Job Bank

DEPARTMENT:             Energy Services

OPENING DATE:           December 19, 2024

CLOSING DATE:            Open Until Filled & Screening begins January 1, 2025

ONLINE JOB DESCRIPTION: https://www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us/Jobs.aspx?UniqueId=71&From=All&CommunityJobs=False&JobID=Energy-Services-Director-122024-501

FILING OF AN APPLICATION:  A COMPLETED ORIGINAL CITY OF ELLENSBURG APPLICATION FORM IS REQUIRED. A RESUME SUBMITTED IN LIEU OF THE COMPLETED APPLICATION PACKET WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. Application forms may be filed online at www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us, or paper applications may be obtained from the 1st floor foyer or the Human Resources Department, located at 501 North Anderson Street, Ellensburg, WA  98926. Applicants are required to submit a letter of interest, resume, and complete the supplemental questions.  Incomplete submissions will not be considered.  All applications will be reviewed and those applicants who most satisfactorily meet the requirements will be tested and/or interviewed. Reference checks will be made prior to an offer of employment. Appointment will be made as soon thereafter as possible.

We are looking for an accomplished, innovative, and collaborative professional to be the Director of the new Energy Services Department.   

Will perform complex executive work planning, organizing, and directing of the activities, assets, operation, and personnel of the Energy Services Department, and related work as apparent or assigned; provide oversight and administrative direction for electric, natural gas, and telecommunications systems; setting policies and goals to implement regulatory compliance for utility services under the direction of the City Manager.  

CORE VALUES:

All employees are expected to model and foster the City of Ellensburg’s core values in the performance of their duties and their interactions while representing the City and serving the community. The values of Compassion (we care), Courage (we do the right thing), and Conviction (we work hard) promote and maintain a high level of service and are the tie that binds all City employees together, across departments. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:

All of the following are to be performed while adhering to City of Ellensburg operational policies, safety rules, and procedures.  This position requires regular and consistent attendance to accomplish the following essential functions: 

• Plan, organize and direct the activities and operations of the Energy Services department; develop, implement, direct, and ensure compliance with departmental policies and procedures; coordinate departmental activities with other City departments; demonstrate and ensure organizational teamwork; prioritize and be accountable for performance and outcomes of department programs and projects.
• Manage staff resources and ensure adequate breadth of knowledge and skills within the department; develop department work program with assistance of department leadership; assist with integration of department program into city-wide work program; assign staff to work within resources and ensure work completion; ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements; participate and/or assist HR in negotiating agreements with labor unions.
• Develop and implement utility safety program meeting electrical and natural gas utility industry standards and best practices as well as conforming to Citywide safety policies.
• Direct and ensure compliance with environmental regulations for the department; plan, control and direct energy efficiency and conservation programs, as well as the design construction, maintenance, repair, and operations of electric, natural gas, and telecommunications municipal systems. 
• Respond to major utility system outages; assume or delegate command and direct appropriate actions; advise City Manager of critical issues, decisions, and actions.
• Oversee planning and security of long-term energy supply and infrastructure for City utility to ensure resiliency and decarbonization goals and meet future demand. 
• Direct and review research and analysis including rates, cost of service, and system load; prepare and present written and oral reports to City Council, Utility Advisory Committee and other City boards and commissions; prepare and present long-range planning activities potentially impacting utility and municipal operations; prepare, select, and administer consultant contracts for design, improvements, or modifications of utility facilities; negotiate a wide variety of contracts with suppliers and commercial customers; review and develop telecommunications rates/fees; oversee energy (electric and natural gas) purchases, rates, fees, and contracts for utility enterprise services.
• Monitor government activities that could affect the City of Ellensburg’s utilities. Participate in state and federal government affairs in cooperation with the City Manager.
• Manage financial resources and City assets to ensure fiscal responsibility and cost consciousness; develop and appropriately defend long range and annual department budget; monitor revenues and control expenditures staying within budget; take appropriate action with unexpected project adjustments; ensure integrity of systems which collect or expend funds; prepare and implement long range capital plans, 6 year and annual capital budgets relative to plans; ensure appropriate maintenance and legal use of city property and equipment.
• Represent the department and City at industry meetings and conferences; serve as a liaison between internal and external organizations, agencies, groups, and the general public; facilitate, lead, and/or participate in meetings and committees with peers in business, community, and other government entities to encourage cooperative problem solving and joint approaches to problems; ensure quality customer service and work with citizens and citizen groups to resolve problems; deliver speeches and/or presentations representing the City as assigned; work with the PIO to provide information to media as needed. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITES:

