Director - Substations

At Baker Electric we are energized by truly living our values - Team Builders, Relentless Follow Through, All-In, and Care for Others. When our team members work together with these things in mind, we do great things both individually and as an organization. Being an employee-owned company shows our drive for sustainable, long-term growth while enhancing the lives of our team members.


SUMMARY: The Director of Substation is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial performance of substation and high-voltage construction projects. This position leads engineering, construction, and commissioning teams to deliver complex transmission and substation infrastructure safely, on time, and within budget. At Baker Electric, this role plays a critical part in delivering complex electrical construction projects across energy, infrastructure, and commercial markets, requiring a leader who can effectively connect field execution, engineering expertise, and client relationships to drive successful outcomes.


Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Organizational Management
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of project managers, project engineers, superintendents, and field personnel
• Establish a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence
• Mentor emerging leaders and build succession pipelines across substation operations
• Drive collaboration across engineering, procurement, construction (EPC), and executive leadership

Project & Construction Oversight
• Oversee full lifecycle delivery of substation and transmission construction projects (typically 12kV–230kV)
• Ensure projects meet schedule, budget, quality, and contractual requirements
• Manage project controls, including cost forecasting, risk mitigation, and resource planning
• Prefabrication efforts and oversight
• Oversee self-performed and subcontracted work, including union labor coordination (IBEW)

Technical & Operational Excellence
• Provide executive-level oversight of:
◦ Substation design (physical, protection & control)
◦ High-voltage equipment installation (transformers, breakers, switchgear)
◦ Commissioning and energization

• Ensure compliance with:
◦ OSHA, NERC, IEEE, and client-specific standards
• Promote innovation (digital substations, automation, modular construction)

Financial & P&L Accountability
• Own P&L for substation business unit or region
• Drive revenue growth, margin improvement, and cost control
• Approve bids, estimates, and major procurement decisions
• Monitor KPIs such as:
◦ Gross margin
◦ Labor productivity
◦ Change order capture

Client & Business Development
• Build and maintain relationships with:
◦ Utilities (IOUs, munis, co-ops)
◦ Developers (renewables, data centers)
◦ Engineering firms
◦ General contractors and EPC partners
• Support pursuit strategy, proposals, and interviews
• Identify new markets (renewables, grid modernization, battery storage)

Safety & Compliance Leadership
• Champion a zero-incident safety culture
• Ensure adherence to all regulatory, environmental, and company standards
• Lead incident investigations and corrective actions

Qualifications:
Required
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field
• 10–20+ years of experience in:
◦ Substation construction / engineering
◦ Electrical contracting (utility-scale preferred)
• 5–10+ years in senior leadership (Director / Sr. Manager level)
• Deep expertise in:
◦ High-voltage systems (69kV–500kV+)
◦ EPC project delivery models
◦ Union labor environments (IBEW preferred)


At Baker, we are proud to be an employee-owned company. When you join, you will have the opportunity for a great career and the financial benefits of being an owner. Through our ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), eligible employees can become part owners of the company. Instead of just receiving a paycheck, you will be given shares of the company's stock over time. As the company prospers, the value of these shares can increase, providing you with a potential wealth-building opportunity in addition to a competitive compensation package. The ESOP will enable you to share the company's success and growth. For more information regarding employee ownership at Baker Electric and its significant potential, click here:
Employee Stock Ownership Program | Baker Electric (baker-electric.com)


PAY TRANSPARENCY:
The starting salary for this opportunity range