Gas Utility Engineer

About the role

The Charlottesville Gas Utility Engineer oversees the planning and engineering of all gas utility projects, develops strategies and policies for the purchase and sale of natural gas, and protects the City's interest regarding regulatory, supply, and procurement issues.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs, and reviews the design and installation of all gas projects, and the development of material specifications.
• Prepares, reviews, and verifies design requirements and compliance, including with new construction, replacement and/or relocation.
• Supervises, directs, coaches, motivates, and evaluates the performance of assigned staff.
• Hires and trains staff, coordinates and monitors work activities, and administers disciplinary action, and in accordance with established personnel policy and procedures.
• Provides technical expertise and assistance with complex problems/situations.
• Develops and implements system improvement priorities.
• Manages the Operator Qualification Program, determining appropriate training content and evaluation criteria for staff.
• Works with various City Departments, developers, other state and local agencies to facilitate the permitting and installation of all natural gas utility projects.
• Performs contract and project management, providing direction to contractors regarding performance and service delivery.
• Performs gas flow analysis through computer modeling.
• Oversees the maintenance and repair of specialized equipment such as telemetering devices and leakage indicators.
• Develops and enforces material, installation, and product standards.
• Procures third-party gas from brokers and producers at the lowest possible cost to the City.
• Analyzes and makes recommendations relating to both suppliers' and the City's rate structure.
• Coordinates with the Finance Department to produce an annual rate study.
• Maintains inventory and maps of the Public Utilities system including GIS and CAD operations.
• Manages the Distribution Integrity Management Program.
• Monitors gas purchases both from suppliers and by the City's customers.
• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Requirements

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited college with major work in mechanical or natural gas engineering AND at least 1 year of experience in the natural gas or petroleum industry, including thorough knowledge and experience in regulatory and gas supply and procurement issues.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

Qualifications

• Within one year of employment, must possess an Engineer in Training (EIT) certification (Professional Engineer’s (PE) license preferred).
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia Driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to city criteria.
• Must obtain and maintain all certifications required by applicable federal, state and local regulations.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of regulatory and gas supply and procurement issues.
• Proficiency in computer modeling and GIS operations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities.
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan and Defined Contribution 401a Plan.
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan.

Pay

The preferred hiring range for this position is $105,592.65 - $129,324.10 annually, with starting pay based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity.

Schedule

This full-time, exempt position offers flexible scheduling to accommodate the needs of the job and the City.