Sr. Relay & Protection Field Supervisor

Location: New Orleans • Industry: Electric Utilities • Department: Electric Grid Services • Employment Type: Casual

About the role

The Sr. Relay and Protection Field Supervisor reports to the Utility Construction Manager and is engaged throughout the construction phase of Capital Construction Projects for substations and transmission lines, from initiation through final commissioning and closeout. Project scopes vary, so the supervisor’s roles will adapt accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a project-team member in developing project scope, cost estimates, and schedules.
• Conduct on-site field and scope visits.
• Ensure all Relay Protection & Control, SCADA (RTU), and Communication Systems are installed and commissioned safely and efficiently.
• Assist in developing construction schedules, including critical paths, and detailed construction plans; identify outage requirements for new facilities.
• Assist in developing construction contract bid packages; review responses and participate in vendor selection; attend pre-bid meetings with contractors.
• Participate in design constructability reviews and in developing detailed construction plans that list outages, exact work dates, and resource requirements.
• Ensure contractors comply with Utility-mandated safety training.
• Coordinate with survey and soil-boring crews as needed.
• Ensure all necessary permits from Right-of-Way and Environmental groups are in place before construction begins.
• Participate in Contractors’ Pre-Construction/Safety Kickoff meetings to outline expectations.
• Ensure contractors inventory all material delivered to the site.
• Work with contract design engineers when deficiencies are noted.
• Safety duties: attend and review tailboard conferences, develop and review JSAs, conduct observations and hazard analyses, monitor contractor crew members for Substation Awareness training, assess contractor skills and mental/physical state, address public exposure, and report accidents/incidents.
• Monitor and report theft or illegal activity.
• Ensure contractor activities do not compromise system reliability.
• Verify that expected quality is achieved by contractors in the field.
• Ensure project work is maintainable by Utility Grid Operations at project completion and does not hamper maintainability of existing equipment.
• Protect the Utility’s position regarding environmental issues.
• Coordinate with Environmental Contractors on sampling and removal of oil from devices taken out of service.
• Coordinate with the Utility Environmental Group and specified Contractors on environmental concerns and clean-up activities due to spills.
• Coordinate Stormwater Management activities with the Utility Environmental Group and specified Contractors.
• Ensure the SWMPP (Substation Work Management Project Plan) is installed and maintained as designed.
• Ensure SPCC (Spill Prevention Controls & Countermeasures) are in effect and properly maintained.
• Identify and address all project safety hazards and environmental concerns.
• Monitor and report on project construction schedule and cost.
• Perform quality assurance checks during construction.
• Ensure SWMS (Substation Work Management System)/Asset Data forms and corresponding photos are completed for all equipment installed or removed.
• Monitor schedule and progress against the requested in-service date.
• Ensure contractors return excess material to stores and that it is credited to the job (“Follow the Material Return Process”).
• Work with Investment Recovery in the salvage of conductor (“Follow the Investment Recovery Process”).
• Assist the Construction Field Supervisor with safety on the job, including:
  • Ensuring the safety of self, the public, and all team members.
  • Proactively identifying and addressing safety issues and providing input to mitigate hazards.
  • Assisting in crews’ JSAs and tailboards.
  • Discussing daily work activities and any material issues.
  • Being environmental stewards.
  • Adhering to permit requirements while performing work.
• Work with engineers to:
  • Provide input to scopes, estimates, schedules, and constructability meetings.
  • Coordinate material deliveries and landowner access.
  • Perform QA/QC activities on all project phases.
  • Log construction progress and keep field notes.
  • Ensure as-built documentation is completed and work complies with Utility Company Standards.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Ten (10) or more years of experience in Electric Utility Transmission & Distribution.
• Knowledgeable in interpreting and citing OSHA regulations; able to provide guidance to construction crews and upper management on proper application of these regulations in the workplace.

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily conducted at project construction sites within the Utility Company service area, including electric substations, transmission, and distribution lines (may require occasional travel to other service areas).
• Interaction with team members, supervisors, and client personnel.
• Must wear safety equipment as required by the safety department for personal protection.
• May be at more than one job site in a day and must tolerate climate changes.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and carry twenty (20) pounds.
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, to communicate effectively.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, to conduct analysis and investigations.
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform routine office duties.
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform office duties and travel to off-site locations.