Director, Operations

Responsible for the overall management of SVEC’s operations department, including strategic planning, organization, coordination and communication in order to provide the safest, most reliable service at the best value to members while achieving cooperative and departmental goals and objectives within established guidelines. Responsible for execution of SVEC’s field safety programming in coordination with the cooperative safety department in order to aid continuous safety improvements and develop a culture that supports safety excellence. Reporting Relationships Reports to: Vice President of Engineering & Operations – Chief Operations Officer Directs: Operation Supervisors, Field Safety & Training Coordinator Responsibilities Safety and Training : Collaborate with cooperative safety to foster a safe, properly trained and successful workforce. Administer field safety programming in coordination with the director of safety & compliance. Understand and enforce cooperative safety and security procedures and resolve potentially unsafe conditions. Advise, direct and help as needed on safety-related issues. Administer SVEC’s field inspection programming and other related items. Perform field visits to observe construction-related activities, safe work habits and quality control. Provides orientation and on-the-job training for employees, ensuring that the authority, duties, accountability, expectations and responsibilities for each position are clearly defined and understood. Identifies and develops ongoing and new training needs for operations department. Coaches and directs subsequent learning through direct involvement. Provide assistance, expertise and support for liability and loss control events. Operations : Responsible for electric facilities operation including maintenance, capital and service restoration work on energized and de-energized overhead and underground electric system facilities during normal hours and after hours. Enforces standard operating procedures for safe, proper, efficient and effective distribution system operations. Consistent and accurate implementation of operating practices found in employee policy manual, safety manual, and switching tagging manual. Provide expertise and assistance in maintaining and updating both. Responsible for acquiring, organizing and synthesizing information on complex subjects in order to provide support, guidance and decision authority to direct reports. Provide support to operations supervisors for: Employee issues, time keeping, pay, annual evaluations and other matters as they arise. Planning, organizing, coordinating and controlling operations and construction. Develop and ensure uniform operations and procedures among all districts. Analyze production, workloads, schedules and procedures to improve efficiency. Project management Vehicle equipment and tooling use and need. Works to build excellent working relationships with all department employees and ensure expectations and accountability for each employee's responsibilities are communicated and understood. Work cooperatively with the director of operations support and director of cooperative safety to manage large scale outage restoration efforts. Coordinates with cross-functional teams to complete inspections, maintenance and construction projects, ensuring adherence to quality standards and schedule requirements. Monitor system performance metrics and implement improvements to improve reliability indices (SAIDI/SAIFI). Leadership and Administrative : Demonstrate adaptable, compatible and effective leadership for operations department. Provide organized, clear and consistent communication with department. Responsible for proper recordation, organization and retention of all documentation associated with operations department including items like Department of Transportation logs, SVEC tailboards, line patrol records, service order information, PPE inspections and work order information. Communicate with members, public, other utilities and contractors by phone and in person regarding complaints, joint efforts, excavators, installers, underground locating contractors, rules and regulations, and service restoration. Develop annually district budgets for operations, maintenance and capital budgets. Track and manage throughout the year. Monitor performance and conduct performance planning and review sessions consistent with established time frames and guidelines. Reviews reports regarding district performance and adherence to standards and good practices. Assist in special projects as necessary. Job Related Qualifications Education and Experience Bachelor’s Degree or experience and/or training equivalent. A minimum of 15 years of experience in the construction, operations and maintenance of a utility system Supervisory and management training preferred. Thorough knowledge of rural electrification and cooperative principles Supervisory experience preferred. Required Skills and Abilities Must be capable of gathering information from multiple sources. Must possess a high level of organization skills for past, current and future work tasks/needs. Must be capable of forecasting needed work in order to meet deadlines with opportunity for input. Communicate technical information in an accessible manner to support initiatives and cross departmental decisions. Must be able to maintain professionalism and control under all circumstances. Has and maintains a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record and is able to operate SVEC vehicles. Be available after hours by cellular phone. Must become and remain certified in CPR and first aid. Must also be skilled in the use of safety equipment. Ability to handle the challenge of operating efficiently under a very flexible schedule due to the number of unanticipated and unplanned requests for services from the various individuals, departments and outside contacts with whom this position is involved. Leadership ability and the ability to motivate peers toward goal achievement. Strong verbal, written, analytical and interpersonal skills. Ability to interview and select employees. Ability to supervise, coach and direct employees assigned. Ability to dissect and resolve complex problems quickly and systematically. Ability to deal with irate individuals regarding collections, bills, service restoration, right-of-way, etc. Ability to stay abreast of new technology and training. Ability to manage different personalities. Possess effective techniques to research and access all sources necessary. Ability to work well with other departments’ personnel and to break down “silos.” Proficient in Microsoft Office products including Excel and Word. Must be able to communicate to gain acceptance and understanding of programs, policies and services of the cooperative. Must have access to reliable transportation to and from work. Physical Requirements Participation in SVEC job safety and training programs, relevant workshops, seminars and other SVEC-sponsored courses and events. Must be able to use office equipment including telephone, computer, and other systems and related software in the performance of position responsibilities. Must be able and available, during all types of weather conditions, to work weekends, holidays, evenings and other times outside normal duty hours to assist in service restoration and other emergencies that may arise or when the workload demands. Must always maintain an operating telephone or personal communication device at their place of residence. Ability to contact the telephone or personal communication device must be made available to SVEC for the purpose of contacting the manager to conduct legitimate routine and/or emergency business. This position involves primarily inside work. Must be able to lift objects unassisted (up to 50 pounds). Some standing, walking, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling to a minimal degree. Pay Range $153,882.56 - 205,818.08 annually Actual compensation within this range will be based on the applicant’s experience, education and relevant certifications. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Applicants Notice of Equal Opportunity Employment In order for Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative to abide by its Affimative Action Statement, the Cooperative publishes the following Equal Employment Policy. This is not a solicitation of applicants for employment. All applicants for employment shall be considered and hired on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or veteran’s status. The employment practices shall ensure equal treatment of all employees, without discrimination in rates of pay or other opportunities for advancement because of an employee’s race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr