Director of Electrical Operations

Description

The City of Garden City is accepting applications for Director of Electrical Operations. This position entails highly responsible professional, technical, and administrative work directing the overall operation of the Municipal Electric Distribution System. The Director supervises staff, manages bulk power supply contracts, and oversees employees and/or contractor(s) providing services associated with the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of the electric utility. The Director develops/establishes long-range plans, develops policy and procedures, manages electric utility programs, and prepares and implements the department budget. The Director is responsible for monitoring the utility’s financial performance to ensure that rates and charges are adequate to recover the utility costs while maintaining competitive rates. The Director evaluates documents and reports on utility matters to City management and the City Commission. Work is performed under the general direction of the Director of Public Works and Utilities.

See the following profile for more information: Director of Electrical Operations Profile

Examples of Duties

• Plans, directs, coordinates, and administers activities and personnel of the City’s electric utility in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and standards. Ensures subordinates have the necessary training and equipment to safely perform assigned duties.
• Manages the planning and development of long/short-range financing and capital improvement programs; oversees and leads in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for electric utility activities and programs.
• Prepares and implements department budget and long-range capital plans; ensures operations are maintained within the approved budget.
• Review and approve contracts, progress payments, purchase orders, and accounts payable invoices.
• Manages the development of goals and objectives, policies, and procedures for electric utility activities and programs; manages the development, implementation, and monitoring of strategies to maintain and enforce production, safety, and work standards and to improve system reliability.
• Represents City at boards/committees and meetings concerning electric utility issues; makes presentations to elected/appointed officials, department heads, staff/public/private agencies/groups regarding electric utility issues, programs, and projects.
• Prepares rates studies and implements rates and charges, including fuel adjustments, that are sufficient to fully fund the utility’s operation and maintenance expenses including bulk power supply, pay debt service, and fund the utility's capital programs while maintaining satisfactory debt service coverage. Responsible for maintaining rates that are competitive, and distributed costs among the City’s electric customers.
• Review developer’s agreements, permits, and engineering plans.
• Review and approve drawings and specifications for all system additions.
• Serves as the primary liaison with other Kansas Utilities for mutual aid, bulk power supply and trade association and regulatory activities.
• Ensures appropriate representation for the electric utility department in the Emergency Operations Center during planning and recovery activities associated with natural disasters and other emergencies.
• Responsible for the reviews and controls of departmental inventory, warehousing, and purchasing.
• Keeps Director of Public Works and Utilities appraised of project status and development.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Ability to visualize, develop, plan, organize, and direct improvements, extensions, operations, and maintenance of the utility system. Ability to develop long-term plans and strategies and evaluate work accomplishments. Prepare highly technical reports and train, develop, organize, and supervise service personnel. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, work effectively with elected officials, department heads, representatives of other agencies, other utilities, other city employees, and the public. Knowledge and experience in business and strategic management, finance, accounting, and engineering principles and practices governing the operation of an electric utility system. Knowledge of laws, ordinances, regulations, and statutes that govern an electric utility system and of governmental organization and budgeting. Knowledge of occupational hazards and accident prevention methods in assigned areas of responsibility. Ability to utilize common MS Office products like Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Ability to communicate with City employees and the public with courtesy and diplomacy.

Education, Certification, and Experience: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university is preferred. Practical and supervisory experience in operating and maintaining mechanical and electrical distribution systems is also preferred. A comparable amount of training, education, or experience can be substituted for the minimum qualifications. A valid driver’s license is required, with the ability to obtain a Kansas driver’s license within 90 days.