Program Manager, Reliability Services; Deadline Extended

Official SMUD Classification:
Program Manager System Operations and Reliability

In support of our safe and reliable operation and clean energy goals, SMUD is seeking a highly engaged and experienced Program Manager, Reliability Services for providing technical support and engineering oversight to the Balancing Authority (BA) and Transmission Operator (TOP) operations. Under the direction of the Manager of Transmission Planning & Reliability Services, this position has the responsibility for managing the engineering support and compliance oversight to the Bulk Electric System (BES) of SMUD and Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC).

This position interacts with SMUD internal departments, BANC members, neighboring utilities, CAISO, Reliability Coordinator (RC) West, Western Power Pool (WPP), and WECC/NERC to provide technical expertise and leadership in BA and TOP operations, provides operational support to new generation and transmission projects from the development of Interconnection Agreement to the testing and commissioning of the projects, oversees operations compliance with FERC/NERC/WECC Reliability Standards and Criteria, as well as provides mentoring and oversight for lower level engineers, for the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of the BES generation and transmission assets for SMUD and BANC.

Plans, organizes and directs a variety of tasks on SMUD’s bulk power transmission and the Western Energy Market involving engineering assessment, software, performance, and related budgetary and documentation activities to ensure the efficient and reliable power operations, and to maintain both public and employee safety within SMUD's Transmission Operator Area and the BANC Balancing Authority Area.

Assists in the development, implementation and management of department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities in partnership with other managers within Transmission Planning and Operations department; ensures that department strategic objectives and priorities are achieved and coordinated with other departments, and with external entities associated with the SMUD transmission system and BANC balancing authority as well as with interfacing transmission operators and other balancing authorities.

• Provides operations support and recommendations for real-time system operations; ensures the efficient and reliable operations of SMUD and BANC's transmission and energy systems by planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing the operations, repair and restoration of the transmission and energy systems.
• Acts as point of contact for SMUD's and BANC's reliability operations; works closely with SMUD's internal departments, BANC entities, California ISO, and Reliability Coordinator to identify and resolve reliability operations concerns as needed.
• Oversees and interprets operating policies and procedures; advises resource units on tasks and operations as required to solve complex problems; ensures project and operational schedules and budgets are met.
• Contributes to the increased effectiveness of maintenance and operations programs by recommending and influencing the implementation of improvements in transmission and bulk substation maintenance procedures, standards and work processes.
• Works with outside agencies including federal, state, county, and regional agencies on the development and implementation of maintenance and operations plans; ensures that power system operations and maintenance schedules and procedures meet regulatory requirements.
• Interprets and reviews engineering and technical drawings, diagrams and transmission equipment-rating database for BANC and SMUD; provides support to staff resources to meet operations and maintenance service agreements and system operations requirements; oversees release to operations checklist (ROC process).
• Participates in the investigation and evaluation of emergencies such as interruptions to systems services; reviews and approves repair strategies after considering impacts to system operations and service levels.
• Reviews preventive maintenance program for SMUD transmission, substation and EMC support systems to provide SMUD with a reliable transmission system to operate.
• Oversees the operations compliance program for SMUD and BANC with FERC NOPRS and NERC/WECC reliability standards, to include the standards under development, implementation of new standards, and NERC/WECC audits and mock audits.
• Performs other related duties as needed; schedules, hours and locations may fluctuate based on business needs.

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in electrical engineering or a related field from an accredited college or university.

• Seven or more (7+) years of progressively responsible work experience in the design, operation and maintenance of power transmission and substation systems.

Fundamentals and practices related to operations and rating…