City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Vice President, Electric System Field Operations

This position is responsible for leadership and management of construction, operations and maintenance of the distribution, transmission and/or substation systems and associated support systems and infrastructure for Austin Energy. This position is also responsible for providing leadership and direction on the company’s development of safety culture, policies, practices and compliance.

1. Determines goals, objectives, and resource requirements for activities within the division.
2. Develops and implements short- and long-range plans, programs, and oversees activities associated with administrative, managerial support, fiscal management, program planning, and evaluation.
3. Plans, organizes, directs, and audits processes and business practices to ensure effectiveness and adherence to all industry quality, regulatory, and compliance requirements.
4. Ensures compliance with all safety, reliability, and environmental standards and requirements.
5. Develops and monitors assigned Operations & Maintenance and Capital Improvement (CIP) budgets and responds to any deviations from the approved cost/timeline projections.
6. Investigates and responds to complaints from citizens, management, and staff.
7. Prepares and reviews reports as part of the process of monitoring and communicating performance results.
8. Serves as principle lead accountable for resourcing, directing, and coordinating (either directly or through effective delegation) in collaboration with other areas as necessary, the safe and timely operation, maintenance and restoration of the electric system during normal and non-normal periods, including system outages and other non-normal situations
9. Communicates Electric Service Delivery programs to management, staff, and others.
10. Prepares and reviews reports as part of the process of monitoring and communicating performance results.
11. Liaisons with national public utility organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other State, Federal, and Local organizations.
12. Develops and implements business plans that promote completion of the overall City of Austin business/strategic plans and initiatives. Recruits, develops, and retains a high-performing workforce, including management and senior professional staff, to ensure completion of assigned goals and objectives.
13. Successfully performs other duties as required by the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer as required.

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

• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws, ordinances, and policies.
• Knowledge of electric utility processes, practices, issues, and policies.
• Knowledge of ERCOT operating guides and protocols.
• Knowledge of North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Standards.
• Knowledge of ISO or other Quality Management systems.
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of quality management methods and ability to implement change and performance goals for continuous improvement.
• Skill in oral and written communications.
• Skill in assessing industry trends and responding to industry pressures.
• Skill in diversity management.
• Ability to assimilate and act timely on conflicting, incomplete, and disparate information to meet overall objectives.
• Ability to coach and develop subordinate staff.
• Ability to set clear and relevant goals, to resource and empower team members and hold them accountable.
• Ability to embrace the principles of equal opportunity, diversity, inclusion, continuous improvement, and change.
• Ability to understand and explain complex issues to non-utility stakeholders.
• Ability to meet financial and performance objectives.
• Ability to analyze and resolve irregular events.
• Ability in establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business, Engineering, or in a field related to the job, plus seven (7) years of relevant experience, including three (3) years of experience which were in a managerial capacity.
• Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university may substitute for two (2) years of the non-managerial experience.