Director, Transmission Planning & Operations

Minimum Pay Rate: $208,603.20 

Maximum Pay Rate: $290,492.80 

Posting Type: Open 

This position is a non-Civil Service (at-will) position. 

This posting will remain open until a sufficient quantity of qualified applicants have been received but may close at any time without notice after 2/5/2024. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure they are considered.

SMUD is pleased to announce the pursuit of our next Director, Transmission Planning and Operations.  We are seeking a strong leader who has a proven track record of building partnerships and collaborating internally within the organization and with external stakeholders and policy makers to make quality decisions. This position is responsible for exercising leadership and direction and sits on the Senior Leadership Team within the Energy Delivery & Operations business unit.  As a senior leader, the successful candidate is responsible for ensuring SMUD values, strategic initiatives and desired culture are integrated into the Transmission Planning and Operations work, group functions, operations, and services. SMUD is excited to have a Zero Carbon goal by 2030. Your success in this position translates to the success of our goal by promoting a culture of innovation, partnership, and agility.

Purpose

Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, has management responsibility for Energy Management Systems, Real-Time Engineering, EIM Operations, Power System Operations, Power System Operations Training, Transmission Planning, System Protection & Control, and Scheduling & Interchange. Accountable for developing short-term and long-term system plans for SMUD’s transmission grid to meet load serving capability and reliability requirements. Provides management guidance and technical expertise and oversight for staff, resources, and projects related to real-time system operations and engineering to ensure the safe, reliable, secure, and compliant operation, control, and monitoring of SMUD’s generation, transmission and gas pipeline systems. Manages the contracted operations for the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC) in accordance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Reliability Standards, as well as BANC’s operation as a California ISO Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) entity.

Nature and Scope

This position provides leadership for the development and management of the Transmission Planning & Operations Department. The incumbent must be a strong leader and visionary providing direction in strategic initiatives, operations, services and enterprise-wide projects.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages, organizes, oversees, and coordinates a united approach to the operations and functions of Energy Management Systems, Real-Time Engineering, EIM Operations, Power System Operations, Power System Operations Training, Transmission Planning, System Protection & Control, and Scheduling & Interchange.
• Promotes the safety of SMUD employees, contractor staff, and customers through adherence to established SMUD policies and goals, development of specific goals for the work segment, and monitoring and responding to safety concerns.
• Manages, oversees, supports, and coordinates reporting managers in transmission planning & operations with other SMUD departments, external entities internal to the SMUD transmission system and BANC Balancing Authority, as well as with interfacing transmission operators and balancing authorities, to meet load requirements and energy delivery schedules on a continuous 24 hours per day, 7 days per week basis.
• Employs prudent utility practices and provides leadership to interpret, implement and comply with all mandated NERC and WECC Reliability Standards, regulatory requirements, and policies.
• Coordinates active participation by the appropriate units in the NERC and WECC Reliability Standards Development Process.
• Advocates SMUD interests and strategic goals during interactions with external entities and regulatory agencies to align with SMUD and BANC Balancing Authority operation and interconnection requirements; promotes electric grid reliability; influences related industry benchmarks and competitiveness.
• Participates in and provides input to the transmission planning and design review process to prevent implementation of unsafe, inoperable, or inefficient system designs.
• Evaluates proposals, plans and conclusions of other divisions, departments, agencies, and Balancing Authority entities to protect the safe, reliable, secure and compliant operation of the present and future bulk power system.
• Effectively develops and manages applicable unit budgets, costs, contracts, and projects related to department, SMUD, and BANC strategic goals and re