Manager of Technical Operations

Closing Date to Apply: April 14th, 2025

Salary: $115,960.00 - $202,904.00

Typically, selected candidates are hired at a salary rate between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Benefits: This link below will provide you with Grant PUD’s benefit that may be available if hired, different employee types are eligible for different benefits.

Grant PUD — Unified Insurance Program (uip-wa.org)

Position Summary

The position works under the direction of the Sr Manager of System Operations (Dispatch).  The purpose of this position is lead a department of Operations Technical Advisers, Operations Generalists, Distribution Dispatchers, , Study Engineers and others as assigned to provide analytical, technical, and training support for System Operations ensuring safe and efficient Bulk Electric System (BES) that meets all requirements outlined by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North America Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Western Electric Coordinating Council  (WECC),  Reliability Standards, Washington State Electrical Workers Safety Rules, FERC license requirements and Grant PUD operating procedures. This position will also oversee the technical support necessary for operating the utility's power production projects as well as back-up support to Transmission Marketing, and the Wholesale Marketing Supply in planning and developing river operating strategies. This position also ensures the development of up-to-date task training for Power System Operators and all personnel within the System Operations – Dispatch group. The position serves as a subject matter expert contributing to Dispatch's NERC Compliance response while also giving oversight to the development and provision of operational planning support, Real-time study assessments, Operational Planning Analysis, outage studies, etc.

Essential Functions

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee the work performed within the Technical Operations group which includes compliance with all regulatory requirements from EISAC, FERC, NERC, WECC, others.
• Assist Sr Manager in serving as a member/representative on the Western Power Pool, contributing and reviewing policies that can impact the PUD.
• Assist the Sr Manger as a Committee representative at the WECC Chiefs Conference, ensuring PUD System Ops personnel training meets the requirements of a NERC Balancing Area.
• Oversee the work of, and develop, training plans for each craft/job duty within System Operations.
• Develop strategy to ensure compliance with the continuing education requirements of all NERC Certified personnel.
• Develop, manage and supervise the Station Field Operator training program, including certifications required.
• Supervise and manage the Engineering work and ensure timeliness of rating reports required by FERC and NERC both hourly and short term.
• Ensure strong collaboration with the Sr Manager and Manager of Control Systems Engineering.
• Responsibility for ensuring reports are created and submitted as required by regulators, such as the daily System Ops Plans or NERC EOP’s that have scheduled submittals to those regulators such as the RC-West (reliability coordinators).
• Provide oversight and guidance to improve standard operating procedures.
• Identify solutions to remediate key deficiencies in procedures and make recommendations on improvements; ensure compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements governing Grant PUD's power distribution operations; review Washington State Electrical Worker Safety Rules and recommend improvements to operational procedures ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations; escalate non-compliance issues to management while providing solutions to meet compliance standards.
• Coordinate Dispatch operations with internal and external groups including the management of Construction and Maintenance, Power Delivery Engineering, Power Productions, Transmission Services, etc.
• Facilitate real-time operations with internal groups in Control Systems Engineering, Power Delivery Engineering, Power Delivery.
• Be responsible for the coordination of operations with external groups including the WEST RC - Reliability Coordinator, neighboring Balancing Authorities, and Transmission Operators ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable power delivery across all Grant PUD's infrastructure and operating areas.
• Act as subject matter expert to increase competency of all parties involved while maintaining relationships critical to successful partnerships with other business units.
• Oversee the development of transmission and distribution power flow studies, including transient studies for renewables, when necessary, in addition to other Real-time assessments such as Operational Planning Analysis, outage studies, etc.; deliver study results, including recommendations, to decision makers for their review, consideration, and implementation; provide stakeholders with all information required to make decisions on safe, reliable, and efficient power delivery.
• Monitor recent operation of Grant PUD's power production projects to evaluate consistency with established operating plans. Maintain knowledge of recent and near-term power and non-power hydraulic constraints and operating objectives to the operation of the projects.
• As a subject matter expert, take a lead role in the development of and providing task training for SS0s, OTAs and trainees for all System Operation’s positions. This may include, but is not limited to, developing training materials that receive NERC approval for Continuing Education Hours (CEHs), developing other training needed for Dispatch, guiding acquisition of vendor training, producing, and using simulation training scenarios, etc. that meet the presently effective Grant PUD Operations Training Program.
• Perform related duties as required or assigned.
• Demonstrated commitment to Grant PUD’s mission, vision, values, strategic plan and Grant PUD / IBEW Local 77 Code of Excellence. The incumbent should be familiar with these organizational priorities and behave in a way that aligns with these expectations.
• Understand and adhere to compliance requirements for this position that may include laws, regulations, security guidelines, and Grant PUD policies & procedures.
• Actively participate in all aspects of our safety program, including but not limited to:
  • Following all safety policies and procedures
  • Alerting supervisors and coworkers to unsafe or hazardous working conditions
  • Reporting any safety incidents or close calls within 24 hours to your supervisor
  • Accepting feedback from supervisors and coworkers regarding your own safety performance
• Actively support programs and actions that improve our Safety Culture by:
  • Supporting the presence of safety in your Department (e.g. Include safety messages in business conversations; begin meetings as appropriate with a safety minute).
  • Ensuring supervisors are monitoring the safety actions of their teams (such as completing safety training, reporting incidents timely, etc.).
  • Being viewed as a safety champion by stopping work if necessary, promoting safety activities (Continuous improvement team processes, Safety & Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) activities, etc.).
  • Acknowledging compliant safety behaviors and good safety performance from members of your team(s).

Required Qualifications (Education, Experience, Licenses & Certifications): 

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or system Operations related degree, or 2 additional years of relevant experience in lieu of degree.
• Four (4) years of experience related to electric system operations
• Experience working under NERC CIP guidelines for an electric utility.
• Must possess or have the ability to possess a NERC System Operator license in Transmission and Balancing, or Reliability Coordination, within 12 months.
• A valid State’s driver’s license without restrictions.

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Knowledge of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission standards, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) standards and regulations; power system engineering topics including production, power flow, and device operations; Wanapum and Priest Rapids hydro coordination and power transactions; concepts, principles, theories, and methods surrounding electrical engineering industry standards and best practices.
• Skill in problem solving; training development and delivery; report creation and submittal; independently adapting, interpreting, and applying written guidelines, precedents, and standardized work practices to a variety of unprecedented and problematic situations; written and oral interpersonal communication; workflow and time management; utilizing MS office products; specialized software such as PowerWorld, Synergi, etc., and other software tools and applications; and performing Real-time assessments and studies such as Operational Planning Analysis, outage studies, etc.

Physical Requirements 

• Position may be eligible for hybrid work arrangement: ☒Yes ☐No 
• Majority of work is performed in a standard office setting.
• Some work in hazardous, high energy, electric generation environment.
• Operation of a vehicle is required.
• Typical shift of employees in this position: ☒8 hours ☐9 hours  ☐10 hours  ☐12 hours

*For a full list of requirements, the applicant/incumbent should refer to the Physical Capacity Evaluation (PCE).

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.  Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas.

Salary : $115,960 - $202,904