We are the people behind Ireland's electricity grid. We operate the power system with world leading levels of variable asynchronous renewable generation, ensuring that everyone has power when they need it. But that's not all, we are now transforming the power system for future generations.
And that's just the beginning of our story. We have a critical purpose. That purpose is to transform the power system to enable our society to reduce our carbon emissions and meet our climate change and net zero ambitions.
Be part of the transformation
The Team
The Market Operations Function is responsible for operating and enhancing the European integrated Single Electricity Market across the island of Ireland that allows generators and supply companies to buy and sell electricity ahead of the delivery date and subsequently the calculation of prices that apply for the real time balancing of supply and demand.
This includes the operation of the day-ahead and intraday markets and the Balancing Market Operations. Analysing market behaviour is a significant activity, given the scale of money being transacted, ~ €5bn per annum, and the size of datasets generated. The markets operate on a 365-day basis and generate significant datasets down to five-minute resolution.
The Market Operations Function want to recruit individuals who are interested in advancing their career in the energy industry. The critical nature of the work we do, and the experience it offers, provides exciting career opportunity.
Job Purpose
The Market Operator plays a key role in delivery of the full range of work within the Market Operations team, which includes operating and monitoring the trading desk on a shift rota arrangement 1 week in every 4-6 weeks. Upon joining a comprehensive 3 month training programme is provided to become licensed and following completion of the training, the Market Operator is certified to operate the electricity market auctions as part of the trading desk team.
During electricity market auctions the trading team have specific tasks that need to be completed within pre-determined timelines and the team work to deadlines which can be in real-time, daily, weekly, monthly. As a result, the Market Operator needs to work closely with the other team members to ensure the appropriate support and backup is available within this fast-paced environment.
The Market Operator works closely with service providers to operate and verify the results from the various wholesale markets. The Market Operator must maintain oversight of all market operations auction activities during the auctions and liaise closely with stakeholders to resolve operational issues, typically to very tight deadlines. These stakeholders include the National Control Centre, Market Operations management and internal IT, in addition to interacting with external parties including service providers, traders, the UK system operator, interconnector owners and other European/UK market operators.
When the Market Operator is not working shift on the trading desk, the role involves a blend of responsibilities for projects, system release testing, service changes, market analysis, training and process improvement.
Key Responsibilities
* Perform key daily checks and ensure market system processes operate smoothly and where issues are identified, seek to resolve the issue within agreed parameters or escalate as necessary
* Where resolution of issues is not clear, use experience and knowledge to identify potential solutions and engage with senior team members to address
* Engage with internal and/or external stakeholders to address market operation queries
* Monitoring key market activities such as auctions and publication of reports to ensure accuracy and timeliness
* Using excel skills, investigate any errors that have been flagged on the market system and capture relevant as necessary
* Rectify errors during market auctions using agreed procedures and engage with internal and external stakeholders as appropriate to ensure smooth operation
* Monitor the market system inputting data and validating outputs to ensure accuracy.
* Engage with customers where data is missing and provide workarounds for data submission.
* Publish urgent market messages via email to external stakeholders as required
* Raise incident tickets on the system and coordinate internal and external parties to resolve issues
* Proactive participation in daily incident committee meetings with European Market Operators representing EirGrid as appropriate
* Prepare a handover of shift notes following each shift to the Market Operator next on the trading desk
* Run reports and quality check before ensuring reports have been published on relevant website
* Work closely with the National Control Centre and Castlereagh House Control Centre to resolve issues where they arise in real-time and escalate to Team Lead as appropriate
* Perform user acceptance testing of system releases (full training provided)
* Review and enhance processes, procedures, and checklists to provide continuous improvement in management of operational risks, efficiency execution of activities and adherence with the latest operating obligations.
* Perform analysis on market outcomes and produce reports for both internal and external stakeholders.
* Identify, develop and implement ongoing service changes and improvements, process improvement and training activities
* Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements in performing market auction activities
* Provide standby availability cover 7 days per month from 7am to 7pm in case issues arise on the trading desk and additional resources are required.
Knowledge, Skills, And Experience
* Typically 3 years experience in a data and /or critical operational role.
* Strong numerical and analytical ability
* Effective time management to achieve strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment
* Strong attention to detail
* Intermediate level Excel
* Experience using multiple systems at the same time and ability to learn and operate various systems in order to monitor and troubleshoot process execution
* Excellent communication skills and confidence to work cross functionally in a business environment
* Ability to work effectively within a team environment under time pressures with a flexible work approach
* Strong skills in MS Office products and file management systems e.g. SharePoint
Closing date for applications
6th February 2026
We value potential as much as experience. If you believe you can succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every requirement.
We're dedicated to diversity and inclusion at Eirgrid. We recognise the strength that comes from having a diverse workforce and the importance of a supportive culture for all our people to achieve their potential. Our diversity and inclusion networks have been designed to create an inclusive culture that enables our people to feel a sense of belonging at work.
As an equal opportunities' employer, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are offered at every stage of our recruitment process.