Los Alamos County, NM – Deputy Utility Manager – Electrical Distribution

Los Alamos County, New Mexico (population 19,675) is seeking a highly skilled Deputy Utility Manager for its Electric Distribution Division in the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). This position is created by the retirement of the previous Deputy Manager who served 24 years with the county.

Los Alamos County comprises two communities:
Los Alamos Townsite and White Rock. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is the largest employer in the County with 14,150 employees and an annual budget of 2 billion dollars. Approximately 9,000 people commute to the Laboratory from the surrounding area. LANL supports high levels of job stability, income and education, with the highest number of PhDs per capita in the nation and a median household income of over $80,000 per year.

The public school district is in the top 4% in the nation, the University of New Mexico has a local branch, and the community has a large, home‑schooled population.

Los Alamos is also the gateway to three national parks: the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Bandelier National Monument and the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The four‑season climate, with an average annual high of 70° F and a low of 42° F, promotes exceptional recreation opportunities year‑round. With 57 years as a local government, Los Alamos County offers spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife, uncommon high‑altitude recreational opportunities, small‑town friendliness, numerous cultural activities, fascinating history and world‑changing science and technological development.

The Deputy Utility Manager will be an experienced leader who understands all aspects of electric utilities, federal, state and local compliance requirements, asset management, and collaboration with outside agencies.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assist the DPU in implementing the Board of Public Utilities and County Council Environmental Sustainability goals and objectives.
• Establish a plan to upgrade electric supply and distribution systems to meet the needs of all‑electric buildings and electric vehicles and maximize the benefit of distributed energy resources.
• Support electrification of the community, including solar installations.
• Maintain system reliability and a high standard of customer service.
• Strengthen existing partnerships.

The Division is composed of 17 positions, with 12 line crew and 5 engineering positions that maintain two sub‑stations and serve approximately 8,000 meters. The DPU has a FY26 budget of $107.3 M and the electric production and distribution division budget is $71.7 M. The County recently adopted its Distribution System Electrification Study.

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Electrical Engineering. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Registered Professional Engineer in NM or ability to acquire within 12 months.
• Seven (7) years of combined experience in an engineering‑related field or experience related to power distribution. At least four (4) years of supervisory experience in a leadership or management role.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and must be able to obtain a non‑cleared U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) badge.
• Project Management Certification is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in electric distribution design, operations and maintenance.
• Experience working in a unionized environment is a plus.

The salary range for this position is $128,520 to $209,275. A generous benefit and retirement package is also offered by the county. A relocation allowance is also available.

Candidates must apply online by January 23, 2026, with a resume, cover letter and contact information for five work‑related references. Questions may be directed to Sarah McKee, MGTS Senior Consultant, (847) 380‑3240 ext. 120.

Los Alamos County is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity and inclusion are critical to their success. They seek to recruit the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and strongly encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Final date to receive applications:
January 23, 2026

Posted: 2025‑12‑22