Supervisor Engineering - Distribution Capacity Planning

Job Description

Supervises the Distribution Capacity Planning team, which plays an integral part of PSE’s planning team to improve the distribution system for added growth and provide improved system reliability.  The department focuses on long-term strategy by developing long-range implementations plans for distribution system improvements, most often by building or expanding distribution substations or expanding distribution feeder footprint.

The supervisor will be responsible for the supervision and leadership of technical staff, inspiring change, providing strategic thought, building collaborative working relationships with peer stakeholder teams, guidelines, performance metrics & reporting, setting priorities, and developing robust analysis and strategies to drive business objectives.

Assignments involve a substantial degree of complexity, with many interrelated elements, requiring considerations not previously encountered. Facilitates solutions to complex issues involving diverse opinions, and ensures that solutions are aligned with customer expectations, and PSE’s business initiatives and environment. Assists in development of resource plans, department budgets, and department goals and objectives. May review design and documentation to ensure compliance with design criteria and standards.

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. This position may be subject to random DOT drug and/or alcohol testing. 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 - Providing employees with coaching, feedback, and developmental opportunities and building 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.
  • Provides coaching, direction and leadership support to team members in order to achieve employee, business, customer and safety results.
• Leads team and provides technical guidance on load evaluation of system and reviews recommendations presented through needs assessments, solutions studies, and non-wire analyses
• Oversees the development of Targeted Capacity and Voltage Reduction projects to improved distibution system performance.
• Provides review and support of Distribution interconnect load requests [new requests, Feasibilities, Large Customer Load evaluations, including strategic support and advancement of System Impact Studies (SIS) and Facilities Studies (FS)] and distribution interconnect interconnect generation requests (schedule 152 Studies).

• Facilitates solutions to unique problems by leveraging employees’ technical skills, and providing guidance with regards to PSE’s business initiatives.
  • Ensures team is strategically focused in daily duties and projects.
  • Motivates team to achieve corporate and departmental expectations.
  • Develops and administers team goals and manages/measures performance of technical team.

• Reviews the work of internal and external (consulting or contract) engineering staff.

• Communicates solutions to personnel possessing a wide variety of educational and employment backgrounds.
• Plans and develops project budgets with appropriate documentation.
• Ensures compliance with codes, standards, and design, operation, and maintenance requirements.
• Identifies potential areas of weakness with assigned work, and initiates corrective action.
• Supports emergency response work as requested including immediate and extended restoration efforts driven by weather and other system failures.
• Represents department at team meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Civil Engineering or other appropriate engineering field (a WA State Professional Engineering license may be considered in lieu of a degree).
• Extensive experience in engineering analysis, planning, design, specification preparation, maintenance, project cost estimating and scheduling (typically achieved after 10 years’ practice as a degreed engineer).
• Experience leading engineering projects.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively and collaborating with a wide range of internal and external customers.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working within the utility industry, especially on the distribution system.
• Possession of a Professional Engineering License.
• Understanding of the relationships between distribution, substation, and transmission systems.
• Leadership training.
• Experience with load-flow modeling program (e.g. Synergi or CYME)
• Previous supervisory experience.

Additional Information