AE Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager

City of Austin

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. What Makes the City of Austin Special? Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives. Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits. Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure. Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support. Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities. Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration. By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country. Job Description: Purpose: Under limited direction, this position reduces wildfire risk by creating resilience through proactive planning, analytics, technology, operational excellence, strategic partnerships, and compliance for the electric system. Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned. Leads wildfire mitigation activities for Austin Energy (AE) by developing and establishing program goals, objectives, and strategies. Acts as a change agent; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; develops and implements strategies for continuous improvement. Serves as a wildfire mitigation expert and provides authoritative knowledge, analysis, advice, and recommendations that ensure effective risk management and mitigation. Coordinates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders in interactions involving wildfire risk trends, common issues and best practices, and the development of effective mitigation strategies. Creates, maintains, and communicates AE’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan and Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Leads department strategic projects and initiatives under the Wildfire Mitigation Plan. Develops cross-divisional project teams across all the organization’s functional areas. Identifies and maintains wildfire risk metrics and key performance metrics for each initiative. Demonstrates and quantifies the reduction of risk due to the programs put in place. Establishes and maintains controls and reporting to manage and monitor budget, scope, quality, schedule, and risks across the portfolio of wildfire mitigation projects; maintains overall program completion that is on time and within budget.

Requirements

• Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques, and methods in developing and implementing a wildfire management program for a utility.
• Knowledge of methods and principles of fire suppression, fire investigation, and fire prevention.
• Knowledge of the utility industry: trends, issues, business operations, safety practices, and regulations.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws and ordinances governing the electric utility industry.
• Knowledge of electric industry reliability practices, policies, procedures, and standards.
• Knowledge of electric utility engineering or construction standards and practices.
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
• Knowledge and skill in process improvement concepts, methods, and practices (Six Sigma, Agile, etc.).
• Knowledge of technology and capabilities that reduce potential wildfire damages through proper selection of resources, system improvements, and early warningdetection systems that increase human safety.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of risk.
• Interpersonal and collaboration skills to effectively partner with leaders and peers and facilitate effective cross-functional team building.
• Ability to develop wildfire management plans and carry out fire preventions programs, coordinating with others, and interpreting policy.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to quickly recognize, analyze, and respond to irregular events.
• Ability to train others.
• Graduation with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework related to the job, plus five (5) years of experience in wildfire mitigation, fire suppression, fire investigation, or fire management to include at least one year of experience related to electric utility system operations.
• Graduation with a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for two (2) years of experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with electric distribution design and electric distribution construction standards and practices including grid hardening solutions.
• Ability to produce high-quality documentation by writing clear and well-structured explanations of mitigation programs, risk assessment methodologies, and technical assessments.
• Proficient in standard office and analysis software. This includes strong skills in Microsoft Office 365 and experience with online collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint, Teams, or similar).
• Ability to assist in the research, evaluation, and recommendations for supporting technologies and create and maintain process flows, work instructions, and functional and technical requirements.
• Ability to improve decision tooling and governance: develop and maintain standard operation procedures, dashboards, decision logs, and after-action reviews; track and report outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to travel to multiple worksites as part of regular duties.

Responsibilities

• Leads wildfire mitigation activities for Austin Energy (AE) by developing and establishing program goals, objectives, and strategies.
• Acts as a change agent; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; develops and implements strategies for continuous improvement.
• Serves as a wildfire mitigation expert and provides authoritative knowledge, analysis, advice, and recommendations that ensure effective risk management and mitigation.
• Coordinates and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders in interactions involving wildfire risk trends, common issues and best practices, and the development of effective mitigation strategies.
• Creates, maintains, and communicates AE’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan and Public Safety Power Shutoff program.
• Leads department strategic projects and initiatives under the Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
• Develops cross-divisional project teams across all the organization’s functional areas.
• Identifies and maintains wildfire risk metrics and key performance metrics for each initiative.
• Demonstrates and quantifies the reduction of risk due to the programs put in place.
• Establishes and maintains controls and reporting to manage and monitor budget, scope, quality, schedule, and risks across the portfolio of wildfire mitigation projects; maintains overall program completion that is on time and within budget.

Benefits

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees