Senior Distribution System Operator

Senior Distribution System Operator

Join our team as a  Senior Distribution System Operator and utilize your knowledge and expertise to monitor and maintain reliable energy for our customers! 

Nature of the work as a Senior Distribution System Operator: 
You will have the opportunity and responsibility for a full range of duties associated with distribution operations, including operating the Distribution System as safely and reliably as possible.  To include, the 34.5kv sub-transmission and 12.5kv distribution systems, maintaining system load and voltage balance, working with field personnel to safely restore customer load and safely isolate equipment for maintenance, analyzing system conditions to determine prompt and appropriate responses and correcting problems, and approving/denying system outage requests based on current or forecasted system conditions.  Additionally, approving and coordinating work among operating and field personnel. 
 
Additional areas of focus:

• Preparing reports, operation logs, and records 
• Directing switching procedures performed by personnel 
• Issuing clearances, permissions, and hotline orders 
• Assist and collaborate with Field Engineering to ensure continued system stability 
• Providing technical guidance and on-the-job training to operators and ensuring all procedures are understood 
• The successful candidate will be required to work a rotating day and night shift schedule, weekends, and holidays. In addition, you will be working under general supervision, but you will make critical and independent decisions in a fast-paced environment under sometimes stressful conditions. 

Who Are You: 
You will likely possess a high level of knowledge and competence in Electric Generation, Electric Transmission, Electric Distribution, and Control Room Operations. Experience in a control room or distribution environment is preferred, and ideally, you will possess three or more years of demonstrated experience. We are also interested in your experience in the following:

• Understanding of distribution system mapping 
• Operating policies and procedures 
• Using computers and software applications 
• Coordinating procedures and resources 
• Distribution system operations 
• SCADA and Energy Management Systems (EMS) 
• Switching and load restoration principles 
• Outage Management Systems 

Our Commitment to Our Employees…  
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities.  They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving.  We do not just say people are important – we prove it!  That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

• Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge
  • Vacation – New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year
  • Personal Leave –3 days per year of personal leave
  • Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
  • Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather
  • Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time
• Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire 
• Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $0 per month.  Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA). (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements
• Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental healt