About This Position
The Manager of Transmission Planning leads Austin Energy’s Transmission Planning functions and may oversee Distribution Planning as needed. Working with significant autonomy, this role manages major engineering programs that support system reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term grid planning. Responsibilities include supervising engineering staff, developing standards and operating procedures, ensuring adherence to NERC, ERCOT, FERC, and TX PUC requirements, managing project portfolios and budgets, and driving continuous improvement in planning, design, and system performance. This position will give presentations to the senior management on complex topics, however, condensed for comprehension by non-technical staff.
Job Description:
Purpose:
Under minimal direction and considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement, this position is responsible for managing major programs and associated staff to deliver system reliability and customer satisfaction.
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.
- Oversees the development and maintenance of design standards, assessment of new and existing products, project planning, design, field operations support, staff management and implementation of projects.
- Manages and implements projects/programs to support system reliability, expansion of assets. Including the development and review of engineering standards, drawing development, review and sealing, managing work assignments and forecasting resources and jobs, and maintaining compliance with all applicable City and regulatory policies and standards.
- Develops staff by assessing business and personnel needs implementing necessary training plans/programs to assure organization can meet needs. Provides technical leadership advice and direction for assigned division, project, or program personnel. Develops design criteria, develop and monitors performance criteria.
- Develops and implements standard operating procedures, policies and ordinances by applying advance technical, managerial and Quality System knowledge and applying changes to meet departmental business goals and objectives. Monitors projects for regulatory compliance with applicable AE, ERCOT and NERC requirements.
- Monitors projects by applying engineering principles, project forecasting and estimating techniques, and quality and effectiveness metrics.
- Analyzes, prepare and monitors Operating and Capital budget activities.
- Reviews and implements short and long-term program strategies and ensures program is aligned with Department goals and strategies.
- Monitors projects for regulatory compliance and maintains knowledge of the latest developments in the utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) standards and regulatory requirements.
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 management skills of assigned programs, projects and personnel.
- Knowledge of diversified, fundamental scientific and engineering concepts, phenomena, and relationships, and utilize such changes in solution of theoretical or practical engineering.
- Knowledge of utility industry, to meet North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Texas Public Utility Commission (TX PUC) standards and regulatory requirements.
- Knowledge of one or more of the following disciplines: Civil, Environmental, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical and/or Electrical engineering terminology and techniques.
- Knowledge of City of Austin budget planning, purchasing and contract policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of applicability of established engineering principles and methods.
- Knowledge of regulatory requirements within the local and state ordinances and laws.
- Skill in oral and written technical and/or general communication including preparation of written reports.
- Skill in negotiations and handling conflict resolution.
- Skill in analyzing complex data from various sources, synthesizing collected information, and developing sound decisions/recommendations.
- Skill in developing, reviewing, monitoring, and evaluating contracts for services and/or materials.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and programs simultaneously within approved budgets.
- Ability to understand and interpret engineering and technical data related to assigned responsibilities.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with internal and external customers.
- Ability to communicate and provide direction to peers and assigned personnel.
- Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities. -
- Ability to direct, coach and train others.
- Ability to analyze and resolve irregular events.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Engineering, plus eight (8) years related engineering experience acquired either before and/or after licensing as a professional engineer, four (4) years or which were in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
- Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas; or if currently licensed in another state, the ability to obtain a Texas PE license within one (1) year of employment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in Transmission Planning, including load flow, stability, and short circuit studies.
- Demonstrated ability to produce technical reports or presentations that translate complex engineering studies into content understandable by non-technical audiences, with at least two examples provided by the applicant.
- Sufficient technical background and adaptability to learn and provide management support in Distribution Planning as needed.
- Evidence of successful adaptation to new technologies or regulatory changes, such as leading or contributing to at least one major technology transition or compliance update in the past 3 years.
- Documented experience coaching, developing, or mentoring engineering staff, with at least 2 direct reports or mentees showing measurable skill growth or advancement.
- Ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties.



Compensation Range:
The annual hiring range for this position is $138,700.00-$177,500.00


Notes to Candidate:
Note to Internal COA Applicants Only:
Current City of Austin employees MUST apply through the internal Workday Jobs Hub to be considered. If you are viewing this posting via the External COA Career site, please STOP and return to your internal Workday Jobs Hub to apply for this position.
Location:
2500 Montopolis, Austin, TX 78741
Days and Hours:
Monday through Friday. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
40 Hour Work Week (Hybrid Available)
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.
- Must provide professional reference/employment verification information.
- This position requires a criminal background investigation, NERC Personal Risk Assessment and ERCOT Digital Certificate.
- Must provide proof of valid work authorization at time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout employment.
Assessments:
Candidates selected for interview(s) will be required to complete an assessment(s) approved by Municipal Civil Service process, Rule 4.
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.
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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.
