Part-time NERC CIP Subject Matter Expert for Consultations

My firm is looking for a part-time, ongoing NERC CIP Subject Matter Expert to be available on an hourly basis for advice and document review. WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR This engagement is limited to candidates based in Texas. You must have been through at least one NERC CIP audit with Texas RE in order to apply. We are not looking for someone "familiar with the process", but rather someone who has actually been in the room, responded to the data requests, and lived through the findings. That experience is exactly the judgment we're paying for, so please only apply if you've genuinely been through it. HERE'S WHAT WE NEED Your mission, if you choose to accept it, will include:

Being available for online meetings and advice

* We need a knowledgeable expert we can talk things through with, i.e., someone to whom we can bring questions and who can provide clear, well-reasoned guidance on how the NERC CIP standards apply to our situation. We need a trusted advisor and are looking for someone who can tell us how Texas RE actually tends to approach things. We are smart and we can read the regs. What we lack is someone who knows the meaning behind and between the words to ensure best-in-class compliance.

Reviewing documents and giving us your honest read

* We will share materials with you that can include assessments, policies, plans, and the like, and then ask for your expert eyes on them. We need to know where we stand against the CIP standards, what's solid, what's missing, what would raise a flag in an audit, and what you'd prioritize. We want the real picture, not a flattering one. To be clear: this role does not involve creating new documents or deliverables. We're looking for advice and review, not production. We'll do the heavy lifting. We need your trained and informed judgment and practical insights.

Informed, Intuitive, Logical Human Decision Making

* There are plenty of tools and templates that can spit out a "compliance checklist." What they can't do is exercise judgment. They can't weigh tradeoffs, sense what actually matters for a given organization, and reason through the messy parts. That's the work. That's why I want a person who has actually sat across the table from an auditor. HOW WE WORK We value intelligence and independent thinking. We pay you to think. We do not want sycophants. You will be required to defend your thinking with logic and evidence, making a compelling case. The good news is that we trust you and treat you like an adult; the bad news is that we trust you and treat you like an adult. We treat everyone with kindness and respect. You are not a commodity. You are not a product. We do not own you, nor are we buying your time. You are an expert professional, and we are paying you for the work product that is the result of your craft. You and your schedule will be treated with the highest levels of kindness and respect. We strive to be the favorite client of the world's very best professionals. HOW WE REQUEST / ASSIGN TASKS Our needs will be highly variable — could be anywhere from 0 to 10 hours in any given week. We need to set up an open-ended hourly arrangement at a mutually agreeable hourly rate. We will present tasks to you at different points. We will respect your schedule and are very flexible with work times/schedules. You have the right to decline any work we request if you don't have time. That will not be a problem and will not disappoint us. We will continue offering you other items for the duration of the assignment, even if you need to decline some along the way. Please don't miss your kid's soccer game, or your spouse's birthday, or that dinner with a special someone because of us. For you, we can wait. A FEW OTHER ITEMS... There are a few legal agreements that we will need you to sign in order to do this work. You will not be at risk for any liability here. Your advice is just that -- your advice. We are comfortable noting that, as long as your work is done in good faith, that you will have no contractual liability in this engagement. We do require that you sign an Intellectual Property Agreement that assigns IP rights to us for the work that we pay you to complete. Another is a Nondisclosure Agreement that prohibits you from disclosing specific, identifying details of the work you do for us (don't worry about marketing — we will still give you glowing reviews of a general nature). It's also a plus (but not required) if you bring related expertise such as NERC operations and planning standards, NIST CSF, or broader OT/ICS security. But we care more about how you think than about the letters after your name. NORMAL RESUMES WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US If you don't mind, we like to review normal, detailed resumes (not just UpWork). It is helpful (but not required) for you to attach one to your proposal. YOUR QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME I hope this is an exciting prospect! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. We look forward to reading your proposals. All the best, John Apply tot his job Apply To this Job