Electrical Systems Operations Manager

Job Description Summary

This position is directly responsible for operating, maintaining, and planning the medium voltage (12.47kV and 4.16kV) electrical distribution systems on the Oxford campus. The Electrical Systems Operations Manager monitors budgets and operations to provide the university community with safe, reliable, and cost-effective utility services. This individual serves as the university's primary technical authority for the medium voltage electrical grid, ensuring resilient and efficient power delivery that supports the academic and research mission of the institution.

Job Description

Essential Duties:

System Operations & Maintenance: Is responsible for the safe and reliable operation and maintenance of the medium voltage (12.47kV and 4.16kV) electrical distribution system. Develops and documents comprehensive preventive and corrective maintenance activities for the distribution system and the 69kV substation. Purchases and maintains adequate inventory to ensure continuous operation.

Supervision & Leadership: Provides direct supervision and technical leadership to university high voltage service technician and contractors. Oversees unit operations, sets priorities, reviews completed jobs, and manages the unit budget.

Emergency Response & System Integrity: Provides expert technical support for emergencies, including loss of power, on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis. Creates, reviews, and executes complex switching orders for maintenance activities, outage mitigation, and service restoration. Develops written SOPs for switching of energy sources.

Project Management & Design Review: Reviews the design of projects related to the electrical system for new construction and renovation projects. Creates and maintains written standards for the procurement and installation of electrical equipment per applicable codes and the preferences of Miami University.

Strategic Planning & Financial Management: Contributes to departmental operational and financial efficiency by creating and executing electrical energy procurement and generator dispatch strategies.

Safety & Compliance: Monitors the use of personal protective equipment and procedures to ensure all maintenance and testing operations are conducted in a safe manner. Coordinates and documents safety training for key university employees to maintain high operational standards.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field plus a minimum of five (5) years of full-time experience managing, installing, maintaining, and/or operating a complex medium voltage system; (OR)
• Related associate’s degree plus a minimum of eight (8) years of full-time experience managing, installing, maintaining, and/or operating a complex medium voltage system; (OR)
• A minimum of ten (10) years of full-time, verifiable experience managing, installing, maintaining, and/or operating a complex medium voltage system.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering plus a minimum of five (5) years of full-time experience managing, installing, maintaining, and/or operating a complex medium voltage system.
• Direct experience managing a complex medium voltage system in a university, hospital, or similar large-campus environment.
• Experience managing a unionized technical staff.
• Professional certification such as Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Energy Management Professional (EMP), or Certified Energy Procurement Professional (CEP).

Additional Position Information (if applicable)

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Specific Knowledge: Deep working knowledge of medium voltage electrical distribution systems, including substations, switchgear, transformers, and protective relaying. Familiarity with PJM transmission systems and retail energy procurement is highly desirable.

Technical Understanding: Proven ability to read and interpret complex one-line diagrams, electrical schematics, and construction blueprints for planning and troubleshooting purposes.

Leadership & Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, at all levels within the organization and with third-party vendors. Must be able to lead a technical team and respond quickly and effectively during time-sensitive situations.

Managerial Complexity: Must be able to successfully handle multiple tasks at once, determine appropriate priorities, and make independent decisions consistent with the objectives of upper management. Strong budgeting and administrative abilities are required.

Physical Requirements: Physical effort requires considerable walking and standing, with some lifting of materials weighing 25 to 50 pounds. Periodically, assignments may entail dealing with modestly unpleasant physical situations.

Computer Skills: Must be proficient in the use of business application software and experienced in the use of a computerized maintenance management software (CMMS)

Required Application Documents

Resume

Special Instructions (if applicable)

Position is fully on-campus.

Additional Information

A criminal background check is required. All campuses are smoke- and tobacco-free campuses.

This organization participates in E-Verify.