Electric Transmission and Distribution System Manager

Starting pay is negotiable depending on qualifications and experience aligned with job requirements.

About the Role

The primary purpose of this position is to oversee, plan, design, organize, direct, and supervise the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the transmission and distribution (T&D) system. This includes overhead, underground, and underwater electric lines, distribution switching equipment, demand side management equipment, warehouse, and metering to ensure adequate power delivery capacity and resources to customers and safe, reliable operations.

This position is responsible for collaborating with other department employees to ensure safe and coordinated operation of the utility system. The T&D Systems Manager directly supervises the General Foreman, Lineman Unit, Metering Unit, and Warehousing Unit, and may oversee contracted support staff. As a management employee, the T&D Systems Manager assists and acts in a confidential capacity to the Electric Utility Director, Municipal Administrator, Assembly, and other department heads. The role may also require acting as the Electric Utility Director in their absence.

Responsibilities

• Manages the daily operations, engineering design, construction, routine preventive maintenance, and unplanned maintenance and repair of all transmission and distribution facilities, including demand side management, metering, and the electric materials warehouse.
• Designs electric transmission and distribution facilities, including structures for overhead and underground lines, ensuring maintenance and coordination with the existing electric system.
• Researches construction materials and establishes standards for materials used in the electric transmission and distribution system.
• Performs system planning, including electric distribution layouts for residential upgrades, subdivisions, specifications of easements, analysis of load changes, and substation usage.
• Schedules, trains, motivates, and evaluates the work of all direct reports to maintain proficiency and skill levels.
• Develops and provides training, mentoring, testing, and exams to annually evaluate all direct reports.
• Requisitions supplies and materials and oversees the maintenance of sufficient inventory for preventive maintenance and unplanned repairs.
• Establishes and administers safety training programs and ensures compliance with all state and federal regulations.
• Works closely with the System Generation Manager to oversee emergency procedures, such as load shedding, to maintain system integrity, schedule outages, and restore power during system collapse.
• Coordinates the implementation of switching procedures with all direct reports and the System Generation Manager.
• Collects and manages pertinent data to develop defensible capital project recommendations, including project scopes, schedules, budgets, and risk assessments.
• Prepares and updates annual capital improvement plans for short-, mid-, and long-range projects.
• Prepares and manages annual operation and maintenance budgets, monitors expenses, and maintains fiscal accountability for the department.
• Prepares Requests for Proposals (RFP), Scope of Work (SOW), reviews and scores proposals, and makes recommendations to award contracts. Manages contracts within scope, schedule, and budget through final completion and acceptance.
• Assists with all technical and financial aspects of mid- and long-range strategic planning for the department.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge

• Principles, practices, and theory of hydro and diesel electrical generation, transmission, substations, and distribution.
• Principles, practices, and theory of electrical engineering.
• Materials, uses, methods, and equipment used in the operation and maintenance of electric transmission and distribution systems.
• Safety procedures and precautions due to occupational hazards of working with or around high and low voltage electrical equipment.
• Project- and program-level planning and management, including detailed scoping, cost estimating, risk evaluation, and development and management of Capital Improvement Plans.
• State and federal laws and regulations pertaining to electric power transmission and distribution.
• Management of an isolated, islanded, non-grid connected electric utility system.
• Computer spreadsheet, word processing, and database applications used in electric utility operations.

Skills

• Operating a personal computer using standard software applications such as Excel, Word, Outlook, and customized utility software.
• Reading, interpreting, and applying blueprints and single-line electrical diagrams related to electric generation, transmission, substations, and distribution systems.
• Dealing with a variety of community members with competing interests calmly and professionally.
• Multi-tasking with strong attention to detail.

Abilities

• Direct and manage employees, including in stressful or disagreement situations.
• Work under stressful situations, such as emergency response, while remaining calm and carrying out duties effectively.
• Make decisions regarding the best course of action for emergency situations.
• Communicate well with others, both orally and in writing, using technical and non-technical language.
• Understand and follow oral and written policies, procedures, and instructions.
• Prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations.
• Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to specifications and instructions.
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under time-sensitive deadlines.
• Quickly learn and apply newly acquired skills and knowledge.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications and other job requirements/expectations:

• Option 1: High School diploma or GED; and Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline with electrical emphasis (preferred); and seven years of experience performing engineering and project management for electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure projects.
• Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.