Black Hills Corp.- Senior Forecast Analyst (Papillion, NE)

Job Description:

PAY RANGE:     $67,050 – $100,600 (DOQ)

CLOSING DATE:   This position will close on June 12, 2015.

LOCATION:      Papillion, NE

PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Forecast load requirements, peak day analysis, and provide backup for commercial supply activity, including physical purchasing and executing financial transactions related to company hedging requirements.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:  Sr. Manager Gas Supply Planning and Forecasting

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Responsible for utility design day studies on a seasonal and monthly basis, and daily as needed.
Responsible for forecasting and planning activity for all Gas Supply regions.
Develop and recommend continued refinement of system support related to forecasting and design day studies.
Utilize regression analysis and other analytical tools to determine appropriate levels of firm entitlement and gas supply requirements to meet customer load requirements for each pipeline serving the BHC utility operating regions.
Must be able to perform competitive price analysis to evaluate pipeline service alternatives, requiring significant market knowledge and experience.
Conduct post-mortem analysis on scheduled load to actual load.  Research any variations and suggest updates to pipeline service contracts.
Work with BHC Regulatory Affairs staff in communication with state commissions regarding design days, firm entitlement levels and regression analysis. This will include responsibility to appropriately respond to data requests, provide presentation material, analytical support, etc.
Sr. level analyst must be capable of presenting to both internal and external customers, which may include senior BHE leadership teams, industry conferences, customer meetings, and government entities.
Senior level analyst must be capable of completing basic supply plan information including supply and hedging overviews and summaries, as well as transportation and storage service agreement summaries.
Lead the review on FERC-related issues and regulations that impact Gas Supply Services and BHC utilities; communicate pipeline filings and FERC activity; work with GSS leaders, BHC Legal and Regulatory staff to ensure BHC conducts proper analysis and participates in regulatory filings/interventions as appropriate.  Items may include pipeline fuel filings, pipeline rate cases, FERC policy statements, FERC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, AGA discussions, etc.
Participate in and/or lead special projects in Gas Supply including, but not limited to due diligence and integration of load forecast and planning for any new business activity, including acquisitions.
Serve as the lead contact for weather data, including identification and recommendation of service providers, negotiation of required services, integration with forecast modelling, and issue resolution.  Produce various weather-related reports and communicate weather impact on system load.
Provide backup support to execute financial transactions for corporate hedging activity, to include transactional activity with futures broker, on ICE trading platform, and/or through introducing brokers.  Must be able to capture detailed documentation of hedge plan, trade notes, and market conditions.
Provide backup support to purchase physical supply through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.  Must be capable of analyzing pricing, credit and reliability while keeping appropriate records to support prudency in purchase decisions.
Support state operations, marketing, and economic development through knowledge of BHC utilities’ contracted pipeline entitlement and availability of interstate pipeline services.
Analyze and update all load projections (Annual, Monthly and possibly daily) for all Black Hills Gas LDC’s
Conduct on-going analysis on asset plans; recommend changes as needed.
Update formal state regulatory gas plan filings as necessary.
Participate in review and analysis of projects (including acquisitions); determine impact to current gas plans and load forecasts and develop recommendation.
Conduct FERC regulatory review and provide updates on issues that impact BHC utilities.
Provide backup commercial support in the areas of physical gas purchasing and financial hedging.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Develop, or support development of informational presentations for the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota.  Audiences may include public utility Commissioners, staff, consumer advocates, state leaders, and customers.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
State business sales representatives
Legal department
Regulatory / PGA staff
Billing and measurement
GSS Daily Operations and Load Control teams
Energy Asset Optimization, Resource Planning and Generation Dispatch/Power Marketing
Financial Management
Engineering
Corporate Credit and Risk Management
External weather and gas forecasting service providers
External counterparties (suppliers, utilities, pipelines, etc.)

EXPERIENCE:
At least 5 years in a gas supply operations role, to include gas planning and forecasting, and/or a supply function utilizing statistical/analytical skills.
Commercial experience, including physical and financial commodity trading and/or hedging.

EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or other related degree preferred.
Previous job experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
Significant course work in statistics a plus.

KNOWLEDGE:
Statistical knowledge and experience required.
Knowledge of tariffs; BHC utilities’ state regulatory tariffs.
Familiarity with the gas management system, Endur, a plus.

SKILLS/ABILITY/OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:
Statistical and analytical skills required.
Modeling knowledge a plus.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and lead cross-functional teams or projects.
Solve problems independently.
Ability to identify opportunities to improve forecasting, and the forecasting review processes.
Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Limited travel may be required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to perform the requirements of this position, with or without a reasonable accommodation.

The information contained in this position description describes the general nature and level of work being performed in this job.  This description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, duties, and requirements for employees in this position. The incumbent is responsible for performing all duties in a safe and efficient manner in compliance with safe work procedures and safety regulations. This job description is not intended to constitute an offer or contract of employment.  Job descriptions may and do change periodically.  Where positions are covered by a collective bargaining unit agreement, the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining unit agreement will apply.

EEO Employer, Race, Gender, Veterans, Disability

We offer an attractive salary based on qualifications with competitive benefits and a supportive professional work environment.

How to apply: Click here to apply

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