Director, Austin Energy Engineering and Technical Services (Transmission Engineering)

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Austin Energy’s Transmission Engineering team is seeking a Director to provide strategic and operational leadership for a multidisciplinary group of engineers, project managers, and technical staff. Reporting to the Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services, this position will oversee the following business units:

• System Protection
• Transmission & Substation Engineering
• Transmission & Substation Standards
• Project Management

The Director will guide teams responsible for ensuring the design, development, and delivery of a safe, reliable, and resilient transmission system. The successful candidate will be a detail‑oriented, collaborative leader with the ability to analyze complex situations, provide sound technical recommendations, and manage change within an electric utility environment. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills are essential, as the role regularly engages with internal stakeholders, City of Austin customers, and various boards and commissions.

 

Job Description:

Director, Austin Energy Engineering and Technical Services

Purpose: 

Under minimal direction, this position provides guidance and direction to the engineering of Austin Energy's (AE) Transmission, Distribution, and Substation System Design and provides technical services to other departments within AE. Responsible for the engineering, overall project management to include budgeting, staffing, and development of procedures and provide leadership in an effort to accomplish the goals and objectives of the City of Austin.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: 

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Develops or assists in the development of business cases as needed to support process improvement efforts.

• Develops appropriate schedules and goals for project or program implementation and monitor schedule performance. SAIDI and SAIFI goals established and reported upon on a regular frequency.

• Focuses on cost-effective engineering practices striving to achieve operational excellence.

• Implements or refines processes that improve reliability, improve customer service, increase revenue, and reduce costs.

• Presents at least four (4) business improvement recommendations on a quarterly basis.

• Compiles and completes performance reviews that align with AE’s business plan and are tied to measurable goals.

• Manages budgets and projects to ensure implementation on schedule and on budget.

• Assists employees by developing training plans and scheduling time to meet training requirements.

• Reviews current system and develops new strategies for premium power offerings.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised: 

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of Electric Utility Operations, Engineering, and design of Electric Service Delivery Facilities.

• Knowledge of Utility De-regulation.

• Knowledge of budget process and related financial reports.

• Skill in applying logical and practical problem-solving skills.

• Skill in situational analysis, planning, and organizational skills.

• Skill in interpersonal communication, which successfully cover the full range of required interfaces from field personnel to executive management.

• Ability to communicate effectively with customers.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to engineering, plus seven (7) years of work experience in related to the job, including four (4) years of experience in a management or supervisory capacity.

• Education may substitute for experience up to two (2) years.

Licenses and Certifications Required: 

State of Texas Professional Engineer License.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience overseeing and managing Electric Utility team(s) in transmission environments to implement and resolve strategic and technical goals and objectives.

• Supervisory experience in transmission and substation engineering as a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas.

• Knowledge of electric utility safety practices and procedures and experience leading safety initiatives.

• Experience in public speaking and resolution of utility customer issues.

• Experience with quality improvement processes.

 

Notes to Candidate:

Location:

4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723

Days and Hours:

Monday through Friday. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
40 Hour Work Week (Hybrid Available)

Additional work hours may be required to support the 24-hour Utility operations, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, inclement weather and emergency closures.

Salary:

Commensurate depending on qualifications and experience.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.

• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.

• Résumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.

• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED, undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.

• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.

• This position requires a criminal background investigation.

Fair Labor Standards Act:

• This position is classified as EXEMPT (Salaried). Exempt employees are not eligible for overtime compensation.

Critical:

This position has been designated as a Critical Employee position. Critical Employees are considered necessary and vital and supports activities that impact City or department operations. This work can be done while at a designated work site or while working at an alternate work location. Critical employees who are able to work at an alternative work location are required to do so. Schedules may be modified, and employees may be reassigned to another area during extraordinary situations or emergency conditions to provide essential services.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

 

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.