Electric System Field Operations Manager - Wildfire Mitigation & Vegetation Mgmt Progrms

Job Description:

Electric System Field Operations Manager - Wildfire Mitigation & Vegetation Mgmt Progrms

Description

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the job, plus six (6) years of related experience, including two (2) years of experience which were in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Relevant experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis up to four (4) years for the non-supervisory/managerial experience.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• None.

Notes to Applicants
This position resides within the Electric System Field Operations ( ESFO ) Support Services group. The position will provide strategic leadership to develop and implement comprehensive Wildfire Mitigation and Vegetation Management strategies to improve Austin Energy’s grid resiliency and reliability.
In addition, the position will oversee the continued development and maturation of Austin Energy’s Wildfire Mitigation and Vegetation Management Programs. This will include evaluating and managing a team responsible for the development of modeling and risk assessment, engineering solutions for grid design for overall system hardening, weather forecasting to give situational awareness, community engagement, vegetation mitigation standards, regulatory support, asset management with inventory inspections, and the development of upgraded system capabilities.
Duties will include proactive financial and operational planning, analytics, managing technology demands, operational excellence, strategic partnerships, and ensuring compliance for Austin Energy’s electric grid.

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.

Assessments:

• Candidates selected for interview may be required to complete field assessments to assess skill level in some of the competency areas for this job.

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.

Essential:
This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained on site to assist with operations and recovery.
Pay Range
Commensurate
Hours
Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This position is considered Essential.
Job Close Date 05/19/2025 Type of Posting External Department Austin Energy Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location SCC, 2500 Montopolis Dr. Austin, TX 78741 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:

• Knowledge of electric utility systems, processes, and policies.
• Ability to collaboratively problem solve and effectively communicate with engineers, management, internal and external stakeholders, and other city departments.
• Ability to quickly and adequately respond to internal and external requests and system events.
• Experience with developing, preparing, and managing Operations and Maintenance (O&M) budgets, Capitol Improvement Project ( CIP ) budgets, and technology, personnel, equipment, and material support contracts.
• Experience providing strategic leadership to develop and implement comprehensive programs and strategies to improve utility grid resiliency and create processes for the implementation of future initiatives and the improvement of current initiatives.
• Knowledge of and experience with quality management programs.
• Ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties.

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.

Manages the functions and personnel supporting the construction, maintenance, operation, and restoration of transmission, substation, and/or distribution systems throughout the COA /AE service area. Establishes expectations for effectiveness of support activities, including process, resources, equipment, and systems. Develops and manages responsible budgets and develops/executes mitigation strategies to address variances. Evaluates and monitors departmental and interdepartmental accountability and productivity to meet customer and business operations requirements. Establishes quality control measures to track effectiveness and corrects gaps and/or compliance issues. Ensures standards of conduct, performance, reliability, efficiency, and safety are maintained. Ensures compliance with all safety, quality, regulatory, environmental, and industry standards/policies/rules, etc. Develops and implements business plans promoting completion of COA /AE strategic plans and initiatives. Serves as the business liaison to AE executive team, other AE organizations, COA staff, customers, and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities- Supervision 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 Transmission and Distribution operations, and evolving industry and regulatory developments.
• Knowledge of Transmission and Distribution customer requirements.
• Knowledge of environmental regulation and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of utility financial, regulatory, and managerial budget/accounting practices.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting applicable data.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
• Ability to establish and maintain excellent communication and working relationships with City personnel and the public.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
The 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.

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.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifications for the Electric System Field Operations Manager requires graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the job, plus six (6) years of related experience, including two (2) years of experience which were in a supervisory or managerial capacity. Relevant experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis up to four (4) years for the non-supervisory/managerial experience. Do you meet the minimum qualifications of this job?

• Yes
• No

* Please describe how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.
(Open Ended Question)
* This position is classified as an “essential” position. The candidate must be able to work during emergencies or bad weather if they are scheduled to work and, in some cases, when they are not scheduled. Shifts may change according to departmental needs. Are you able to meet these schedule requirements?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a criminal background check. By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Check.

* Describe your experience with developing, preparing, and managing Operations and Maintenance (O&M) budgets, Capitol Improvement Project (CIP) budgets, and support contracts for technology, personnel, equipment, and material.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience providing strategic leadership to develop and implement comprehensive programs and strategies to improve utility grid resiliency that supports an electric utility's current and future strategic initiatives.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your knowledge of and experience with quality management programs.
(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties?

• Yes
• No

* Please describe your knowledge of Electric Utility systems, processes, and policies.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your ability to collaboratively problem solve and effectively communicate with engineers, management, internal and external stakeholders, and other city departments.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your ability to quickly and adequately respond to internal and external requests and system events.
(Open Ended Question)


Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents