City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

On-Site Energy Resources Director

Under general direction, this position is responsible for management, oversight, and direction of Austin Energy's On-Site Energy Resources (OSER) division, which consists of on-site power generation, district cooling, distributed generation, thermal energy storage, and combined heat and power facilities.

1. Bears responsibility for the safe, compliant, reliable, efficient, and environmentally responsible operation of Austin Energy's OSER facilities as well as the financial viability of the business unit’s products and services. Directs, manages, and coordinates operations, maintenance, and construction of Austin Energy's OSER facilities.
2. Develops and grows business for additional revenue in compliance with approved City Council, finance, and strategic goals. Manages customer relations for on-site and district energy customers.
3. Develops and implements a business plan to promote revenue growth and manage cost ensuring profitability while mitigating utility risk.
4. Directs and manages new facility construction, which includes new build or expansion of existing facilities.
5. Leads projects through public processes including development, permitting and regulatory approvals, design, procurement, construction and installation, startup, commissioning, and closeout.
6. Bears responsibility for project management in support of OSER and other power production operations functions. Directs, manages, and develops staff to ensure completion of assigned goals and objectives.
7. Manages annual Operations and Maintenance (O&M), Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and revenue budgets, including preparing short- and long-term spending plans to ensure financial viability of the OSER business.
8. Optimizes the operations and maintenance of energy plants to minimize costs and maximize reliability.
9. Manages compliance to all applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, and legal requirements.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Skill in management of distributed and thermal energy services and technologies.
• Knowledge of electric utility concepts, processes, and practices
• Knowledge of distributed and thermal energy theories, plans and models including but not limited to combined heat and power, distributed generation, district cooling, and thermal energy storage
• Knowledge of distributed energy, fuels, construction, and maintenance contracts
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws and ordinances affecting on-site power plants.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of reporting concepts, budgeting, purchasing and preferred business practices.
• Knowledge of best practice project and construction management methodologies to ensure on time, on budget, and as designed delivery of energy supply-related projects.
• Skill in effective oral and written communications.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees, the public and contractors.
• Skill in using software applications to perform data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to understand evolving energy service markets and need to provide distributed energy services at a competitive market price.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to analyze and resolve irregular events.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a field related to Engineering, plus five (5) years of relevant electric utility or related energy services experience in operation and maintenance of a power plant, combined heat and power system, industrial plant, or related distributed generation system, including a minimum of three (3) years of experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity.
• Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering or a related field may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.