September 16, 2024

Chugach Electric Association

Anchorage

FULL TIME

Manager, Distribution - Construction

Job Description

Summary
Oversees inspection and survey staff and all contracted construction of distribution and occasionally, sub-transmission facilities. Represents Chugach in dealing with contractors, customers, businesses, utilities, state and municipal jurisdictions and other agencies relative to fieldwork in conjunction with construction management, design modifications, change orders, billing, and project coordination in connection with installation, relocation or modification of Chugach’s and other joint-use utility owned facilities. Follows Chugach’s standards for construction ensuring the work is executed in a safe and efficient manner.
Essential Functions

Construction Activities
- Finalizes work and construction packages for bidding or unit price contracting. Prepares and administers construction contracts and requests for proposals. Conducts project pre-bids and bid openings. Reviews and analyzes bids for completeness and technical responsiveness and recommends approval as appropriate.
- Negotiates contract terms such as performance requirements, invoicing, reporting, design discrepancies and changes in conditions while working with the design team.
- Prepares written and verbal correspondence associated with construction of projects including work authorizations and notices to proceed subject to signature authority limits. Responds to construction claims and other related matters.
- Reviews project designs, cost estimates, customer correspondence, associated bid packages and schedules for constructability and completeness.
- Provides construction related assistance and interaction with member-owners, consultants, architects, electricians, developers, general building contractors, Chugach OELCC contractors, state and municipal agencies, other utilities, and other customer representatives through electronic and/or direct contact. Effectively resolves conflicts.
- Coordinates construction activities with customers and agencies.
- Reviews and approves invoices and change orders subject to signature authority limits.
- Prepares a variety of project and construction management reports. This includes construction progress reports describing the type of work completed and physical percent complete; creates and/or updates project schedules; Board of Director reporting.
Ensures construction work conforms to the intent of the prepared construction work package and Chugach’s design and construction standards as well as meeting the operational needs of the company.
Ensures all project closeout activities are executed in a timely manner including reconciliations, final invoicing, certificates of completion and communication to Accounting.
Monitors and ensures workgroup actual costs meet budgetary targets and takes guidance to shift work efforts to align with business needs.
Ensures damage investigation reports are appropriately prepared by Designers and/or field personnel, reviews damage claims in conjunction with Customer Services.
Coordinates with Power Control during outage events to lead Engineering related response efforts for restoration of distribution facilities.
Engineering Activities
- Assists in the establishment of construction criteria for distribution, sub-transmission and joint-use facilities.
- Provides direct guidance on construction means and methods where appropriate.
- Participates in external committee assignments with various organizations with authority to make appropriate decisions and act on behalf of Chugach as directed.
- Directs the preparation and updating of system diagrams and maps for use by others, as appropriate.
- Conducts and/or participates in design/construction meetings on a scheduled basis to communicate construction needs and recommendations with inspectors, designers, engineers, and Engineering supervisors/managers.
- Performs site meets with designers to determine and ensure preliminary design concepts meet constructability and maintainability requirements.
- Manages survey and data acquisition efforts to ensuring all data is accurately and reliably gathered.
- Creates and maintains design and construction survey standards for the cooperative.
- Ensures company survey data is accurately accounted in appropriate data management systems and that it is secure, accessible, and supported.
- Provides project controls to ensure they stay on schedule and budget.
Supervisory Activities
- Anticipates construction, inspection and surveying resource requirements and meets time constraints of construction season and system operation.
- Provides for training, inspector certification, and surveyor professional licensure opportunities for regular and temporary personnel.
- Establishes goals and objectives for subordinate staff.
- Schedules work to ensure Chugach and Engineering departmental goals and objectives are met in a timely, efficient and cost-effective manner.
- Anticipates resource requirements and meets time constraints of construction season and system operation.
- Monitors staff performance for compliance with established standards, codes, quality assurance and completion of written support documentation.
- Schedules, assigns, and directs the work of subordinates. Provides training, coaching and counseling; sets a high standard of professionalism and behavior for staff; conducts performance appraisals and disciplinary actions.
- Recommends selection of or personally selects department personnel.

Relationships
Internal

VP, Engineering: Reports to, receives direction, guidance, decisions, and counsel from.
Design Supervisors: Coordinates design and construction activities, participates in process development, provides feedback on design quality.
Manager, Projects: Coordinate construction efforts as required.
Other Chugach Departments: Coordinates with and exchanges information as required.

External

Bargaining Unit Representatives: Meets with as required.
Federal, State and Local Agencies: Interacts and negotiates with for construction or relocation of facilities; Coordinates the obtaining of necessary construction specifications and permits.
Communications and other joint-use utilities: Coordinates the design or construction of joint-use facilities and manages joint-use agreements.
Consulting engineering firms: Consults and exchanges information within the formulation of engineering and planning studies and design of construction projects.
Other Alaska Electric Utilities: Exchanges planning and technical information.
Vendors and manufacturer representatives: Consults with regarding operating parameters of existing or proposed equipment, and the availability and pricing of proposed equipment.
Member-Owners: Provides assistance as needed.

