Engineering Manager

The Energy Cooperative, headquartered in Newark, Ohio, serves over 67,500 electric, natural gas and propane members throughout east-central Ohio. As a non-profit cooperative, we are member-owned and controlled by the members we serve. We are committed to serving our members safe, high quality energy services at a reasonable price. We believe in our employees and strive to provide fair, honest and equal treatment with a commitment to training, education, and opportunity for advancement in a safe and secure environment.

At The Energy Cooperative, we take pride in offering competitive benefits and want our employees to have what they need to be their best.

Here’s a glimpse of the programs we offer our employees:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance Programs for Employee, Spouse and Children
• Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Traditional 401(k) and Roth 401(k)
• Retirement Pension Plan
• Education Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program

We are currently looking to fill the position of Engineering Manager based at our Utica, OH Service Center. This position is responsible for the short- and long-range planning and design of the electrical system through sound and accepted engineering standards to ensure the best possible quality and reliability of service for the cooperative’s members. Develop and implement engineering policies, procedures, and best practices that align with business objectives. Direct and coordinate all engineering aspects of the division through subordinate staff. Direct the new utility service request process through subordinate staff.

Nature and Scope of Position (Essential Duties and Responsibilities):

• Support and incorporate the Cooperative’s Mission, Vision and Values in personal and professional behavior and decisions.
• Perform activities that support and promote the execution of the Cooperative’s policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
• Understand, observe, and enforce the cooperative’s safety and security procedures and report potentially unsafe conditions to appropriate supervisor and/or safety department personnel.
• Direct subordinate staff responsible for new utility service requests and ensures the process is managed from start to completion.
• Direct subordinate staff responsible for all aspects of electric distribution planning and design of existing and new distribution facilities.
• Design various capital system improvements such as substations, transmission lines, SCADA, and power distribution facilities.
• Assist the VP/COO in the development of annual capital and operating budgets. Works with division VP/COO to recommend adjustments in operations to achieve financial results set forth and approved by chief executive officer and board of directors.
• Develop system planning documents such as long-range plans, construction work plans, load forecast studies and assist in rate studies for the electrical system. Perform planning, sectionalizing and coordination studies to determine improvements needed for proper operation of the electric system.
• Design and develop the settings and standards for equipment and material used in the construction, operation and maintenance of the electric system and ensure compliance with accepted engineering standards and practices.
• Provide accounting with estimate of monthly power cost. Work with accounting department to analyze monthly power consumption.
• Maintain positive business relationships with industry and trade associations relating to the government, public service organizations, member/consumers, and vendors consistent with the goals established for the Cooperative and wellbeing of the members/consumers and community.
• Keeps abreast of current developments and safety and environmental concerns as they relate to the electric utility industry and ensure compliance with accepted standards and practices.
• Meet with members on technical issues associated with their electric service. Investigate and resolve commercial and industrial member power quality complaints.
• Oversee applications for net metering and interconnection of distributed generation to ensure these systems meet all technical and reporting requirements set forth in the operating policy.
• Participates in the division on-call rotation schedule responsible for coordinating field crews with outage restoration and emergency situations.
• Attend meetings of the Board of Directors as requested by the VP/COO.
• Perform other related duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities necessary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Experience and Education: Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. Seven to ten years of professional electrical engineering experience with an electric utility. Possess excellent proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access applications.  Proficient in the use of Milsoft Windmill and Milsoft Light Table. Knowledge in planning and design of an electrical system along with working knowledge of the National Electric Safety Code and the National Electric Code, as they pertain to the design construction and operation of the electric distribution system. Knowledge of OSHA standards and specifications as they relate to an electric utility.
• Certificates, Licenses and Training: Registered Professional Engineer preferred, but not required. An individual in this position may be required to drive a company-owned vehicle at times and therefore is required to maintain a valid Driver’s License and good driving record. Utilizes various resources to stay educated about new engineering standards in the electric utility industry.
• Language and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to effectively develop and present written and oral reports to all levels of the Cooperative including Board of Directors. Is a good listener and actively engages in conversations in order to clearly understand others’ message and intent. Is easy to approach and talk to and spends the extra effort to put others at ease.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Effectively solves problems and has a realistic vision of the end result. Must have the ability to attend meetings and/or training seminars when requested. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment and professionalism. Requires minimal supervision. Remains calm under pressure and does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough. Knows personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and limits and is open to criticism and is not defensive.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

• Work is performed primarily in a climate-controlled environment with minimal noise levels. Requires travel to and from various job sites and other office locations.

• The physical demands of this position include frequent sitting, standing, walking, keyboarding, talking, hearing, visual ability, and mental and emotional demands. Must maintain sufficient strength to lift and carry up to 50 pounds on occasion.   
• Must be available to work long hours during outage situations and work during non-working hours which may include weekends and holidays.
• This position is subject to pre-employment physical and substance abuse testing and may be subject to random testing in accordance with the Cooperative’s substance abuse policy.