Directly supervise employees in the Energy Services Department including engineering, operations, energy resources, sustainability, and telecommunications business activities. Responsibilities include developing/maintaining accurate department job descriptions ensuring assignments are within job limits; hiring, onboarding, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; coaching and evaluating performance; working with employees to correct deficiencies, succession planning; providing commendations and working with HR to administer discipline when needed; addressing complaints, grievances, and resolving problems; and ensuring cross-departmental cooperation for excellent internal and external customer service. These duties will be performed in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and/or City policies. 

Other duties may be assigned. This is a representative sample--not to imply a complete listing of responsibilities and tasks. 

This is a full-time, benefited position.  Benefits include medical, dental, life, and disability insurance; Retirement under the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), HRA VEBA, Paid Time Off (PTO), exempt leave, holidays, and employee choice days. 

This position closes 01/15/25.  In addition to completing the employment application, applicants are required to submit a letter of interest, resume, and answer the supplemental questions.  The supplemental questions are located under job details.  All documents can be uploaded when completing the application form.  To access our on-line employment application, click on the following link:  employment application  

Salary:  2025 Wages - $164,100 - $185,652 annually ($13,675-$15,471/month) FLSA Exempt.  Excellent benefits. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with coursework in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, economics, business administration, or a field related to this position
• Five (5) years in a progressively responsible and/or a senior management role, including supervision of employees
• Five (5) years of electric and/or natural gas utility experience

Please note: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered as determined by the City Manager.   

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND/OR REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid Washington State Driver’s License; must maintain an insurable driving record
• First Aid/CPR/AED 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position is required to be part of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safey Administration (PHMSA) drug testing program. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous leadership experience in public sector electric and natural gas utility, including broad experience in business/finance management, power resources, operations, and engineering
• Previous experience leading teams in a union environment
• Master’s Degree in a related field
• Bilingual English/Spanish 

Miscellaneous:

To view the supplemental questions and a complete job posting, including detailed duties, responsibilities, and qualifications click on the posting attachment under job details at https://www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us/Jobs.aspx?UniqueId=71&From=All&CommunityJobs=False&JobID=Energy-Services-Director-122024-501

COMPETENCIES

Executive:

• Manage to the future: Understand and communicate a clear vision and path to the future and take appropriate steps to guide the department in that direction.
• Have a global perspective: Recognize and address issues that are outside departmental or municipal scope. View issues without any preset biases or limitations. Take information objectively, utilizing a broad framework in discussing and formulating opinions on current topics. See the “big picture.”
• Display political and business acumen: Manage operations and initiatives with an understanding of the agendas and perspectives of others. Recognize and balance the interests and needs of one’s own group in the context of the broader organization and community. Effectively translate business terms into concepts that can be understood by the organization and the public.

Managerial:

• Foster Teamwork: Build effective teams committed to organization goals. Foster collaboration among team members and among teams. Use teams to address relevant issues.
• Prioritize Work and Commitments: Develop short-and long-range plans that are appropriately comprehensive, realistic, and effective in meeting goals. Focus on the most important tasks first and direct others to focus on those tasks. Integrate planning efforts across work units to ensure the most critical work gets done first.
• Drive for Team Results: Demonstrate and foster a sense of urgency and strong commitment to achieving goals. Encourage others drive for strategic goals. Persist despite obstacles and opposition. Pursue aggressive goals and work hard to achieve them. Own the outcomes produced by the team.
• Manage Employee Performance: Guide employees to achieve the highest levels of performance. Set clear and compelling expectations for performance. Provide frequent and specific feedback to help employees meet or exceed expectations. Maintain effective records related to employee performance. Deliver specific, timely, and meaningful performance feedback.

