System Support Specialist

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Job Code: 059 Exempt: Yes Civil Service: No Random Drug Screen: No Residency Requirement: Yes Department: Transmission & Distribution Reports To: System Support Supervisor

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION The intent of this description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees on this job. Employees may be required or assigned other related activities, projects, or tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. The requirements are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Under the general supervision of the System Support Supervisor, performs real time operation of the utility's T&D SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system including upgrades, maintenance, and data collection. Ensures the efficient and continual operation of the SCADA system and the transfer of T&D system information to all required regulatory entities including Reliability Coordinator (TVA), Balancing Authority (LGE/KU), and adjacent Transmission Operator (BRED). Collects, edits, processes, and maintains complex ESRI GIS datasets from various sources to provide accurate information and mapping to the Control Center, Engineering, Telecom, and field crews. Imports, exports, and converts mapping information and data into the GIS platform. Creates and maintains geospatial databases. Provides drafting support for the department as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Configure and maintenance the utility's T&D SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system including upgrades, customization, and data collection.
• Ensures the efficient and continual operation of the SCADA system and the transfer of T&D system information to all required regulatory entities including Reliability Coordinator (TVA) and Balancing Authority (LGE/KU).
• Requires substantial technical judgment and ability in analyzing, organizing and disseminating real-time information.
• Performs system administration on Windows systems or other industry data acquisition software related to SCADA system. Also manages VMWare or similar virtualization technology in support of SCADA.
• Required to utilize Microsoft Software applications, Milsoft Outage Management and IVR Systems, and other T&D industry related software.
• Development, revision, and training of electric T&D and Water SCADA applications, work with water districts on SCADA issues.
• Responsible for T&D reliability and real-time data entry into the TVA CTR portal and NERC SDX database.
• Enters, analyzes, and maintains GIS data for proper system modeling of OMU facilities to ensure regulatory entities performing studies have accurate real-time, day-ahead, and week ahead studies.
• Monitors SCADA system for operating conditions and makes recommendations as conditions warrant.
• Maintain accurate data transfer information and ensure OMU maintains necessary data retention from Regulatory Entities.
• Develops mapping applications and tools in support of electric, water, and telecom utility sectors. Designs digital maps with geographic data and other data sources.
• Creates, exports, and imports "shapefiles" to provide or merge OMU data with external data by layering. Produce maps showing spatial distribution of various kinds of data such as water leaks and outage history.
• Uses ESRI ArcMap and Milsoft MAPS to maintain and update the GIS database to ensure accurate information is available to construction crews, engineering, and the Control Center.
• Uses applicable FMS to maintain fiber mapping and splicing information. Supports basic telecom installation requests and coordinates with Engineering as necessary for more complex installations or construction.
• Write script and queries, in both GIS and occasionally SQL, to provide essential data request to Management and Control Center
• Maintains all GIS maps by mapping and publishing changes derived from job tickets and work orders as they are completed.
• Performs drafting utilizing AutoCAD, including construction drawings, wiring diagrams, splice diagrams, emergency routes, snow routes, and any other materials needed in support of the department.
• Rotates as SCADA call-out response (24-hour call).
• This role requires a thirty-minute response time.
• Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Knowledge of a specialized field (however acquired), such as basic accounting, computer, etc. Equivalent of four years in high school, plus night, trade extension, or correspondence school specialized training, equal to two years of college, plus 3 years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS Ability to effectively communicate information and respond to questions in person-to-person and small group situations with customers, clients, general public and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane, algebra, solid geometry and trigonometry.

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of known variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram formats.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Valid Driver's License

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED Intermediate: Database, Programming Languages Basic: Alphanumeric Data Entry, Contact Management, Spreadsheet, Word Processing/Typing

INITIATIVE AND INGENUITY SUPERVISION RECEIVED Under direction where a definite objective is set up and the employee plans and arranges own work, referring only unusual cases to supervisor.

PLANNING Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work; may also occasionally assist in the planning of work assignments performed by others within a limited area of operation.

DECISION MAKING Performs work operations which permit frequent opportunity for decision-making of minor importance and also frequent opportunity for decision-making of major importance; the latter of which would affect the work operations of other employees and/or clientele to a moderate degree.

MENTAL DEMAND Close mental demand. Operations requiring close and continuous attention for control of operations. Operations requiring intermittent direct thinking to determine or select the most applicable way of handling situations regarding the organization's administration and operations; also to determine or select material and equipment where highly variable sequences are involved.

ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING Directed. Supervisory and/or professional skills using structured practices or policies and directed as to execution and review. Interpolation of learned things in moderately varied situations where reasoning and decision-making are essential.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORK OF OTHERS Responsibility for work of others: Not indicated.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNDS, PROPERTY and EQUIPMENT Occasionally responsible for organization's property where carelessness, error, or misappropriation would result in moderate damage or moderate monetary loss to the organization. The total value for the above would range from $150,000 to $1,000,000.

ACCURACY Probable errors would not likely be detected until they reached another department, office or patron, and would then require considerable time and effort to correct the situation. Frequently, possibility of error that would affect the organization's prestige and relationship with the public to a limited extent, but where succeeding operations or supervision would normally preclude the possibility of a serious situation arising as a result of the error or decision.

ACCOUNTABILITY

FREEDOM TO ACT Directed. Freedom to complete duties as defined by wide-ranging policies and precedents with mid to upper-level managerial oversight.

ANNUAL MONETARY IMPACT The amount of annual dollars generated based on the job's essential duties / responsibilities. Examples would include direct dollar generation, departmental budget, proper handling of organization funds, expense control, and savings from new techniques or reduction in manpower.

Very small. Job creates a monetary impact for the organization up to an annual level of $100,000.

IMPACT ON END RESULTS Moderate impact. Job has a definite impact on the organization's end results. Participates with others in taking action for a department and/or total organization.

PUBLIC CONTACT Frequent contacts with general public, patrons, or other outside representatives, wherein the manner of handling these contacts has a bearing on the organization's position and operation.

EMPLOYEE CONTACT Contacts of considerable importance within the department or office, such as those required in coordination of effort, or frequent contacts with other departments or offices, generally in normal course of performing duties. Requires tact in discussing problems and presenting data and making recommendations, but responsibility for action and decision reverts to others.

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS Regular personal computer support, technical help, and/or basic software support, database analysis, level I technician, project coordination, installation and help desk.

WORKING CONDITIONS Somewhat disagreeable working conditions. Continuously exposed to one or two elements such as noise, intermittent standing, walking, pushing, carrying, or lifting. May involve some travel and/or work is at times, in the evening or during the night hours.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

Moderate diversity, low physical. Work activities which allow for a moderate amount of diversity in the performance of tasks which are not as varied as those positions with high-level diversity and decision-making.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk or hear; and occasionally required to stand, walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision; color vision; and ability to adjust focus.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Knowledge and Abilities:

Degree in electrical engineering technology, information systems, GIS, networking, or related field with strong knowledge and experience in electrical/electronic circuit theory and general utility industry. Excellent oral and written communication skills essential. Knowledge of computer word processing, spreadsheets and software needed. Driver's license required.

Experience:

Minimum of two years' experience in the utility industry or closely related field or any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.