How to hire a power system dispatcher

How to hire a power system dispatcher, step by step

Here's a step-by-step power system dispatcher hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a power system dispatcher job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new power system dispatcher
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The power system dispatcher hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a power system dispatcher to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a power system dispatcher that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of power system dispatchers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Power System Dispatcher	Description	Hourly rate
   Power System Dispatcher	Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers control the systems that generate and distribute electric power.	$12-37
   Substation Operator Apprentice	The Substation Operator Apprentice does multi-faceted works. Their job involves inspection, operation, and substation maintenance for various transmissions... Show more	$18-34
   Dispatcher	Dispatchers are generally responsible for coordinating with the customers regarding the delivery status of the products and providing precise logistics and the fastest transportation routes to the professional drivers to ensure smooth and timely deliveries. A dispatcher is required to monitor the driver's location, strictly track road situations at all times to provide real-time updates for the customers, and advise the driver for alternative routes... Show more	$12-21

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • SCADA
   • EMS
   • NERC
   • KV
   • Electric Systems
   • System Integrity
   • Emergency Situations
   • System Voltages
   • BES
   • Control Systems
   • Distribution Lines
   • Battery
   • Plant Operators
   • Customer Complaints

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve 2nd place in team competition for highest power seen by the battery at 20.6 Watts.
   • Manage inadvertent energy accounts to ensure they are keep in balance according to NERC reliability standards and WECC criteria.
   • Manage customer service satisfaction by providing update eta and location of drivers.
   • Maintain balanced load and generation in accordance with principles of economic dispatch, NERC and WECC reliability standards.
   • Qualify power system operator with centralize SCADA/EMS (Harris) control of 34.5 kV to 500-kV transmission lines and substations.
   • Monitor SCADA system for issues and power outages.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your power system dispatcher job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A power system dispatcher can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, power system dispatchers' average salary in alaska is 32% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level power system dispatchers 66% less than senior-level power system dispatchers.
   • Certifications. A power system dispatcher with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a power system dispatcher's salary.

   Average power system dispatcher salary

   $47,004yearly

   $22.60 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level power system dispatcher salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a power system dispatcher job description

   A power system dispatcher job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a power system dispatcher job description:

   Power system dispatcher job description example

   Power Dispatcher I
   
   Reports To: Assistant Vice President Energy Marketing
   
   FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
   
   Basic Functions: To monitor power supply resources to optimally meet load obligations.
   
   Essential Functions:
   
   1. Make hourly purchasing and selling decisions for the use of available generating resources and power supply resources to optimally (i.e., considering economics and reliability) meet load obligations and reduce member cost.
   
   2. Use the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor member loads, monitor connectivity (i.e., delivery point open/close status) and monitor capacity/energy/transmission schedules to ensure reliable delivery to members and other load obligations.
   
   3. Implement and schedule power supply arrangements (i.e., buy/sell transactions of resources) that he/she arranged. The implementation shall be accomplished by entry into the appropriate scheduling application and verification with SCADA.
   
   4. Effectively tag, utilizing then current NERC protocol, power supply arrangements that he/she arranged. Also, as directed, will periodically tag other's power supply arrangements.
   
   5. Create member load forecasts and make adjustments as necessary to more correctly reflect the anticipated load amount and profile. Work to improve forecast methods and accuracy.
   
   6. Use the SCADA system or other means to coordinate the start/stop operations of distributed generation resources, AMP generation resources, and AMP dispatched member generation resources as required based on load obligations and economic conditions.
   
   7. Communicate with members and other AMP staff to obtain generator status.
   
   8. Respond to RTO directives.
   
   9. Coordinate load management/demand side manage responsibilities with members.
   
   10. Monitor results of dispatch operations and suggest/implement improvement opportunities.
   
   11. Perform other duties as assigned by supervision.
   
   Knowledge, Skills, & Qualifications:
   
   1. Require at least a two-year accredited associate's degree in Engineering, Business or a related Business degree or equivalent work experience. Prefer a four-year accredited bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business or a related Business degree or equivalent work experience.
   
   2. Must learn power supply operations, economic dispatch of generation resources, transmission use, SCADA, FERC 888/889, FERC 2000, NERC tagging, and applicable NERC reliability standards.
   
   3. Must successfully complete FERC Standards of Conduct compliance training within 30 days of employment.
   
   4. Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
   
   5. Must be proficient with computer applications such as Microsoft Excel & Word.
   
   6. Must become PJM Generation Operation Certified within six (6) months of employment. NERC Operator certification is a strong plus.
   
   7. Must be able to work in a team environment and periodically work under high stress conditions.
   
   8. Must be willing to work rotating shifts.
   
   9. Must successfully complete FERC Standards of Conduct compliance training within 30 days of employment.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right power system dispatcher for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your power system dispatcher job on Zippia to find and recruit power system dispatcher candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting power system dispatchers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new power system dispatcher

   Once you have selected a candidate for the power system dispatcher position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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