Director Electric Operations

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 is a 24/7 operation, including emergency outage response and system restoration management. This role directs and oversees the construction, maintenance, and operation of electric substations, transmission and distribution infrastructure, and electric metering systems. The leader drives the effective resolution of complex operational issues and collaborates with planning, engineering, and other support organizations to improve system performance and reliability.

This role is also responsible for leading the operation and response to both planned and unplanned field activities impacting PSE's electric transmission and distribution systems. The position works closely with cross functional partners to support the safe, reliable, compliant, and cost effective operation of the electric system.

Key responsibilities also include execution and field response in support of PSE's Wildfire Mitigation Program, ensuring the Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) is implemented effectively and in alignment with community needs, regulatory requirements, and operational priorities.

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.

• 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 Substation Operations department responsible for construction, operation and maintenance of PSE's substation assets.
• Provides oversight and direction to the Meter Operations department responsible for installation, operation, testing and maintenance of PSE's meter assets.
• Provides oversight and direction to Electric First Response and line crews to respond to outages and non-outage incidents and to make temporary or permanent repairs to restore service when possible. Investigates and identifies customer electrical service problems and provides safety damage prevention messaging where appropriate.
• Executes PSE's Wildfire Mitigation Plan, prioritizing work to mitigate risk and effectively complete work plan. Works with teams to train and execute Critical Weather Operating Procedures, provide field insights into risk planning and engineering, work with fire mitigation partners, and any other duties as required to effectively mitigate risk for our communities.
• 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, Field Procedures, 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.
• Responsible for PSE's preparation, collaboration and overall electrical system field response in emergency response efforts including support and collaboration with generation and gas operation teams.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• 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.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and related experience.
• Electric utility or regulated business acumen.
• Working knowledge of union bargaining agreements, utility construction standards and experience with vendor contracts.
• Knowledge and experience in power system operations.
• 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