Customer Account Executive (Real-Time Trader and Scheduler)

Summary

This position is within the Real-Time Trading and Scheduling, Trading Floor group of Bulk Marketing within Power Services at the Bonneville Power Administration. Shape the future of regional power! In this dynamic role, you will execute fast-paced energy trades, optimize transmission, and balance wholesale electricity flow across the Pacific Northwest. We are seeking sharp, decisive analysts ready to drive real-time financial and operational decisions.

Duties

Power the Pacific Northwest: Step to the Front Lines of the Clean Energy Market At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our mission is to power the Pacific Northwest with clean, reliable, and affordable electricity while protecting the environment and driving regional prosperity. As an Energy Trader and Scheduler on our 24/7 high-tech trading floor, you sit at the financial and operational throttle of the regional power grid. In this dynamic, high-visibility role, your analytical agility and split-second decisions directly influence millions of dollars in wholesale power transactions, optimize one of the nation's largest carbon-free hydropower systems, and ensure lights stay on for millions of homes and businesses across the Pacific Northwest. Key Responsibilities & Career Impact Here are the eight most critical, high-impact duties where you will make a difference: Execute High-Impact Wholesale Power Trades Analyze changing power demand, weather forecasts, and river conditions to formulate and execute competitive day-ahead, hour-ahead, and real-time energy bids. You will buy and sell electricity and grid support services across major West Coast trading hubs to maximize commercial revenue and protect low consumer power rates. Capitalize on Advanced Regional Energy Markets Drive strategic participation in organized regional electricity markets-including the Western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM)-using sophisticated market analytics to capture fast-moving financial opportunities, dispatch excess generation, and optimize regional clean energy utilization. Optimize Bulk Power Transmission Assets Manage the real-time capacity of critical high-voltage transmission corridors. You will commercially redirect, purchase, or resell surplus transmission capacity to eliminate bottlenecks, minimize delivery costs, and capture profitable power-routing opportunities across utility lines. Navigate Grid Emergencies & Maintain Operational Reliability Serve as a front-line decision-maker during unexpected plant outages, extreme weather events, or periods of high seasonal generation. You will execute emergency operational protocols to balance supply and demand instantly, protecting the regional grid from brownouts and expensive penalties. Orchestrate Complex Power Delivery Across the Grid Coordinate and author the electronic routing tags and delivery schedules required to move electricity seamlessly across utility boundaries. By resolving real-time schedule adjustments and unexpected line issues, you ensure power arrives reliably without costly unauthorized flow penalties. Deliver Least-Cost Solutions for Regional Wholesale Customers Monitor wholesale customer power usage in real time and strategically schedule energy supplies to meet their dynamic load needs. Your proactive supply management protects partner utilities and their communities from volatile open-market imbalance charges. Implement Innovative Demand Response Programs Collaborate with energy efficiency and technology specialists to activate modern demand response products and flexible contracts. By incentivizing major energy users to shift electricity usage during peak periods, you help maintain system balance during critical grid hours. Lead Trading Floor Innovation & Operational Excellence Collaborate cross-functionally with legal, financial, and risk experts to refine trading playbooks, mentor incoming trading personnel, and test next-generation scheduling software. You will directly shape the trading floor's standard operating procedures and technological capabilities. 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!

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the meeting the basic requirement, a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. GS-09: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07), in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience in 1) administering a computer system and assisting in performing system troubleshooting techniques; and 2) preparing routine reports in word-processing or data-processing programs for senior specialists or management. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or master's, or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-09, in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) applying a variety of economic, accounting, or logistics principles for the purchase sale or delivery of commodities, financial. or other products 2) establishing business practices to contract for the purchase, sale, or delivery of securities, commodities, financial or other products, and 3) researching and summarizing data for analysis of electric, gas, or other industry pricing or logistics practices. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-12: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-11, in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: 1) communicating pertinent marketing, scheduling or technology information; 2) providing technical support to assist in the scheduling of power; and 3) interpreting program policies and procedures to determine best practices to accomplish program goals. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may