Foundational:

• Use Technical/Functional Expertise: Display an appropriate depth of knowledge and skills as required for the position and commensurate with the time in class. Use technology appropriate for the position. Seek additional knowledge and information to continually enhance knowledge in areas of specialty.
• Be Accountable for Performance: Actively demonstrate responsibility, reliability, and trustworthiness. Ensure work and information are complete and accurate. Admit mistakes and look for ways to improve. Model self as dependable and reliable. Follow up with others to ensure agreements and commitments have been fulfilled. Value the importance of team and organizational success. Independently take action to influence events, to improve own or organizational performance and to promote the goals of the organization.
• Provide Excellent Customer Servies: Anticipate, assess, and respond effectively to the needs of diverse customers, both internal and external, providing consistently excellent service that is timely, accurate, courteous, and respectful.
• Communicate Effectively: Use verbal and written skills effectively to ensure that information is successfully shared throughout the organization. Relate well to a range of people. Show sensitivity to the needs of others. Demonstrate ability to build rapport and facilitate mutual understanding.
• Work Safely: Knowledge and application of relevant safety requirements that apply to the specific work being done. Recognize and mitigate safety hazards on the job. Observe rules and regulations to comply with personal and workplace safety standards. Work to create a hazard-free, accident-free environment for all.

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of energy and electrical and mechanical scientific principles and fundamentals essential for utility management.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws, rules, codes and regulations applicable to a municipal setting, preferably in the Pacific Northwest, and related to assigned activities, including regulations relating to the operation of electrical, natural gas, and/or telecommunication utilities.
• Knowledge of business and economic principles and fundamentals.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations and compliance.
• Knowledge of sustainability standards, principles, and practices.
• Knowledge of administrative principles and practices, including program development, implementation, and evaluation and project management.
• Skills and abilities to provide managerial direction and support to department divisions, and to successfully perform the supervisory requirements of the position, directly and through subordinate levels of supervision.
• Knowledge and ability to use public speaking techniques.
• Ability to use correct English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of budget development, rate setting, grant management, and administration in the public sector.
• Skill in operating the listed tools and equipment.
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and courteous manner, orally and in writing, with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, City officials and the public, in a manner appropriate for the audience.
• Ability to conduct necessary engineering research and compile comprehensive reports; learn, read, interpret, and apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Skills and abilities to create and recommend policies which adapt to a changing environment.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Computer, tablet, smartphone, printer/copier/scanner, Microsoft Office 365 Suite, various software programs and applications; relay-based substation control systems, natural gas telemetry and SCADA systems; motor vehicle operation; calculator; multi-line phone system.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use the listed tools and equipment.  The employee is frequently required to communicate and exchange accurate information verbally, in writing, over the telephone, and in person.  The employee is frequently required to be in a stationary position when performing office work and must be able to move about inside the office and position self to access office equipment.  The employee is occasionally required to move about uneven terrain if visiting outdoor worksites.  The employee must regularly move and/or transport up to 10 pounds and frequently move and/or transport up to 25 pounds.

The employee will be required to operate a motor vehicle in all levels of daylight and in various weather conditions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distant, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  The employee must have adequate hearing and sense of smell to successfully perform the essential functions.

All safety policies and procedures must be followed, including use of PPE when required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work with people, some of whom may be irate, upset, or disturbed.  Frequent extension of workday to meet deadlines.

Administrative work is performed indoors; however, employee may occasionally work in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, and wind, with occasionally exposure to fumes or airborne particles. Outdoor work could also include possible exposure to animals and bugs. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but could occasionally be loud in the field.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

The key relationships described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

 While performing the duties of this job, the employee will provide communicate, coordinate projects and activities, solve problems, negotiate solutions (within policy guidelines) with the State of Washington DOT, DOE, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Western Electric Coordinating Council, Bonneville Power Administration, American Public Gas Association, Kittitas County Public Works, Central Washington University, US Bureau of Reclamation and Irrigation Districts, other agencies and businesses, City departments, the City Manager, City Council, vendors, consultants, contractors, boards, commissions, community groups, and the general public. Contact will be made in writing, by email or telephone, and/or in person.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

BENEFITS:  Public Employees Retirement System and Social Security; Medical/Dental/Life/ Disability Insurance, VEBA, paid time off (PTO bank), holidays, exempt leave, and employee choice days. 

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT OF 1986, ALL NEW EMPLOYEES WILL BE ADVISED OF ACCEPTABLE DOCUMENTS TO VERIFY IDENTITY AND WORK AUTHORIZATION, WHICH MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS OF DATE OF HIRE. THIS IS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY OF ELLENSBURG.

The City of Ellensburg is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all persons without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability or any other non-merit factor. We will provide reasonable accommodation to disabled applicants, if requested and the Human Resources Department is notified at least two (2) days prior to the need.

Human Resources

Phone: (509) 962-7222

Fax: (509) 962-7143