Manager, Electrical Utilities

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary

The Manager, Electrical Utilities is responsible for managing and directing the design, development, operation and maintenance of the University s high voltage electrical system including all electrical transmission and distribution assets (69kV and 12.5kV), with an asset value exceeding $100m. Responsibilities include: the short and long range planning of Electrical Utilities infrastructure, the supervision of M&P professional staff and consultants, the planning of major capital, cyclical and preventative maintenance programs, and the development of business models.

The Manager participates in strategic planning sessions with senior management to maximize workforce effort, improve performance and operate the electrical high voltage system with least possible costs while maintaining best utility practices to ensure system reliability. The Manager provides a high level of leadership, communications, organizational and administrative abilities within the Division. The Manager is the subject matter expert (SME) to all University departments with respect to high voltage networks and main electrical infrastructure supplying buildings on campus. The Manager provides electrical expertise to the Campus as a Living Lab strategy.

Organizational Status

Reports to the Director, Energy and Water Services. The Manager works collaboratively with Energy and Water Services professional staff. The Manager routinely interacts with Building Operations, Infrastructure Development, Campus & Community Planning and UBC Properties Trust.

Work Performed

Provides senior leadership and management for technical staff, including: design engineering, electrical trades, scheduling, estimating, customer service initiatives, performance goals and objectives, strategic business planning milestones and measurement.

Participate and lead strategic planning sessions with the department and within own division; developing, implementing and monitoring procedures and policies; direct consultants and reviews their work.

To develop, manage and routinely update weather and engineering models for High Voltage Electrical transmission and distribution systems. Ensure and verify all data is accurate and is routinely updated.

Set and manages 5 year business plan and a 20 year infrastructure plan for all electrical utility services and systems. These plans, which co-ordinate with the goals and objectives of the University, will set out future visions for the electrical utility.

Develop and prepare electrical utility operating budget and assists the Director in overall utility budget planning.

Continually monitors expenses of the electrical section to control expenditures within budget. Develops projections for electrical consumption, costs, revenue generation, and prepares reports which analyze performance.

Develops utilities management plans (UMP) as part of cyclical renewal and deferred maintenance (CRDM) planning and implementation strategies, including: audits, condition assessments, standards development, staffing and funding levels, data base management and inventory control.

Provide the oversight and technical direction for seismic mitigation and compliance regarding UBC High Voltage Electrical utility distribution systems. This includes Structural and Non-Structural upgrades through the B.C. Seismic Mitigation Branch.

Develops and oversees policies, procedures, and standards of practice for Emergency Response Plans for all high voltage electrical utility distribution systems.

Develops and manages all work involving utilities electrical trades involved in operations, cyclical renewal and deferred maintenance (CRDM) to ensure maximum quality and value which ensuring minimum down time and disruption to University activities.

Ensure a high standard of quality control and appropriate codes, regulations, and safety standards are adhered to.

Responsible for conceiving, prioritizing, planning, co-coordinating, and implementing complex projects for reinvestment, upgrade, or expansion to existing electrical utilities infrastructure.

Develops specifications and tender for contract work and administers such contracts, including both service and construction types.

Provide information on system capacity and load sizing. Co-ordinates projects to coincide with efforts of other University departments to minimize disruption to the campus community.

Is the University subject matter expert for all departments, consultants, UBC Properties Trust (UBCPT) and project groups, for all phases of capital and deferred maintenance alterations for high voltage distribution systems, Main and indoor/outdoor substations. Also provides advice and co-ordinates as the in-house professional consultant to all University departments for electrical supply systems relating to or being part of planning, constructing, operating and maintaining new or existing campus facilities.

Ensure University high voltage technical requirements are known and understood. Update UBC Technical Guidelines as necessary.

Works with and liaises with representatives of BC Hydro, Corix, UBCPT, University Neighborhood Association, University Endowment Lands and other electrical utility suppliers in dealing with service and supply problems.

Liaise with municipal, regional, provincial and federal authorities on Code matters that affect Campus electrical systems and services.

Assist the Director, Energy & Water Services in the negotiation of electrical purchase agreements, and with service and supply problems.

Direct the selection and performance of consultants, contractors for various engineering and operations projects within UBC purchasing guidelines. Monitors and ensures contractor and consultant performance.

