Engineering & Operations Senior Manager

Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation's largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. 
 
The Engineering & Operations Manager oversees an operating budget of over $14 Million. In this position, you will provide executive leadership for three organizational units and be responsible for the management, through 5 subordinate supervisors, of the work of 33 represented professional engineering staff and skilled trades. The Manager has responsibility for oversight of the work of the Generation Operations & Engineering Civil, Structural, and Mechanical Engineering Units, as well as the Technical Resources unit, which provide professional and technical services in support of our 700 MW Skagit Hydroelectric Project, and the 1050 MW Boundary Hydroelectric Project. In addition, these same units also provide technical engineering services for the entire City Light Department. This Manager also supports engineering and operations for the combined 46 MW Cedar Falls/Tolt Hydroelectric Projects.
 
This position reports to the Engineering and Technology Operations Director.

Job Responsibilities

Here is more about what you'll be doing:  

• Provides managerial leadership to highly trained personnel in the areas of civil, mechanical and structural engineering and operations specific to the maintenance and capital improvement needs of Seattle City Light's hydroelectric systems. This position makes key decisions on investments, priorities, hiring, organizational improvement and employment issues.
• Provide leadership in completing engineering services to assigned Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) projects to support the entire hydroelectric generation fleet. Projects support the following types of systems and equipment: dams, powerhouses, tainter and sluice gates, waterways, turbines, piping, pumps, valves, infrastructure for two City Light towns and transmission and distribution facilities for delivery and distribution of power. 
• Oversight responsibilities for capital and maintenance work associated with Skagit, Boundary and Cedar Falls/Tolt Hydroelectric Projects with a combined annual spend in these areas of more than $75-million.
• Position has an authorized spending level of $100,000 for contracts and purchases.
• Operations and Maintenance support to the Cedar Falls/Tolt Hydroelectric Projects which includes 24/7 responsibilities associated with outage response to ensure reliable operation of these generating assets.   Cedar Falls plant also provides the energy necessary to serve Seattle Public Utility's Cedar Falls Watershed operations.
• Responsible for environmental and dam safety compliance for the Cedar Falls Masonry Dam facility.
• Manage a $14M combined budget providing fiscal management strategies and exercising discretion in allocating financial resources, contract management practices and overtime monitoring. 
• Responsible for oversight of the development of multiple org-level budgets as well as participation in decisions around Business Unit priorities.  Ensures comprehensive work plans support the budget.  Oversight and authorization of purchases and contracts and provide guidance on determination of resource needs.
• Accountable for developing, monitoring and reporting on project work plans that directly support the business unit goals and implementing policies and procedures. 
• Responsible for understanding and administering labor contracts for technical bargaining units as well as the electric trades.  
• Provide guidance to engineering supervisors in the unit on technical issues, contracting and performance management. 
• Provide guidance to the Generation Supervisor responsible for Cedar Falls and Tolt operations
• Ensure the quality of internal mechanical and civil engineering deliverables. 
• Participates in the Electrician Constructor Apprenticeship Committee.
• This position also requires oversight of safety procedures as they relate to safety guidelines and safe working rules for the work of the engineering unit at hydroelectric facilities.
• Represents the Business Unit in a variety of inter-agency projects across multiple City departments. Makes decisions on behalf of the utility and business unit.
• Represent the utility and business unit in a variety of industry forums, consortiums, Boards and related industry trade events. 
• Establishes and nurtures highly effective relationships with employees, customers, and stakeholders that support and advance business goals and objectives.        
• Provide leadership for teams and other work groups with diverse representation across functional departmental lines. 
• Represents the City on highly visible, sensitive and controversial issues.
• Requires occasional overnight travel to remote sites, including attendance at all Cedar Falls/Tolt monthly safety meetings.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: In addition to the skills and experience mentioned below, a successful applicant will have experience that reflects a commitment to creating fair and equitable outcomes and has: 
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Civil Engineering.
 
Experience: 
Ten years of professional engineering experience or experience managing multi-disciplined work groups in support of and/or at an electric utility, water utility, or similar industry, including five years supervising engineering employees or leading large multi-discipline project teams. Demonstrated experience in management of hydroelectric generation or related industrial operations experience.
 
Certification/License: 
Licensed Professional Civil or Mechanical Engineer. 
Washington State Driver's license.
 
Desired Qualifications - You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities: 
The most competitive candidates will have an extensive design and management experience in support of and/or with an electric utility.

• Required degree in a related, power engineering field
• Knowledge of public sector organizational practices, including labor relations and financial management.
• Skilled in developing and implementing performance management and organization measurements, methodologies and techniques.
• Experience working at and practicing leadership at a variety of management levels.
• Strong management skills including planning, organizing, problem-solving, decision?making and program implementation.
• Ability to coach employees, encourage teamwork and promote high standards of customer service.  Experience working with multiple stakeholders, vendors, and customers.
• Experience negotiating consultant and vendor contracts and other agreements.
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills.
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to work with people from diverse professional, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Read the full posting.