Superintendent, Joint Hydro Operations

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Applicants are required to submit a combined cover letter and resume in one PDF document. Your cover letter must summarize your education and experience as it relates to the Superintendent role.  Incomplete materials will not be considered.

To expedite the application process, combine your cover letter and resume into one PDF document before applying and upload electronically when requested in the online application process.

This position is OPEN UNTIL FILLED and applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The first review date for application materials is scheduled for April 22.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Chelan PUD does not sponsor work visas such as H-1B, E-3, F-1, OPT, student visas, TN, or any other visas. Candidates and employees must be eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Interested parties are also invited to contact Human Resources at joblist@chelanpud.org to discuss the position.

SALARY RANGE

The advertised hiring range will be $133,200 - $166,500, with a maximum opportunity of up to $199,800 with tenure and strong performance.

Introductory Period: New employees holding regular positions must complete an introductory period of twelve months.

JOB POSTING

Superintendent - Joint Hydro Operations (RI or RR/LC)

Overview

The Superintendent – Joint Operations (Rock Island or Rocky Reach) provides District-wide leadership and accountability for fishway operations and Emergency Action Planning (EAP) for hydroelectric facilities. The position also supervises the hydro operator training function and hydro operations administrative staff, ensuring consistent, compliant, and effective support across multiple hydro projects.

The Superintendent supports hydro plant operations at Rock Island, Rocky Reach, Lake Chelan, and Stehekin by providing supervisory coverage, coordination, and operational leadership during absence periods, special projects, and peak workloads, in collaboration with other operations and maintenance superintendents. The role involves collaborating with operations and other District departments to achieve reliability goals and plan for maintaining low-cost, reliable, and safe power and fish passage. The Superintendent also will serve as a duty supervisor and responds to after-hours emergencies as required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee fishway operations across assigned hydro projects to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant fish passage. Supervise fishway staff, including work planning, scheduling, performance management, and employee development, and administer the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement. Coordinate fishway operational and maintenance activities with internal departments and external stakeholders, and ensure fishway equipment performance and compliance with license, federal, and state requirements.
• Provide direct supervision and leadership for Hydro Operator Trainer(s) and Hydro Support Specialists responsible for training delivery and administrative support of hydro operations. Oversee the implementation and administration of training programs for plant and system operations personnel, including cross-training and competency development. Support the development and maintenance of operational procedures and documentation. Partner with Human Resources, Safety, and Operations leadership to ensure training and administrative services align with operational needs.
• Oversee and administer Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for assigned hydro facilities as the designated EAP Coordinator. Ensure EAPs remain current and compliant with regulatory and licensing requirements, including coordination of required training, drills, and exercises. Coordinate EAP activities with internal departments and external agencies, maintain accessible EAP documentation, and support continuous improvement of emergency preparedness.
• Provide supervisory and operational support to hydro operations and maintenance functions in coordination with other superintendents. Serve as duty supervisor as needed and support outages, inspections, and special operational projects. Maintain a supervisory presence during peak workload or emergency conditions, coordinate cross-functional resources, and collaborate with internal departments and external agencies while deferring primary operational decisions to hydro operations leadership.
• Prepare budget recommendations and monitor plant and fishway operations in alignment with approved budgets. Identify scope, schedule, or budget issues and provide leadership to address them. Assess staffing needs to support operational requirements. Contribute to asset management, replacement, and improvement planning to meet District, agency, and license requirements.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance: Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. Comply with District policies. Complete all required training. Maintain a working knowledge and comply with District safety procedures and specific safety requirements of this position, and those in accordance with applicable provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
• As an essential function, drive a motorized vehicle while conducting business on behalf of the District.

People Management

• This position manages/supervises people. Direct Resources Managed: 10-19. Indirect Resources Managed: None.

Reports To

Director, Generation & Transmission Operations

Overtime exemption

Exempt

Qualifications

Education

• Journeyman Certification or bachelor's degree (B.S., B.A.) in Engineering, Business Administration or related field is required.  
• Equivalent experience (year for year) may substitute for required education. 

Experience

• 5+ years of skilled trade, professional, and/or supervisory experience in power plant operations, maintenance, or engineering is required. 
• Supervisory experience and power plant operations experience are strongly preferred. 
• Candidates who demonstrate initiative in leadership roles, such as planner, project leader, temporary superintendent, foreman, shop steward, or safety representative, are desired. 

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid Driver's License at hire and WA Driver's License within 30 days of hire required. 