Develop business models/ cases, including financial feasibility, financial and operation system s requirements, cash flow projections, return on investment, market studies, organization, resource and strategic plans for electrical utility systems.

All electrical standards, policies and procedures relating to the University s high voltage utility system will be established and/or approved by this position in lieu of by-laws.

Represent department at BC Hydro meetings, Landscape and External Infrastructure Committee, Emergency Preparedness Committee, and others as necessary.

The position is expected to keep current with respect to scheduling concepts, project management techniques, preventive maintenance strategies, engineering principles and government regulations and codes pertaining to high voltage electrical Utilities engineering management and to keep all procedural manuals/systems documentation up to date.

Any other duties as assigned by the Director, Energy & Water Services.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Deals with an extensive electrical distribution system (69kV and 12.5kV) and provides operational and electrical engineering and business acumen to the Division. This position makes significant and complex decisions and judgments with regard to future needs and potential problems, in addition to immediate and/or emergency needs. Close attention is required to prevent electrical service failures and to identify and correct problems that could result in both a serious financial and/or power loss to the University.

This position is critical to the success of UBC Energy & Water Services it provides. Decisions of considerable complexity in electrical engineering are made on a continuing basis and these decisions are of vital importance to the continuation of the University s service.

Errors could result in a complete or partial shutdown of the entire University, resulting in significant damage to University property and research as well as compromising the safety of personnel resulting in loss of life. Errors may potentially increase the operating cost to the University or increase the rate of degradation to the University infrastructure.

Supervision Received

Works within policy guidelines departmental priorities established by the Director. Work is reviewed in terms of overall results on projects and coordination of departmental activities independently to an established policy and a broad framework of laid out procedures. Reference other Managers and the Director in problem situations that cannot be resolved within established procedures.

Supervision Given

Supervises four direct reports consisting: Utilities Electrical Engineer, Utilities Instrumentation Specialist, Utilities Trades Manager and Utilities Electrical Project Coordinator. Also supervises consultants and contractors as required. Make continuous checks on work progress to ensure that the best methods, materials and procedures are being used. Position provides guidance to reporting staff on more difficult issues and reviews assigned tasks for compliance to department and University policies. Sets the objectives and priorities and then determines the status of measures accomplishments against the strategic business plan goals, objectives and performance standards.

Responsible for ensuring all staff performing electrical work are trade qualified and competent.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Eligibility for membership in a professional Institute or Association. Minimum of nine years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

A University degree in Electrical or related Electrical Engineering discipline is required.

Must be a Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC), or eligible for membership in a Professional Association.

Experience in a field related to High Voltage electrical engineering design, project planning and control, including labor and material cost estimating experience. This includes a comprehensive knowledge of Utility best practices.

Experience in engineering management and business planning & development in a municipal or electrical utility environment.

Engineering and working experience with an electrical utility, up to 69kV with an emphasis on complex distribution systems including high voltage transmission, distribution and substations.

Experience of planning, coordinating, expediting and priority setting together with a broad knowledge of the High Voltage Electrical and Heavy Equipment trades.

Experience involving the management of varied disciplines of professionals as well as unionized staff.

Demonstrable diagnostic and problem solving abilities.

This position demands multi-disciplinary skills and experience in Civil Engineering (ductbanks), Electrical Engineering (High Voltage), environmental/resource sciences, and general management (business management, operations management, and technical management).

Must be able to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously including determining priorities, meeting deadlines, being flexible and adaptable to changes while managing multiple stakeholders with differing priorities.

Work must be considered in advance, materials obtained and time scheduled. A critical examination of job details is required to foresee and prevent field problems.

Excellent communication skills (oral and written), negotiation, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills are necessary.

Working knowledge of applicable electrical acts, regulations, codes and standards

A knowledge and understanding of utility structures, markets and how they are applied for utility operations and budgets

Experience with MS-Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Mail, and Scheduler), AutoCAD, engineering modeling (ETAP), energy consumption, analysis and forecasting software.

Knowledge of UBC s technical guidelines with respect to electrical expectations and electrical distribution would be an asset.

Have excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to diverse groups.

A valid B.C. Driver s License.