Associate Distribution Operator II

Join the diverse and dynamic team that powers Michigan's largest energy provider and one of the nation's largest gas and electric combination utilities. Consumers Energy services 6.7 million of Michigan's 10 million residents - caring for our friends and neighbors in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. We embrace a cleaner and leaner utility vision focused on eliminating energy waste and adding renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar.

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

We are looking for:

The Grid Management (System Control) Department is responsible for:

• Providing a safe workplace for field personnel
• Providing a safe and reliable electricity to the public
• Maintaining the reliability of the Consumers Energy electric system
  

The department has the sole authority and responsibility for the reliability of the Consumers Energy Transmission, High Voltage Distribution (HVD) and Low Voltage Distribution (LVD) electric systems. System Control is responsible for monitoring and coordinating operations on the real-time statewide Consumers Energy electric system to ensure the safe and reliable supply of energy to our customers. Furthermore, the department supervises and administers outages on the Transmission, HVD and LVD electric systems to ensure it is done in a safe, efficient and reliable manner in accordance with the policies, procedures and guidelines of Consumers Energy, NERC, MISO and all other state and federal regulatory entities as applicable.

The successful candidate will work from the Grand Rapids, Michigan location.

In this role, you will:

• Be responsible for identifying, analyzing, isolating and restoring service at Consumers Energy distribution substations, mobile substations, metropolitan underground systems
• Administer the switching and tagging process at Consumers Energy distribution substations, metropolitan underground electric systems, mobile substation to ensure outages are executed in a safe, efficient and reliable manner as set forth by the policies, procedures and guidelines of Consumers Energy
• Direct the repair and restoration of failed equipment
• Formulate, write and approve switching plans
• Issue switching orders for execution by field personnel
• Knowledge of utility practices and procedures
• Ability to utilize various computer software and systems including the Outage Management System (OMS), Global Positioning System (GPS), SCADA, DSCADA, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Transmission Outage Application (TOA), Microsoft Word and Excel and effectively communicate with internal and external customers
• Ability to recognize and follow operational policies and procedures
• Ability to perform operator responsibilities identified above under the direction of a certified Distribution Operator
• Have excellent communication skills
• Make appropriate decisions and prioritize multiple tasks under stressful conditions
• Work with multiple groups and in a team environment
• Be required to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays
• Be required to work hours needed during scheduled and unplanned emergency situations
• Be required to be in an on-call rotation
• Be subject to random drug testing

Distribution Operators:

• Monitor, control and support 24/7 operations of the Consumers Energy (CE) electric power system to ensure reliable power is delivered to customers
• Are responsible for the reliability of CE’s low voltage distribution (LVD) electric substations and metropolitan underground electric systems
• Are responsible for analyzing and monitoring LVD substations and equipment for both normal and emergency restoration conditions
• Administer switching and tagging on the CE LVD electric system to ensure outages are executed in a safe, efficient and reliable manner as set forth by the policies, procedures and guidelines of Consumers Energy
• Monitor and operate electric system equipment using SCADA applications to ensure safe, reliable electric service to customers
• Direct field personnel to safely switch electric system equipment to ensure safe and reliable electric service to customers
• Direct multiple work groups to safely maintain and repair electric system facilities to ensure reliable service to customers
• Use all available Distribution Operator resources to maintain situational awareness of electric system condition, configuration and constraints to ensure safe and reliable operation
• Understand and follow company established standard operating procedures to complete work assignments in a safe and reliable manner
• Become familiar with business, department, and company procedures and related material for job assignments and be able to utilize the information appropriately
• Utilize effective communication skills and cooperatively work in a team environment to safely serve CE field personnel and customers
• Attend internal meetings
• Provide business analysis and support services in a legal and ethical manner
• Regular attendance is expected

We encourage you to apply if you have: equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered and reviewed.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business, a Scientific/Technical field, or other field with 1 year of applicable exempt work experience or 4 years applicable non-exempt work experience
  • Associate's degree in Business, a Scientific/Technical Field, or other field with at least 3 years applicable exempt work experience or equivalent non-exempt work experience
  • High School Diploma with at least 5 years of applicable exempt work experience or equivalent non-exempt work experience
  • OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• 1 years applicable exempt work experience
• Must obtain Distribution Operator certification within 12 months of hire into this role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating and coordinating maintenance and repair on the CE electric system
• Demonstrated understanding of electric distribution systems, system components, work practices and operating principles
• Able to make appropriate decisions and prioritize multiple tasks under stressful conditions
• Experience in Switching & Tagging on a the CE electric system
• Ability to read substation wiring diagrams
• Familiarity with Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS)
• Familiarity with Transmission Operations Application (TOA)
• Familiarity with Outage Management System (OMS)
• Familiarity with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
• Process Improvement Experience
• Basic computer skills to include Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong oral and written communication skills
  

Due to the costly and time-consuming required training to obtain the System Controller certification, upon accepting a System Controller position, you will be ineligible to apply for positions external to Grid Management for a 3-year period.

Hours and Travel

• This position requires the individual work an average of 40 hours per week with 100% of time spent in the office or specific field locations.
• This position includes nights and weekend/holiday timeframes while on a rotating 24-hour shift.

Must possess a valid driver’s license. Maintain regular, predictable and punctual attendance during regularly scheduled work hours at assigned worksite. Meet travel requirements of the position. Work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms
• The employee frequently is required to talk or hear
• The employee will be using a computer and the associated keyboard and mouse
• The employee must frequently lift and move up to ten pounds and occasionally lift and move up to seventy-five pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women’s Advisory Panel (WAP), Women’s Engineering Network (WEN), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capable, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.