System Operator

Umatilla Electric Cooperative is headquartered in Hermiston, Oregon (population 18,000+), the largest and fastest-growing city in Eastern Oregon. Located seven miles south of the Columbia River, Lake Wallula and the McNary Dam, the Hermiston area has become a hub for logistics and data center activity. The area is 30 minutes south of the Tri‑Cities in Washington, two‑and‑a‑half hours south of Spokane, three hours east of Portland, and three‑and‑a‑half hours northwest of Boise.

Cost of living is lower than the national average. Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University have branch facilities in Hermiston;
Columbia Basin College and a branch campus of Washington State University are a 40‑mile drive. Area activities are plentiful, and include golfing, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking and snow skiing.

Type:
Full‑Time/In‑Office

Salary: $147,631–$181,568 DOQ

• 401(K) up to 11% Company Match
• Pension Plan (100% Employer Sponsored)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits options
• Competitive Wages
• Vacation, Sick Leave and 11 paid holidays
• Gym Membership Subsidy
• Employer Sponsored Training
• Various Opportunities for Fundraising and giving back to the community

For information on the local area, please visit:

This position is responsible for ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the system (transmission, and distribution,) under normal, emergency and outage conditions, complying with the UEC, RUS and NERC/WECC reliability standards. Actively promotes a culture of safety and assures safety standards are adhered to. Adheres to and supports company policies and develops specific operating procedures related to system operations. The System Operator will work closely with the Operations Superintendents to assure clear communications and effective teamwork.

may include other duties as assigned.

• Determines operating status from personnel, station and equipment logs, dispatch board or automated system monitoring device.
• Operates or directs the operation of station equipment through manual or automated systems.
• Develops, issues, and verifies step‑by‑step instructions for switching orders with consideration of impact on system status.
• Issues, transfers or releases work clearances. Maintains up‑to‑date system configuration display for real‑time system status.
• Isolates the cause and nature of abnormal station, equipment or system conditions and takes action to operate or direct operation of equipment to restore lines and equipment to normal operating conditions.
• Coordinates restoration as well as dispatching and directing personnel in a safe, efficient, and reliable manner in response to electric system outages and emergencies.
• Responsible for managing the processes and relationship with the outage call center vendor (CRC).

may include other duties as assigned.

• Maintains the UEC electric system using the Outage Management System (OMS) and various related applications.
• Works with Engineering to monitor interconnected system conditions, UEC and interconnected system line flows, voltages, Remedial Action Schemes, and equipment limits during normal and emergency conditions and communicates status to assure prompt response to any potential issues.
• Facilitates and tracks system equipment outages adhering to established UEC and BPA criteria.
• Reviews, comprehends, and applies operational policy and procedural changes in a time‑constrained atmosphere.
• Performs internal and external notifications of system events in accordance with established requirements.
• Maintains a safety conscious work environment by following Umatilla Electric Cooperative’s safety protocols and safe work practices.
• Delivers information and details for Monthly Board Report.
• Respectfully takes direction from supervisor or manager.
• Ability to function well under stress, particularly during emergency situations and take prompt, appropriate actions during those situations. Must also be able to communicate to the necessary authorities or personnel in a clear, reliable and efficient manner during such emergencies in order to diffuse the…