistical analysis, or a related field.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
- Demonstrated commitment to quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to independently develop solutions to complex problems and obtain buy-in order to support business decisions.
- Experience in the electric utility industry.
- Knowledge of resource planning, production cost modeling, Market Operations, and financial budget forecasting.
What We Offer
Schedule Options
Traditional Schedule: M-F, 8am-5pm; or
Flex Schedule: M-TH, 7:30am-5:30pm, F, 7:30am-11:30am
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- 401k with employer match and retirement pension.
- Accrued PTO plus 9 paid holidays.
- Wellness program.
- Employee assistance resources.
…and much more!
Company Culture
Our culture is built on collaboration, connections, and a strong commitment to service. We take pride in supporting our Members and their rural communities. We want every employee to understand the meaningful impact of their work for our Members. We invest in our team through ongoing learning, training, and professional growth. We value work-life balance and support strong family values.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, finance, engineering or related field
- Coursework in econometrics or statistics
- Minimum 6 years' experience in load forecasting, economic analysis, power resource planning, statistical analysis, or related field (7-10 years energy market operations may substitute)
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel
- Experience in the electric utility industry
- Knowledge of resource planning, production cost modeling, Market Operations, and financial budget forecasting
- Demonstrated ability to independently develop solutions to complex problems and obtain stakeholder buy-in
- Master's degree
What We Do
Golden Spread Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative established in 1984, dedicated to providing low-cost and reliable electric power to its 16 Member cooperatives.
