Lead and manage the direction and implementation of Austin Energy’s Laboratory Services including the environmental chemistry, tribology, and power plant chemistry sections. Provide strategic direction, leadership, and management of environmental policies, regulations, practices, standards and operational directive required by the utility and external agencies.

 

1. Manages implementation of electric utility chemistry programs to support environmental compliance, tribology, and power plant operations.
2. Develops and implements short and long range plans, programs, and personnel
3. Manages specialized chemical analyses on samples to support environmental compliance for electric generating facilities, electric service delivery, and remediation projects.
4. Works closely with Power Plant Managers to manage chemistry or plant outage projects. 
5. Serves as organizational expert on appropriate chemical analyses, methods, and complex technical and analytical studies. Also serves as an expert witness on analytical results and laboratory practices.
6. Manages overall maintenance, troubleshooting and calibration of laboratory equipment 
7. Manages project implementation and integration for power production. 
8. Manages programs to achieve and maintain laboratory and/or quality control accreditation 
9. Develops, reviews, prepares and presents reports on complex technical analysis. 
10. Provides consultative services using advanced knowledge and understanding of procedures for environmental chemistry, tribology and associated areas of expertise.
11. Works to advance the application of chemical knowledge to improve system processes, procedures and improve the financial strength of the utility.
12. Develops and manages division budget.
13. Develops opportunities, new ideas and approaches that have a system wide impact.
14. Identifies and initiates solutions to resolve highly complex problems that are unique to operations and require specialized knowledge. 
15. Develops and implements new operating standards based on new or revised analytical methods.
16. Keeps abreast of technical advances in analytical equipment and procedures. Provide research and develop specification for technical instrumentation. 
17. Interprets and complies with applicable regulatory standards, policies, codes, regulations and industry and organizational safety guidelines. 

 

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

 

• Knowledge of local, state and federal law and city ordinances.
• Knowledge of the electric utility business. 
• Knowledge of City of Austin policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of supervisory and management techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation and management.
• Knowledge of water quality analysis and operational / industry safety guidelines.
• Knowledge of mathematical skills appropriate for chemical analysis. 
• Knowledge of chemical and environmental chemistry principles and methods.
• Demonstrated ability of power plant lock out/tag out (LOTO) procedures. 
• Skill in oral and written communications. 
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations. 
• Skill in collecting, analyzing and interpreting applicable research data. 
• Ability to use appropriate database system to track lab information. 
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities. 
• Ability to troubleshoot, maintain and repair various analytical instrumentation.
• Ability to analyze and resolve irregular events. 
• Ability and knowledge to safely work with hazardous chemicals.

 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Biology, Environmental or Natural Science or related field, plus five (5) years of related experience, two (2) of which were in a lead or supervisory capacity.