Director of Electric Utility

Job Description

Director of Electric Utility (108)

(Unclassified)

Education and Experience

Education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in engineering or an approved related field, and
Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in utility engineering and operations.
With at least five (5) years of the experience must be in direct supervision and management of electric utility operations.
An advanced degree in Public or Business Administration, Management, Industrial Engineering or Engineering may be substituted for two (2) years of the qualifying engineering and operations experience requirement.
An advanced degree in management is desirable. Direct supervision of personnel involved in energy resource management, distribution systems design, operation and maintenance and energy system economics, marketing and customer service program development and management is desirable.
Possession of a valid certificate of registration from the State of California, or a demonstrated ability to become a registered professional engineer in California is desirable.

License

Possession of an appropriate valid California driver's license is required.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This position is the head of the Electric Utility Department for the City of Santa Clara. The incumbent is responsible for the effective and efficient operation of the Department and reports directly to the City Manager. To be successful in this position, an incumbent must be knowledgeable of, and keep current with, state and national issues affecting public power in a municipal operation and the energy industry in general. The position requires a demonstrated ability to work well with management, professional and technical employees in the Department; with customers, professionals, managers, the City’s executive management team and all City Departments and elected officials from the City and other agencies; and with officials from joint powers agencies in which the City is a participant. The incumbent is required to represent the City's interest on various issues before governing boards of joint action agencies, legislative and regulatory committees and industry associations at Regional, State and/or Federal levels of government. As a member of the City’s Unclassified Service this is an “at-will” position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager. An incumbent in this classification: demonstrates strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills, sets a good example; and correctly applies the tenets of the City’s Code of Ethics and Values.

Typical Duties

Under general direction:

Advises the City Manager in all matters relevant to the electric service provided by the City of Santa Clara.
Responsible for the general direction and supervision of plans for the future development of facilities and resources;
Provides general direction for: all work related to the design, engineering, construction, maintenance and operation of the Electric Department facilities, scheduling and dispatching;
Negotiates contracts for facilities, and power purchases;
Develops financial analysis to assist in maintaining fiscal integrity of the department in cooperation and coordination with the Director of Finance;
Assesses needs in various customer segments and develops marketing strategies to address needs as part of maintaining the utility's vitality and ongoing ability to deliver services to the City of Santa Clara, its residents and businesses;
Acts as the City's primary interface with other electric utilities and for providing technical and financial information for participation on State and Federal regulatory energy matters in which the City has an interest;
Meets with large industrial and commercial customers, and the public in general, as necessary, to represent the Electric Utility's activities;
Manages the environmental and regulatory compliance, so that, facilities are safely operated;
Is Generally responsible for organizing and administering the functions of the Department, including preparing, justifying and overseeing the capital improvement and annual operating budgets within City guidelines, and making recommendations to the City Manager regarding hiring and termination of personnel; and
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

Effective leadership and management principles and practices;
Applicable laws and regulations affecting the electric utility industry;
Principles and practices of budgeting (operating and capital), communication, contracting, human resources, information technology, public relations, project management, and outreach, performance standards, telecommunications, and records management, resources to achieve outcomes and expectations;
Important developments in local area, State and Federal government agencies as they relate to the City’s electric utility.

Ability to:

Provide the leadership and management of the department through coaching, enabling and facilitating employees working in a team environment;
Create a culture that is conducive to change and that is one that is able to select, recruit, retain, develop and motivate a skilled and talented workforce where everyone knows their mission, role, job; and goals and objectives are clear in order to create an organization that delivers excellent customer service through ethical leadership standards, establishes an atmosphere of respect for employees consistent with the City’s Code of Ethics and Values;
Manage complex projects that further the long term objectives of the department and the City by identifying which quality standards are relevant to the project and determining how to satisfy them, by evaluating overall project performance on a regular basis to provide confidence that the project will satisfy the relevant quality standards, and by monitoring specific project results;
Build constructive relationships by promoting effective partnerships with department peers, consumers and employees;
Represent and speak for the department and its work, e.g., presenting, explaining, ,promoting, defining, and negotiating to those within and outside the department by making clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals and groups, by listening effectively and clarifying information and by facilitating an open exchange of ideas;
Evaluate Federal and state regulations and assess impacts on the utility and it’s customers;
Understand the roles and relationships of the various components of national and State policymaking and implementation processes in order to formulate effective strategies and alliances to represent the interests of the City’s municipal utility; and
Exercise good judgment in structuring and organizing work and setting priorities, balancing the interests of clients and readily readjusting priorities to respond to customer demands.

Supervision Received

Works under the administrative direction of the City Manager or other supervisor as determined by the City Manager.

Supervision Exercised

Provides general supervision for Assistant Directors, Division Managers and other professional, technical and administrative support staff.

Other Requirements

Must be able to perform all of the duties of the essential functions of the job.

Conflict of Interest

Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually, and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager Directive 100.

Approved, October 2003