Director Electric System Control

Job Description

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is Washington State’s largest and most established energy company, serving more than 1.2 million electric customers and over 800,000 natural gas customers.

The Electric Operations organization operates 24/7 and includes emergency outage response and system restoration management. The Director provides leadership and oversight for system scheduling, field dispatch, and operational control of PSE’s electric distribution network, as well as balancing authority responsibilities and operation of the bulk electric system.

The Director Electric System Control is responsible for the real-time operation of PSE’s transmission and distribution systems, balancing authority functions, and execution of the company’s Wildfire Mitigation Program. This role partners closely with internal stakeholders to ensure the safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective operation of the electric system.

Key responsibilities include oversight of wildfire mitigation initiatives, coordination of supporting field activities, and effective implementation of PSE’s formal Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP). This includes ensuring regulatory compliance, operational prioritization, and execution consistent with established standards.

The Director leads the resolution of complex operational challenges and ensures all work complies with federal and state regulations, PSE Operating Standards, and Collective Bargaining Agreements. The role also emphasizes developing and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships across departments to support enterprise-wide operational excellence.

Upholds the safety compliance standards inherent in PSE’s operating and/or field procedures related to work responsibilities. Promotes and supports a culture of total safety. Demonstrates commitment to conduct business honestly, ethically, and consistent with our core values and Code of Conduct.  Ensures duties are performed in accordance with all regulatory compliance obligations. 

This job is considered “safety sensitive” as defined in RCW 49.44.240 and is subject to pre-employment drug screening that includes screening for the presence of marijuana and marijuana metabolites.

Job Responsibilities

• Employee Safety, Development & Team Building - Provides employees with coaching, feedback, and developmental opportunities and builds effective teams:
  • Demonstrates a passion for safety. Promotes and supports a culture of total safety including eliminating at-risk behaviors by conducting safety audits and inspections, eliminating hazards and near misses, and attending safety meetings.
  • Sets clear expectations and holds employees accountable for performance as well as safety goals/targets where applicable.
  • Oversees training and development of employees directly and indirectly managed and makes effective staffing decisions. Ensures required training is successfully completed.
  • Challenges and inspires employees to achieve business results.
  • Accountable to ensure employees adhere to legal and operational compliance requirements, as well as safety standards.
  • Conducts and ensures the completion of performance reviews and development plans.
  • Provides coaching, direction, and leadership support to team members in order to achieve employee, business, customer, and safety results.
• Provides oversight and direction to the distribution System Operations department which controls distribution field switching, issues clearances on lines and equipment, and manages outage response on a 24/7 basis.
• Leadership and oversight of PSE’s balancing authority operations and supporting functions related to the real-time operation of PSE’s bulk electric transmission system.
• Oversees the development and management of department budgets to meet company and departmental goals including applicable wildfire mitigation goals and Service Quality Indices (SQI’s).
• Ensures work performed is compliant with federal and State codes, PSE Operating Standards and PSE Collective Bargaining Agreements.  Develops and implements emergency response plans, policies, methods and procedures for the safety of personnel and efficiency of Electric Operations.
• Develops and maintains strong, collaborative relationships with constituent departments including Customer Services, Major Accounts, Contract Management, Human Resources, Rates and Regulatory, PSE Service Providers, Risk and Claims, Corporate Communications, Community Services and other Operations departments.
• Directs the effective resolution of complex operational problems in a utility environment; maintains flexible, creative and innovative approaches to issues that ensure safety, efficiency, reliability and productivity, and supports PSE rate and regulatory activities.  Works with internal and external customers to resolve issues resulting in a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Provide leadership oversight, guidance and direction to staff during system emergencies and other abnormal system conditions and communicate with PSE executive leadership regarding system emergencies.
• Lead PSE’s preparation, collaboration and overall electrical system response in emergency response efforts including support and collaboration with generation and gas operation teams.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Possesses at least fifteen (15) years progressive utility and/or business experience in operations, engineering, planning, or customer service.
• Demonstrated leadership ability in operations, financial management, organizational and system planning, and construction as well as operational understanding of major utility functions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with a wide variety of individuals and groups internal and external including staff, public, constituents, media and governmental agencies.
• Ability to work independently on diverse and demanding projects; plan and implement new programs.
• Ability and track record of keeping informed of advances in utility and business technology.
• Ability to build trust and value-based relationships with executives, managers, colleagues, employees and union leadership.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Electric utility or regulated business acumen.
• Working knowledge of applicable union bargaining agreements, company standards and major service provider contracts.
• Knowledge and experience in power system operations.
  Experience managing operational functions in a restoration and/or emergency event.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of electric transmission, distribution, scheduling, and system construction and maintenance practices.
• Thorough knowledge of public safety concerns and occupational hazards associated with electric transmission and distribution system construction, maintenance and operations.
• Proficient in various spreadsheet, word processing and database applications.
• Knowledge of ARCOS, SAP, EMS and ADMS.

Additional Information