Assistant Director of Utility Operations

Assistant Director Of Utility Operations

The Electric Department has an immediate opening for a Assistant Director of Utility Operations. The City is seeking a candidate that has Power Supply, Resource Planning and Contract Negotiation experience; understanding Utility Operations; possess excellent Leadership skills; have Regulatory and Legislative Experience; possess Financial, Budget, and Rate Experience; knowledge of Engineering, Safety & System Oversight; provide Governance, Reporting & External Coordination with other entities; and ability to Manage employees, staff, and work well with others. If this is YOU, please apply ASAP! First review of applications will be on or around January 15, 2026. Candidates are encourage to include the following with their online application: Cover letter, resume tied to the work history, upload of certifications, degrees, and/or licenses. DEFINITION: Under the general direction of the Electric Utility Director, oversees daily operations of the municipal electric utility, including transmission and distribution, substations, system engineering, reliability, safety programs, and emergency response. Assist with resource planning, legislative and regulatory review, and contract negotiation with agencies, vendors, and joint action authorities. Ensure operational decisions align with regulatory requirements, power supply needs, asset management strategies, and customer service standards. Serves as the Acting Director in the Director's absence.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The Assistant Director of Utility Operations is a management level class and is responsible for day-to-day utility operations with delegated authority for staffing, operational policies, outage management, safety programs, field activities, resource supply and other related duties. This position also provides leadership in legislative and regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, power supply initiatives, and interagency coordination. The Assistant Director serves as second-in-command and may represent the City and Utility before regulatory bodies, legislative committees, and joint action agencies.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Exercises direct and functional supervision over professional, technical, clerical, and volunteer staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to provide a representative list of the various types of work that may be performed. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job class, and incumbents may expect to perform other related duties.

• Accept management responsibility for activities, operations and services of the Electric Utility Department, financial analysis, capital, operating budget development, and administration.
• Oversee and/or participates in the development, implementation and maintenance of the Electric Department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures; ensures that divisional goals are achieved.
• Negotiate, administer, and ensure compliance with energy contracts, interconnection agreements, easements, licenses, construction contracts, joint agency participation, and long-term financial obligations.
• Support and lead components of power resource planning, procurement evaluations, renewable portfolio standard compliance support, emissions reporting, and project development negotiations in coordination with the Electric Utility Director and outside advisors.
• Represent the utility in regulatory proceedings, legislative workgroups, and joint action agency committees, communicating operational impacts and policy positions. Monitor, interpret, and respond to legislative and regulatory matters impacting public power utilities, including NERC, FERC, CAISO, CEC, CARB, and state legislative activities; draft position statements, technical comments, and correspondence.
• Leads efforts in resource planning with other agencies and businesses requiring negotiations involving complex terms and conditions for power resources.
• Manage the power resource generation planning process.
• Acquire emission allowances, congestion revenue rights and renewable energy credits to meet state renewable portfolio standard requirements.
• Make regulatory filings before the California Energy Commission and Air Resources Board.
• Establish relationships with consultants and other agencies to facilitate joint collaborative action operational, regulatory and legislative matters affecting power resources.
• Assist in monitoring and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methodsandprocedures;monitorandevaluateworkload,technicalsupportsystems; internal reporting relationships, and inter-agency issues; identify opportunities for improvement, and develops recommendations.
• Assist in developing overall policies, financial resources, and facility plans for electric utilities in conjunction with key staff and consultants.
• Participate in City meetings with representatives of governmental and regulatory agencies, developers, contractors, and business groups; attends and participates in SCPPA and community meetings as necessary.
• May serve as a technical advisor to the City Manager, City Council and department heads concerning electric utility operations; may assist in providing information and staff assistance to the Utilities Commission.
• Monitor developments in the operations, maintenance field, techniques, and evaluate the impact on City services.
• Understand management of 24-hour staff, rotating shifts, standby program, troubleshooting, emergency operation and response, customer supply outages, union relationships and memorandum of understanding matters.
• Ensure compliance with NERC/WECC reliability standards.
• Review plans and specifications of electric utility projects.
• Represent the City in various joint action agencies and lobbying groups such as Southern California Public Power Authority and the California Municipal Utilities Association.
• Administer annual operating and capital budgets; assists in monitoring budget, revenue, and expenditure trends; measures and evaluates organizational effectiveness.
• Conduct and lead special studies on utility rates.
• Develop and present recommendations for changes in rate and fee structures.
• Manage energy contracts.
• Prepare and present reports to the City Council and Utility Commission.
• Consult with attorneys, financial advisors, investment bankers and engineering consultants on capital improvements, contracts, resources, financing, and litigation.
• Coordinate division activities with other City departments and outside agencies.
• Oversee the selection, training, and evaluation programs for all Electric Department personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; execute discipline and/or termination procedures as required.
• Familiarity with all aspects of a generation, transmission and distribution utility.
• Maintain prompt and regular attendance.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: A typical way to obtain this knowledge and abilities would be Education: A Bachelor's Degree in Electric Engineering, public or business administration, or a closely related field is required. A master's degree or professional engineer designation is highly desired. AND Experience: Five (5) years of directly related experience in electric utility operations, including at least three (3) years of supervisory experience. Experience in electric utility management is required. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Possession of a valid California Class "C" driver's license issued by the California State Department of Motor Vehicles and good driving record.

Knowledge of: Applicable regulatory codes and laws regarding the development, construction and operation of public utilities; City organization, operations, policies and procedures; customer service standard and protocols; General Orders (CPUC) rules for construction and maintenance of overhead and underground electric supply and communication systems; methods, materials, techniques and equipment used in construction, operations, inspection, design and maintenance of electric utilities; occupational hazards and standard safety procedures; complex principles and practices of electrical engineering; operations of joint power agencies; principles and practices for operating public electric; principles and practices of administrative management; principles and practices of contract administration and project management; principles and practices of effective employee supervision; principles and practices of public finance; principles and practices of regulatory management; principles and practices of strategic and resource planning; principles and practices of emergency operations and mutual assistance process; methods, materials, techniques and equipment used in construction, operations, inspection, design and maintenance of electric utilities; occupational hazards and standard safety procedures; record keeping and file maintenance principles and procedures; principles and practices of California ISO, FERC and NERC is required. Ability to: Build effective teams, foster teamwork and provide efficient customer service; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; dealing tactfully and courteously with the public; defining problems, establishing facts and drawing valid conclusions; directing the work of subordinate staff; establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with City Manager, City Council, managers, supervisors, staff, contractors, suppliers, developers, businesses, external public agencies and the general public; formulating and presenting policy recommendations; interpreting and applying City, state and federal policies, laws and regulations; investigating, analyzing and resolving complex and sensitive issues and complaints; making appropriate decisions while ensuring compliance with City goals and objectives; managing situations requiring diplomacy, fairness, firmness and sound judgment; operating a personal computer and various software applications; understanding and negotiating complex technical agreements with other agencies; using initiative and independent judgement within established procedural guidelines; reading, interpreting, understanding, developing and implementing operating standards and procedures, applicable federal and state rules and regulations, and City policies and procedures; assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands; plan, organize and direct the work of subordinate staff; select and supervise subordinate staff; assist in the preparation and administration of a municipal budget; maintain complex records; make adjustments to standard operating procedures as is appropriate, work independently; understand and follow verbal and written directions.

Recruitment and Selection Process Candidates that possess the most desired qualifications and that best meet the Department needs will be invited to participate in the Oral Board Interview process. Candidates successful in this process will have their names certified to an eligibility list. This list is valid for one (1) year. A background check including pre-employment physical, Live Scan fingerprinting, previous work