Competencies

Must have a thorough knowledge of electric utility system design, operations, construction, and standard procedures and best practices for work around energized electric facilities.
Must have a working knowledge of Uniform System of Accounts, RUS design and construction requirements, RUS Approved List of Materials, National Electrical Safety Code, OSHA rules and regulations, environmental regulations, construction contracts, materials and practices’ as well as construction and material specifications.
Knowledge of common construction practices utilized in Alaska is required. A basic knowledge of environmental protection regulations pertaining to construction activities is preferred
Must be able to supervise and direct department and contract staff in designing all outside plant facilities required for the efficient operation of electrical distribution and sub-transmission systems.
Must have the skills to recognize the system needs and to assess designs that can meet the electrical and mechanical demands, while also fulfilling aesthetic, economic, regulatory and environmental requirements. This includes complete design of overhead and underground distribution lines, transformers, regulators, capacitors and sectionalizing banks and other special projects and loads.
Must be proficient in use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation and project management software.
Must have familiarity with the operations and maintenance of survey instrumentation and equipment.
Familiar with GIS data bases and software tools. Must have a working knowledge of CAD design tools and file storage systems.
Ability to work with other department personnel and supervisors in carrying out plans, construction, contracts, etc., utilizing a high level of teamwork skills, is necessary.
Must have effective project management skills as they relate to construction.
Must have excellent customer skills and the ability to resolve conflicts. Must have a high degree of project management and follow-up skills to keep reports, correspondence, and project construction on schedule.
Must be able to expedite work while maintaining necessary standards as required. Must be able to balance multiple priorities and make necessary decisions promptly when required.
Must have the skills to recognize the ongoing system operating needs during construction and to align construction packages that can meet these constraints.
Must have ability to organize and train an efficient work group.

Supervisory Responsibility
This position has supervisory responsibilities for the Distribution Inspectors & Designers, Engineering Support Technician, and Surveyors.
Work Environment
Most of work schedule will be performed in a standard office environment. Frequent field trips will be required for inspection and design review in varying weather conditions. Outside meetings will be necessary. Occasional out-of-town trips and meetings may be required. Flights in fixed-wing and helicopters will occasionally be required.
Minimum Qualifications and Experience
Education
Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering or related discipline, engineering management or business administration required. Additional specialized training in electric utility design, utility construction, construction management, contract administration, planning and utility accounting desired. Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Alaska, or ability to attain registration, desired.
Experience
Ten (10) years of progressively responsible electrical distribution design, construction and operation experience is required, including two (2) years of applicable supervisory responsibility. Work experience must include a combination of design and construction of distribution/transmission substations, high voltage power transmission lines, distribution lines and facilities, underground electrical systems, transformer and capacitor bank installations, and other similar facilities. Prior experience as a certified journeyman lineman, utility construction superintendent or utility operations manager preferred. Experience in an electric utility and full-charge field construction inspection experience is required. Other utility construction and maintenance experience including joint-utility environments is desired. Must have experience in organizing and supervising work groups and utilizing human resources as well as coordinating construction programs with other internal departments, divisions, and external agencies. Experience working in a union environment preferred.
Experience Substitution
This requirement can be reduced to eight (8) years of experience including two (2) with supervision if six years of experience including one-year applicable supervision are obtained as a Chugach Employee.
Supervisory Experience Substitution
The requirement for supervisory experience may be reduced by 6 months for every year of experience obtained directly in an engineering specialty, or like position, within the Chugach organization.

Company Description

Chugach Electric Association is a member-owned cooperative, headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Anchorage itself sits at the base of the Chugach Mountains. Chugach is pleased to provide reliable, affordable power to more than 92,000 members from Anchorage to the northern Kenai Peninsula, and from Whittier on Prince William Sound to Tyonek on the west side of Cook Inlet. We service over 113,000 locations with 3,782 miles of transmission and distribution lines. We have many services that make it easy to power homes and businesses with Chugach.

A little more about us: Chugach has been around for a long time, recently celebrating 75 years! We are a stable company, in a stable industry. And while we may have stability, we are modern, sustainable and forward-thinking to ensure that we provide reliable services for generations to come. We also pride ourselves on the longevity of our employees. We have several 20, 30 and 40 + year tenured employees who continue foster an inclusive, innovative corporate environment. Find your spark!
Chugach's corporate vision:
Responsibly developing energy to build a clean, sustainable future for Alaska.
Chugach's corporate mission:
We provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity through superior service and sustainable practices, powering the lives of our members.
Chugach's corporate values:
Guided by our values of safety, accountability, and sustainability, we are committed to serving our members, the community, and the Chugach team.
Equal Employment Opportunity
It is a policy of Chugach Electric Association, Inc., to recruit, hire, train, promote, and compensate persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, veteran's status, age, or any other classification protected by applicable, federal, state, or local law.
Chugach is also an affirmative action employer.