Electric Utility Director

Electric Utility Director

Performs difficult professional, technical, and administrative work planning, organizing, and directing a large public utility operation ensuring the safe, compliant, efficient, and effective delivery of reliable electric service to customers.

An employee in this class serves as the department head responsible for overseeing municipal utility operations associated with electric utility services including overall management, planning, and direction of the City's electric distribution system. Reporting to the Assistant City Manager, employee ensures the safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of electric utility services in alignment with the City's strategic goals, operational priorities, and regulatory requirements. Employee will lead electric utility operations, including system maintenance, load curtailment, infrastructure development, capital project oversight, and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, codes and industry standards. Emphasis of the work is on providing leadership to electric utility staff, promoting a culture of safety, innovation, accountability, and customer service, while ensuring the City's utility operations support long-term sustainability, resilience, and public trust. Duties also include short-range and long-range planning for infrastructure and supply needs and system integrity. Work is performed under general supervision and is evaluated on the basis of attainment of individual and divisional goals, accomplishing work objectives within budget limits, promoting a positive work culture, ensuring proactive and responsive customer service, and compliance with safety regulations.

Provides leadership, guidance, strategic and technical direction to department in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the electric gas distribution system, including substations, electric SCADA, smart meters, and dark fiber network.

Reviews, monitors, and projects electric system revenues; evaluates and proposes rate structures; coordinates with billing staff to adjust rates as necessary; classifies customers.

Selects, promotes, motivates, trains, counsels, and recommends pay adjustments, rewards, and disciplinary actions for department staff, in coordination with Human Resources; directs and consults with subordinate supervisors on matters of training, work assignments, employee performance management and relations; develops teamwork and staff leadership skills; reviews and approves department time sheets.

Conducts staff meetings to ensure department staff is consistently informed, goal-oriented, customer-focused, and to solve matters that broadly affect the department and staff.

Prepares and oversees departmental operating and capital budgets; submits recommendations to the Assistant City Manager for capital improvements for electric infrastructure and dark fiber network; prepares specifications for equipment purchases; monitors and approves expenditures.

Plans, develops, and provides for the design of electrical engineering projects, estimates project costs, oversees projections in the implementation and construction phases and monitors field activities of the electric utility crews, ensuring plans and priorities are met.

Oversees engineering, designing, and developing projects to meet the energy needs of customers, while developing and implementing long-range growth strategies.

Makes recommendations for, organizes, and monitors contracted work; reviews and manages consulting engineering services for the City; coordinates with design professionals and contractors in developing and overseeing plans and specifications for new construction, repairs, and modifications of public utilities facilities related to electric infrastructure; reviews all plans and specifications.

Participates in Technical Review Committee to review and approve subdivision and land development plans for compliance with regulations and sound utility practices related to the design of electric distribution services; attends various board, commission, group and association meetings to respond to questions and provide technical information and advice.

Manages the construction, maintenance, and repair efforts of the electric system for optimal functionality; supports sustainable initiatives that align with the City's short and long-term goals; participates with management and elected officials for long-range planning for infrastructure development, expansion, replacement, and environmental compliance.

Provides technical analysis for complex problems within the electric system; identifies cause of outages and directs repair and restoration of power efforts, prioritizes large outage restoration procedures as safely and quickly as possible; keeps City management, elected officials, and customers informed of the status of restoration efforts.

Provides proactive and responsive customer service, thoroughly addressing customer's requests and questions; provides explanation of how rates work, providing projected bills based on current electric usage, and ensuring complaints are handled as quickly and professionally as possible.

Performs other duties, as required

Knowledge of the principles and practices of public utilities layout and design, construction, repair and maintenance of high and low voltage electrical distribution systems, substations, and electrical theory. Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and safety orders pertaining to municipal owned electrical systems. Knowledge of principles and practices related to development and administration of annual operating and capital budgets, contract negotiations, and public relations. Knowledge of the functions, use, and care of tools and materials used in electrical line work, house circuits, and substation equipment as well as safety precautions necessary when working on high voltage electrical lines. Skill in collaborative conflict resolution. Skill and ability to effectively and efficiently manage a department including all related administrative and supervisory functions involving personnel and budget administration. Ability to read and interpret electrical distribution construction plans and specifications. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, department heads, governmental officials, City employees, and contractors. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to prepare and maintain accurate records and reports.

Must be able to perform the basic life operational skills of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motions. Must be able to perform light work exertion of 20 pounds of force occasionally, and / or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and / or negligible force constantly to move objects. Must have the visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned as well as to recognize dangerous situations at field work sites when making project inspections and assessment of work progress. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken work levels. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word.

Work is generally performed in both inside and outside environmental conditions in which the employee is subject to workplace hazards including exposure to operating mechanical equipment creating fumes, odors, and dusts and atmospheric conditions with extreme cold and heat for extended periods of time. Employee is subject to a level of noise requiring workers to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level. In addition, the employee is subject to a chance of injury from walking or standing in a construction site. Work involves emergency call-back service.

Graduation from an accredited community college or university with an Associate Degree in Electric Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Business Management, or a related field is desired; graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Electric Engineering or a related field is preferred; 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in the management and supervision of public utilities is required; an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience in public sector utility construction, installation, and maintenance providing the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to adequately perform the essential duties may be considered.

Valid North Carolina driver's license

Completion of or the ability to complete the FEMA National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) course work applicable to the position

FLSA Status : Exempt (primary duty is management of a customarily recognized department or subdivision of the City; customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more full time equivalent employees; and has the authority to hire or fire employees or whose suggestions and recommendations as to hiring, firing, advancement, promotion, or other change of status of other employees are given particular weight).

This classification specification has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform the job. The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions section of this classification may vary from position to position. The employer reserves the right to assign or otherwise modify the duties assigned to this classification.

$85,531-$128,297

Open until filled, apply by November 5, 2025 for first consideration.