Manager, Substation Operations & Maintenance Contracts

Headquartered in the Greater Washington area, American Real Estate Partners (AREP) is a US-based leading institutional fund manager and real estate partner with over $13 billion deployed across key U.S. markets. Specializing in data center, residential, industrial, and office assets, AREP has acquired more than 34 million square feet of Class A real estate and currently manages over 25 million square feet.

Power House Data Centers, a wholly owned division of AREP, is a developer and owner of next-generation data centers and provides technical real estate solutions for hyperscalers across the country. Backed by strategic joint venture partnerships, Power House leverages its proven leadership and best-in-class technical expertise to deliver innovative real estate solutions.

The Manager, Substation Operations & Maintenance Contracts, is responsible forthe full lifecycle management of private substation operations and maintenance (O&M) contracts supporting data center development projects. This position is directly responsible for ensuring third-party vendors and internal teams deliver services thatmaintainhigh-voltage asset reliability while strictly adhering to safety, financial, regulatory standards, and tenant SLAs. The incumbent will interact with utility partners, EPC contractors, operations vendors, asset management teams, and capitalpartnersas necessary.

The Manager, Substation Operations & Maintenance Contracts reports to theSVP, Infrastructure Operations & Development.

This role is based out of company headquarters with regular travel to project sites and utility partner locations. Travel requirements may expand as the portfolio grows.

• Draft, negotiate, and execute Operations, Maintenance, and Emergency Response contracts with vendors and subcontractors to ensure favorable terms and clear service-level agreements.
• Maintain compliance with tenant service level agreements
• Lead coordination between tenants and O&M contractors/vendors for routine,maintenance, and emergency response work
• Establish and monitor
  
  Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for contractors, ensuring they meet technical standards (ANSI, IEEE) and safety regulations (OSHA, NESC).
• Develop, coordinate, andmaintaincontract schedules; negotiate and resolve critical path conflicts related to vendor performance.
• Manage contracts and agreements and enforce provisions as necessary throughout theprojectlife cycle.
• Build andmaintaina qualified network of substation O&M contractors capable of supporting emergency response and routine maintenance across multiple markets.
• Develop safety and access protocols for all substation sites and develop action plans to ensure compliance
• Reviewall substation one-linespriorand during constructiontoconfirm tenant redundancy requirements are met.
• Conduct monthly inspections of all active substation sites.

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, construction management, business, ora related field, or equivalent significant relevant working experience in lieu of degree.
• 5+ years of direct experience in substation operations, transmission and distribution (T&D) projects, and high-voltage maintenance.
• Proven track recordin vendor management and oversight of major EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) companies.
• Strong understanding of electric transmission and distribution systems, substation concepts, and electric utility infrastructure.
• Deep knowledge of NERC standards, OSHA safety guidelines, and ANSI/IEEE technical specifications.
• Proficiency with SCADA systems, protective relays, and the ability to interpret one-line electrical diagrams and schematics.
• Familiarity with condition-based maintenance and predictive monitoring tools for…