Director of Operations

General Function

This position is responsible for providing the leadership, support, and vision required to run a successful Operations Department. Supervising and working collaboratively with the Electric Superintendent, this role plays a pivotal role in executing Peninsula Light Company’s (PLC) mission, philosophy and commitment to providing safe, reliable electricity to our community and exceptional service to our internal and external member/customers.

This position establishes Operation programs consistent with broad policies and objectives aligned with the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer to include the development of an operating business strategy, metrics tied to that strategy, and the ongoing development and monitoring of systems designed to maximize and preserve company assets.

This position is to provide leadership during storm responses and serves on a rotating, emergency on-call schedule alongside other members of Management. This is an exempt position which reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

Salary range: $169,285-$213,933/annually.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position is responsible for supervising the assigned staff as required. Incumbent will perform employee performance evaluations, make recommendations as to the hiring, firing, advancement and promotion of staff. Performs and completes performance appraisals for Operations field and/or office personnel.

Key Responsibilities/Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Provide effective direction, planning and oversight of operational activities to support Company objectives, reliability, operational effectiveness, and member/customer satisfaction. Identify opportunities to improve processes, service delivery, and overall operational performance.
2. Provide direction and leadership necessary for Operations activities, ensuring resources, personnel, equipment, and capital investments are effectively utilized to support safe, reliable, and efficient operations.
3. Provide effective management and direction for assigned departments. maintaining the highest regard for safety, operational integrity, regulatory compliance, and adherence to Company policies and procedures.
4. Develop and implement operational strategies and performance measures by evaluating trends, establishing critical measurements, monitoring productivity and quality, identifying operational needs, improving systems and processes, and implementing appropriate changes.
5. Develop operational statistics, performance metrics, and analysis reports as necessary to communicate performance, trends, risks and recommendations to the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership. Monitor the operational, financial, long-term and safety impacts of risk to PLC.
6. Develop and coordinate business plans and forecasts; participate in labor/management efforts in the preparation and evaluation of short and long-term business goals.
7. Identify key organizational and operational issues and/or policies that need immediate attention and/or revision by evaluating trends; establishing critical measurements; determining productivity, quality, and effective strategies; designing systems; accumulating resources; resolving problems; implementing change.
8. Communicate in a professional, respectful and courteous manner with all employees, the Board of Directors, member/customers and the community. Foster positive working relationships and encourage the constructive exchange of ideas to achieve or exceed Company goals.
9. Participate in the recruitment, selection, and retention of department personnel ensuring appropriate staffing levels, qualifications, training and performance expectations.
10. Monitor and manage assigned staff, departments, and operational processes to ensure continuous improvement, accountability, efficiency, reliability, and increased contribution to the Company's success.
11. Hold employees accountable for working safely, consistently, productively and in compliance with PLC's policies, procedures, work rules, and applicable requirements in pursuit of departmental and PLC's goals.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

1. Leadership & Business Acumen: Demonstrates strong operational leadership and business acumen, with the ability to understand Company objectives and translate them into effective operational plans, priorities, and measurable results. Demonstrates knowledge of organizational development, leadership, management, and utility operations best practices.
2. Utility Operations & Reliability: Demonstrates significant leadership experience and comprehensive knowledge of electric utility operations, including system reliability, maintenance, construction, engineering, outage response, asset management, safety, labor relations, and related utility functions. Understands the interdependencies among utility operations and the ability to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective service.
3. Safety, Risk & Emergency Management: Demonstrates a strong commitment to employee and public safety and the ability to identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate operational, safety, reliability, regulatory, and financial risks. Ability to effectively lead emergency, storm, and outage response while maintaining sound judgment, clear communication, and timely restoration of service.
4. People & Organizational Leadership: Ability to lead, develop, motivate, and hold employees accountable for performance, safety, productivity, and compliance. Demonstrates knowledge of workforce planning, employee development, performance management, succession planning, and labor/management relations. Promotes respect, teamwork, open communication, inclusion, integrity, and accountability.
5. Operational & Financial Management: Ability to plan, prioritize, organize, schedule, and manage operational resources, budgets, capital investments, assets, projects, and staff to maximize efficiency and support Company objectives. Demonstrates sound fiscal judgment and the ability to balance cost, reliability, safety, and operational needs.
6. Performance Improvement & Decision-Making: Demonstrates strong analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Ability to establish and monitor operational metrics, analyze trends, identify risks and inefficiencies, implement corrective actions, manage change, and drive continuous improvement in productivity, quality, reliability, safety, and member satisfaction.
7. Regulatory & Cross-Functional Knowledge: Demonstrates working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, standards, and utility requirements. Ability to work effectively with Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Customer Service, Legal, Power Resources, labor representatives, contractors, and other stakeholders to achieve Company objectives.
8. Communication, Technology & Strategic Execution: Demonstrates excellent written, oral, and presentation skills and the ability to communicate professionally with employees, management, members/customers, the Board, and the community. Proficient with Microsoft Office and relevant utility, operational, financial, and information systems. Ability to embrace technology, adapt to changing environments, and translate Company strategy into effective operational execution while balancing competing priorities.

Working Conditions / Physical Demands

Work is normally performed in an office environment. This position requires considerable oral, written and verbal communication skills and deals with visually presented material. Required to demonstrate proficiency with personal computers, office and business software and operating general office equipment. This position may be required to work in field settings and/or outdoors under varying conditions. During system emergencies or other critical operational events, this position will be expected to work extended or non-routine hours. Position may be exposed to hazardous materials, substances, equipment, or circumstances associated with utility operations.

Recruiting Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in related discipline such as business administration, engineering, operations management, public administration, utility administration or equivalent combination of directly related work experience and education that demonstrates the ability to perform the work.
2. Master’s degree in business administration, engineering or equivalent education and related experience is preferred.
3. Active Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensure is preferred.
4. Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible management experience in electric utility operations or closely related field, including significant supervisory or management responsibility with demonstrated leadership of operational functions, personnel, and resources. Experience at a strategic or executive management level within the electric utility industry is strongly preferred, along with a comprehensive understanding of utility operations, business processes, and system reliability.
5. Demonstrated experience leading operational teams, managing multiple priorities, developing employees, and holding staff accountable for safety.
6. Seven (7) or more years of demonstrated knowledge of electric utility operations, regulatory requirements, operational risk, emergency response, and system reliability.
7. Strong written, oral, analytical, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and relevant utility, operational, financial, and business information systems.
8. Valid driver's license and ability to meet Company driving requirements.