Department: Transmission Planning & Operations
Location:
Sacramento, CA, US, 95817-1899
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Category: Utility System Management/Operations
Minimum Pay Rate: $223,995.20
Maximum Pay Rate: $311,937.60
Posting Type: Open
This position is a non-Civil Service (at-will) position.
This posting will remain open until a sufficient quantity of qualified applicants have been received but may close at any time without notice after 07/08/2026. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure they are considered.
SMUD is pleased to announce the pursuit of our next Director, Transmission Planning and Operations. We are seeking a strong leader who has a proven track record of building partnerships and collaborating internally within the organization and with external stakeholders and policy makers to make quality decisions. This position is responsible for exercising leadership and direction and sits on the Senior Leadership Team within the Energy Delivery & Operations business unit. As a senior leader, the successful candidate is responsible for ensuring SMUD values, strategic initiatives and desired culture are integrated into the Transmission Planning and Operations work, group functions, operations, and services. SMUD is excited to have a Zero Carbon goal by 2030. Your success in this position translates to the success of our goal by promoting a culture of innovation, partnership, and agility.
Purpose
Under the direction of the Chief Operating Officer, has management responsibility for Energy Management Systems, Real-Time Engineering, EIM Operations, Power System Operations, Power System Operations Training, Transmission Planning, System Protection & Control, and Scheduling & Interchange. Accountable for developing short-term and long-term system plans for SMUD’s transmission grid to meet load serving capability and reliability requirements. Provides management guidance and technical expertise and oversight for staff, resources, and projects related to real-time system operations and engineering to ensure the safe, reliable, secure, and compliant operation, control, and monitoring of SMUD’s generation, transmission and gas pipeline systems. Manages the contracted operations for the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC) in accordance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Reliability Standards, as well as BANC’s operation as a California ISO Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) entity.
Nature and Scope
This position provides leadership for the development and management of the Transmission Planning & Operations Department. The incumbent must be a strong leader and visionary providing direction in strategic initiatives, operations, services and enterprise-wide projects.
Duties and Responsibilities
Manages, organizes, oversees, and coordinates a united approach to the operations and functions of Energy Management Systems, Real-Time Engineering, EIM Operations, Power System Operations, Power System Operations Training, Transmission Planning, System Protection & Control, and Scheduling & Interchange.
Promotes the safety of SMUD employees, contractor staff, and customers through adherence to established SMUD policies and goals, development of specific goals for the work segment, and monitoring and responding to safety concerns.
Manages, oversees, supports, and coordinates reporting managers in transmission planning & operations with other SMUD departments, external entities internal to the SMUD transmission system and BANC Balancing Authority, as well as with interfacing transmission operators and balancing authorities, to meet load requirements and energy delivery schedules on a continuous 24 hours per day, 7 days per week basis.
Employs prudent utility practices and provides leadership to interpret, implement and comply with all mandated NERC and WECC Reliability Standards, regulatory requirements, and policies.
Coordinates active participation by the appropriate units in the NERC and WECC Reliability Standards Development Process.
Advocates SMUD interests and strategic goals during interactions with external entities and regulatory agencies to align with SMUD and BANC Balancing Authority operation and interconnection requirements; promotes electric grid reliability; influences related industry benchmarks and competitiveness.
Participates in and provides input to the transmission planning and design review process to prevent implementation of unsafe, inoperable, or inefficient system designs.
Evaluates proposals, plans and conclusions of other divisions, departments, agencies, and Balancing Authority entities to protect the safe, reliable, secure and compliant operation of the present and future bulk power system.
Effectively develops and manages applicable unit budgets, costs, contracts, and projects related to department, SMUD, and BANC strategic goals and requirements.
Proactively anticipates and effectively resolves multiple, diverse, and complex problems and issues occurring simultaneously; evaluates and delivers effective decisions and solutions regarding operational issues, often in real time and without entirely established or defined answers to critical criteria.
Performs other related duties as needed to include working outside of typical business hours when necessary.
Required Education
Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
Required Experience Qualifications
Seven or more (7+) years of progressively responsible relevant combined work experience in transmission or distribution operations, transmission or distribution planning, real-time decision-making capability and progressively increasing skill and experience in managing O&M and Capital budgets. Five or more (5+) years of direct supervisory and/or managerial experience over personnel that support or operate a transmission and/or distribution operations area.
Knowledge Of
Fundamentals of generation, transmission, and high voltage substation system design, construction, operations, and maintenance; practices related to managing the bulk electric system to contractual requirements; current utility industry structure and applicable federal, regional, state, and local codes, regulations and mandated FERC, NERC, and WECC Reliability Standards, practices, and policies; organization of and procedures for interacting with local, state, and national authorities, agencies and regulatory bodies; the Western United States transmission and generation system; fundamentals and practices of electrical transmission and gas pipeline system planning, design, protection, maintenance, testing, and operations; electrical equipment ratings and limitation; system operating procedures, concepts and techniques; load flow and stability calculations; electrical theory; computer-based metering data acquisition and translation systems; safety and construction practices, standards, and applicable codes; fundamentals of effective management and leadership; methods and concepts related to teamwork and staff training; fundamentals and practices for budget administration and contract management.
Skills To
Lead, plan, manage, and review the work of multi-disciplinary professional technical and represented personnel in the performance of complex engineering and operating assignments under significant time constraints; interpret and apply SMUD policies, procedures, applicable IBEW MOUs, and/or other special agreements; apply relevant personnel laws, codes and regulations; initiate, maintain and oversee adherence to safety policies and procedures; interview, select, evaluate, coach, mentor, motivate, influence, stretch and develop staff; identify training needs for staff; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally and externally; effectively communicate highly technical information and recommendations to a variety of audiences and explain complex or controversial policies, regulations, procedures, and activities, both internally and externally and orally or in writing; compile and prepare technical, statistical and/or analytical reports and presentations; establish and effectively manage O&M and Capital budget of greater than $35M; effectively oversee the planning and prioritization of projects, and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders on projects; support the reliable integration of intermittent resources into SMUD’s bulk electric system and the BANC; respond quickly and effectively to changing priorities; proactively anticipate problems and apply innovative, creative, logical techniques in their resolution.
Desirable Qualifications
Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
NERC Certified RC Operator certification
Professional Engineering License in Electrical Engineering with the State of California
California or Western Energy Market experience
Balancing Authority: direct supervisory experience over personnel that support or operate a Balancing Authority Area and Transmission Operations Area
Physical Requirements
Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are
As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers. Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
SMUD celebrates diversity, and inspires an inclusive culture based on trust and respect to create belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities. By working together, we are powering positive, equitable opportunities for all. We aspire to be a workplace where you can be yourself, achieve your best, and thrive together.
An example of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is when SMUD signed the California Equal Pay Pledge in 2020. This requires equal pay for employees who perform “substantially similar work,” when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility at the time those employees started within that classification. As such, initial hiring salary range is not subject to negotiation and salaries will vary over time based on performance.
SMUD is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected characteristic. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual qualifications, merit, and business needs and interests.
Why Sacramento, California?
The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49er's aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.
Hybrid Work
This role will offer a hybrid work schedule and will require being in person at one of SMUD's campuses on a regular basis.
CalPERS
SMUD is a CalPERS agency. As a member of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), SMUD offers eligible employees access to a defined benefit pension plan along with other valuable retirement and health benefits. This program helps provide financial security both during your career and after retirement. To learn more about CalPERS and the benefits it offers, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.
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SMUD provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. SMUD complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
SMUD expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SMUD employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.
Req ID: 2981