Skills and Abilities

A fully skilled incumbent will have the following knowledge skills & abilities: 

• General knowledge of hydro plant and fishway operations including, but not limited to, hydro generation/transmission systems, turbine generating units, auxiliary equipment, and associated maintenance. 
• General knowledge of the electrical utility industry  
• General knowledge of District business operations 
• Working knowledge of the Collective Bargaining Agreement 
• Planning & scheduling principles 
• Knowledge of other District departments and operational groups 
• Knowledge of all applicable District, State, and Federal policies, standards and regulations pertaining to plant operations, environmental standards, and safety compliance. 
• Understanding of budget preparation, monitoring, and cost control related to hydro operations and staffing. 
• Proficiency with computers 
• Strong oral and written communication skills 
• Strong ability to lead teams, supervise plant operators and fishway staff, provide coaching, and manage personnel issues.  
• Effective problem-solving skills  
• Decision making skills 
• Analytical skills 
• Ability to communicate clearly, respectfully, and effectively with all levels of management and staff 
• Ability to elicit cooperation and support from others and coordinate the work and efforts of others (team building). 
• Ability to use analytical skills to evaluate complex issues quickly and effectively. 
• Able to grant autonomy and trust 
• Able to be a strong advocate for their direct reports 
• Able to hold employees accountable as needed 
• Able to recognize accomplishments and thank employees 
• Able to be consistent, objective, and equitable 
• Able to be open and approachable 
• Able to be responsive and follow-up 
• Able to make expectations clear 
• Able to be flexible and resilient  
• Able to solve problems, take action, take ownership 
• Able to demonstrate empathy and care 
• To perform this job successfully, an individual is required to have intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel; Microsoft Word; Primavera; and Maximo Order Processing. Basic knowledge is required in PeopleSoft Time Entry/HRIS; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft PowerPoint; Microsoft Project; Maximo Asset Management; General Office Equipment including printers, computers, fax machines and phones; Hydra Amp Asset Management & Maintenance systems; and Microsoft Edge. 
• Must be proficient in reading, writing and speaking English. 

Physical Demands

• Sitting Regularly 67-100% 
• Standing Frequent 34-66% 
• Walking Occasional 11-33% 
• Lifting 1-10 lbs Floor-Waist Occasional 11-33% 
• Lifting 1-10 lbs Waist-Shoulders Occasional 11-33% 
• Lifting 1-10 lbs Above Shoulders Occasional 11-33% 
• Climb Stairs Occasional 11-33% 
• Twisting at Waist Occasional 11-33% 
• Stooping/Bending Occasional 11-33% 
• Reach Floor to Waist Occasional 11-33% 
• Reach Waist to Shoulder Occasional 11-33% 
• Reach Above Shoulder Occasional 11-33% 
• Wrist/hand/fingers manipulation (keyboarding, mousing, etc.) Frequent 34-66% 
• Hand Controls (joy stick, controls on equipment, etc.) Frequent 34-66% 
• Repetitive Motions Frequent 34-66% 
• Talking Regularly 67-100% 
• Hearing Regularly 67-100% 
• Visual - Near Acuity Regularly 67-100% 
• Visual - Far Acuity Regularly 67-100% 
• Visual - Depth Perception Regularly 67-100% 
• Visual - Color Discrimination Regularly 67-100% 

Working Conditions

• Exposure to Weather - Occasionally
• Proximity to Moving Mechanical Parts - Occasionally
• Atmospheric Conditions (dust, fumes, etc.) - Occasionally
• Exposure to Electricity - Occasionally
• Exposure to Toxic/Caustic Chemicals- Occasionally
• Noise Intensity Level: - Moderate

District Values

• Trust - We act with integrity, empathy, competence, and transparency, earning the confidence and respect of each other and the public we serve.
• Safety - We protect what matters most through the choices we make.
• Stewardship - We responsibly manage and thoughtfully oversee all resources entrusted to us for the benefit of future generations.
• Collaboration - We transform our deep expertise from individual advantage into shared power - partnering across teams to maximize our impact and secure our future.
• Courage - We boldly step into the unknown to do what matters, seeking opportunities to grow and lead.
• The job functions and physical requirements described above 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. 

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

A valid driver's license is required for this position (verified upon hire). A valid Washington State driver's license is required within 30 days of employment.

BACKGROUND SCREENING

Pursuant to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards, Chelan County Public Utility District #1 conducts background screening of personnel who have access to the District's critical physical and/or cyber assets.

DISCLAIMER

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. This should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.

As part of its recruiting process, Chelan PUD may engage a third-party vendor to perform previous employment verification, education verification, and reference checking. 

EEO

Chelan PUD is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.

EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers page in English and Spanish. 

Chelan PUD will not be offering any work visa sponsorship for this role.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-I.35(c)