Director of Transmission & Distribution Operations

Full Job Description

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation's largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served.

Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound.

Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

The Director of Transmission and Distribution Operations serves as a key member of Seattle City Light’s leadership team, ensuring excellent organizational performance and customer service.

The position contributes to Seattle City Light’s mission, vision, and values through accountability and effective work performance.

Consistent with our Values, this position promotes and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to racial diversity, social justice, and the equitable provision of services to all.

As a dynamic and strategic leader for a large operations team of approximately 350 employees, the position focuses on providing safe and reliable electrical services to more than 500,000 customers.

Key components of the position include complex workload planning, maintenance of the utility's transmission & distribution system with 16 major substations and over 2000 distribution circuit miles, integrating new technology, regulatory compliance, and emergency management.

The skill set requires an individual who is both employee and customer-focused and can thrive in a fast paced and evolving environment.

The individual should be aware of industry trends and best practices and have a passion for identifying process improvement, implementing initiatives, and providing leadership in a time of change for the industry.

This position requires continuous strategic and tactical decision making. The successful candidate must be comfortable navigating a unionized work environment.

This position will report to the Chief Operating Officer.

Requirements

Here is more about what you’ll be doing:

• Enforces and promotes the Department's worker safety program, safe work construction best practices, and electrical industry safety compliance.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to customer service and interest in representing the City of Seattle.
• Direct responsibility for the successful achievement of the department's strategic plan.
• Delivery of electrical construction services to customers in coordination with Customer Operations and Engineering. Plans and manages workload and efficient allocation of resources to meet customer requirements.
• As an executive leader in Energy Delivery Operations accountable for electrical construction, maintenance, and emergency response for Seattle City Light customers. Understands the critical nature of services provided and the 24/7 response required to restore services.
• Direct responsibility for electrical service continuity and reliability for Seattle City Light customers.
• Oversees the construction of system improvements supporting new customers or enhancing services to existing customers including Seattle residents, the City of Seattle, King County, Sound Transit, franchise cities, and other large customers.
• Prioritizes work activities and deploys crews & equipment.
• Direct responsibility for assigned Energy Delivery labor & non-labor budgets for operations & maintenance activities. Assists direct reports in their resource planning so comprehensive work plans support the budget, utility goals, and city goals.

Establishes and nurtures highly effective relationships with employees, internal and external customers, labor unions, and other stakeholders that support and advance business goals and objectives.

Works to remove barriers that hamper inter- and intra-department communications. Effectively operates as a management team with represented employees.

• Demonstrates knowledge of techniques for managing a power portfolio within a regulated industry; establishes a strategic plan and makes decisions with a large scope and/or significant impact.
• Experience in making significant policy recommendations and translating vision into organizational policy and work plans.
• Directors are expected to actively promote, support, and manage key strategic City-wide initiatives including those related to fair and equal employment, diversity, and justice in the workplace.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: In addition to the skills and experience mentioned above, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, economics, business administration, or a related field.
• Substantial management and leadership experience in the utility industry, or related area of responsibility typically gained through 15 or more years of progressively responsible assignments; at least 10 years of which were as a manager or supervisor in a large, complex multicultural, and diverse organization.
• Demonstrable experience working with electrical system design, operational requirements, safety, customer requirements, and effective management practices including planning, budgeting, and assessment.
• Skilled in negotiating and administering contracts and agreements, budget preparation, economics, and finance. Actively promote, support, and manage key strategic City-wide initiatives including those related to fair and equal employment, diversity, and social justice in the workplace.
• Successful candidates must demonstrate their commitment to and involvement in activities that create and sustain a workforce free of racism and discrimination and that values multiculturalism and diversity as a workforce and community asset.

***Position is required to be available 24/7/365 to provide guidance to staff and crisis management during emergencies.***

Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Competitive candidates will possess an advanced degree in engineering, economics, business administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrates experience in the electrical power industry and federal and state regulatory compliance. Demonstrates knowledge setting strategic direction for power management.
• Knowledge of models and systems required to manage a complex energy system.
• Substantial management and leadership experience in energy delivery operations or related areas of responsibility typically gained through 10 or more years of progressively responsible assignments.
• Creating and delivering public presentations to a variety of constituents.
• Fundamental understanding of economics and financial analysis.
• Ability to negotiate and administer contracts and agreements, budget preparation, economics, and finance.
• Commitment to sound environmental policies and practices.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of public-sector organization and practices including labor relations and skills in labor contract administration and negotiation.
• Experience in working with highly sensitive and complex energy delivery systems & processes and with the formulation and communication of energy delivery policies and programs that support the goals of the Utility.
• Experience influencing the development and promotion of an innovative and effective energy delivery service model that supports and sustains the long-term growth and productivity of the organization.
• Provide management direction and willingness to make difficult decisions in a changing environment and during critical infrastructure restoration.
• Ability to provide clear expectations and direction, foster creativity and problem-solving, and perform the physical requirements and essential functions of the job.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information

The full salary range for this position is $76.22 - $125.78.

Application Process

Please submit the following with your online application:

• A cover letter in which you clearly describe how your knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities prepare you for the job responsibilities and qualifications outlined in the job announcement
• A current resume of your educational and professional work experience.

Incomplete applications may not be considered.

Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences.

Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check.

The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3.

A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020.Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.