We are seeking a Director of Engineering responsible for all engineering functions of the Cooperative.

The Director of Engineering is responsible for system planning, transmission design, distribution design, substation design, substation maintenance, support of the Cooperative's reliability programs, and maintenance of the Cooperative's Supervisor Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, Distribution Management Systems (DMS), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and metering. The Director of Engineering is also responsible for system inspections, resiliency initiatives, grid hardening initiatives, grant funding opportunities, and various other activities and programs.

This position also ensures that direct and indirect reports are meeting their performance expectations by ensuring proper training and understanding of their responsibilities and deliverables. As their coach and mentor, you will conduct ongoing one-on-one sessions as required, establish annual objectives and conduct performance appraisals. You will direct all human resources issues related to the engineering department including selection, interviews, discipline, and terminations.

Our ideal candidate has extensive knowledge of the following:

• how to develop and maintain a comprehensive electrical engineering initiative within the Cooperative environment.
• engineering requirements, regulations, and reports as required by local, state, federal, and industry agencies.
• equipment, including transmission, substations, distribution, and metering of electric energy.

Additionally, you are able to translate technical engineering data and information into easy-to-read materials; work on multiple tasks simultaneously, delegate, and deal with emergencies as they arise.

Essential Functions

• Ensure on-going communications with the Vice President of Engineering & Operations and Executive Management Team to ensure that they are informed of all relevant activities, events, and issues.
• Act as a resource to all Cooperative members with respect to engineering functions.
• Develop annual engineering budget in accordance with all policies, objectives, plans, and accounting practices.
• Ensure on-going communications with department Vice Presidents, Directors, and all necessary team members.
• Assist with the operation of the Cooperative's system operations center (SOC).
• Work directly with the Director of Operations, Director of Technical Services, and Director of Vegetation & Contract Resources to direct disaster recovery and emergency planning related to ensuring the integrity of service to Cooperative members.
• Direct and monitor the Cooperative's system patrol and inspection activities to include pole inspections, overhead and underground inspections, and internal inspections using both Cooperative employees and contractors.
• Manage all engineering functions in accordance with established guidelines, i.e., RUS, NEC, and NESC.
• Maintain current knowledge of engineering requirements, regulations, and reporting requirements as requested by RUS, CFC, SCC, and other regulatory agencies.
• Manage strategic planning in the areas of load growth, facilities, and equipment.
• Manage the development and production of all necessary short- and long-range work plans.
• Manage, monitor, develop and suggest improvements to the Cooperative's system reliability programs.
• Manage the design, staking, and development of all plans required to construct new service extensions, work plan improvements, and other necessary system improvement projects.
• Manage the design and development of new (or upgrade of) substations and transmission lines as required.
• Direct the Cooperative's meter testing program.
• Manage all protective equipment coordination studies including substation protective relaying and distribution protective equipment.
• Manage the processes and procedures related to right-of-way easements, territorial boundaries, joint use permits and invoices.
• Manage the GIS-based mapping systems to ensure accurate, up-to-date information for all Cooperative business functions.
• Manage all power requirement studies and recommendations.
• Manage the review process for staking sheets related to major initiatives to ensure economical and structural integrity.
• Manage the relationships with the Cooperative's external engineering consulting firms.
• Manage the review and study of all technological issues and industry developments related to engineering enhancements and operational efficiencies.
• Monitor and apply necessary design and construction standards to address the continuing introduction of distributed generation, electrification initiatives, electric vehicles, and other new technology.
• Maintain the Cooperative's outage reliability information and make periodic reports to the Vice President of Engineering & Operations with suggestions for improvements to the Cooperative's operations and construction practices.

At Southside Electric Cooperative, our members are our priority. Therefore, we are first responders when the lights go out. We are not intimidated by adverse situations we know that extra hours will be necessary during emergencies. Like you, we are always ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work when the workload demands. While other businesses close their doors during inclement weather, we report to work to serve our members, any time, night, or day.

Because Southside Electric Cooperative employees take great care of our members, we reward them with a very competitive salary and an excellent benefits package that includes:

• HDHP Anthem HealthKeepers insurance with 100% employer paid premium for employees and about 95% for their covered dependents. (Anthem KeyCare is also available with a small employee premium.)
• Dental and vision insurance through Anthem with 100% employer paid premiums for employees and their dependents.
• Life insurance & Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, each at 3x annual salary for employees with 100% employer paid premium.
• Low-cost supplemental life insurance for dependents, including $20,000 life insurance per child for only $2 each month, regardless of the number of children covered.
• HSA with annual employer contribution.
• 401(k) with employer contributions after one year of service.
• Employer sponsored Retirement plan with employer contributions after one year of service.
• Tuition reimbursement including books and fees.
• We also provide employer paid LifeLock with Norton 360 Premium for our employees.

Documents to establish identity and employment eligibility are required. Offers of employment are conditional upon a negative alcohol and controlled substance test.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, or other applicable Engineering discipline is required.
• Five years of engineering experience within an electric utility. Experience within a Cooperative environment highly preferred.
• Three to five years of experience supervising and managing personnel and processes.
• Licensed as a Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia or ability to obtain such license within two years.
• Residency requirement: Must reside within 60 minutes legal driving time to the office where assigned.
• Exceptional communications skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to analyze complex engineering issues and regulations.
• Ability to negotiate complex issues with external organizations.
• Ability to communicate complex engineering information.
• Ability to plan, develop and execute strategic plans to support the objectives of the Cooperative.
• Ability to analyze and make sound decisions based on actual and projected issues and concerns related to the delivery of energy.
• Ability to make decisions that will impact the engineering integrity and reputation of the Cooperative.
• Ability to make decisions in emergency conditions relative to service provided.
• Ability to ensure that all engineering information related to the Cooperative is accurate and error-free.
• Ability to maintain open, positive relationships with a wide range of groups, including Cooperative members, Cooperative employees, media, industry groups, and the public.

About Southside Electric Cooperative

SEC strives to provide safe, reliable electricity and related services at the highest value to our member-owners. We exist to enhance the quality of life of the communities in which we serve and live. We achieve this mission by our actions that demonstrate integrity, fiscal responsibility, member engagement, community involvement, and by living out the cooperative principles. The relationship we have with the member-owners of SEC matters to us, and we work hard every day to prove this through our actions. We recognize that our member-owners expect to receive a quality of service which surpasses that typically associated with simply being a “customer” of an investor-owned utility. Our four district offices are located in the areas where we serve, and our employees live in these areas as well. Our employees are very active in our communities and participate in a number of ways to improve the areas in which they live. SEC employees are active volunteer fire fighters, EMTs, first responders, youth sports coaches, and Sunday school teachers, to name a few. Making Southside Virginia a better place to live and work is very important to us. It is inherent in our mission as a cooperative and it is a commitment we make, not only to our members but to our co-workers and our families.

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