Manager - Substation and Protection Engineering

GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY•Tulsa, OK

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Substation and Protection & Control Engineering provides leadership, direction, and management for GRDA’s Substation and Protection & Control Engineering functions. The position develops personnel, manages engineering resources, oversees project execution, and ensures timely delivery of high-quality engineering designs supporting the Authority’s transmission, generation, and substation assets. It establishes priorities, allocates resources, coordinates multidisciplinary projects, and fosters collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and technical excellence. The manager maintains enough technical knowledge to provide engineering oversight while relying on department subject matter experts for discipline-specific technical leadership. This is an unclassified, exempt position. The position primarily works at the Engineering & Technology Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Work is primarily in an office, with outdoor site visits for design, testing, and troubleshooting as needed. Travel may be required to work sites and substations throughout the northeastern quarter of Oklahoma. Repair work may take place indoors or outdoors in high-noise and high-temperature environments, including confined spaces. Emergency repairs may be required during inclement weather and at any time of year. Compensation is commensurate with experience and qualifications; a highly competitive benefits package is offered.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
At least eight years of progressively responsible engineering experience.
At least three years of supervisory, project management, or engineering leadership experience.
Valid Oklahoma driver’s license.
Ability to lead multidisciplinary engineering teams, prioritize concurrent projects, and allocate engineering resources effectively.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Ability to build collaborative working relationships across departments.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
Ability to coach, mentor, and develop engineering professionals.
Ability to evaluate technical recommendations and apply sound engineering judgment in decision-making.
Knowledge of electric utility project development and engineering workflows.
Knowledge of substation and Protection & Control engineering principles, practices, standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Ability to walk, climb stairs, crawl, and work from ladders and elevated platforms; must not have a fear of heights, confined spaces, or working around high-voltage equipment.
Ability to lift, move, and carry up to 30 pounds on an irregular basis.
Mental, visual, and auditory acuity sufficient to maintain attention to visual and auditory detail.
Manual dexterity for operating test equipment and small tools and for installing, adjusting, and repairing control devices.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) registration in Oklahoma.
Engineering experience in electric utility transmission, substation, or Protection & Control engineering.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, supervision, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for Substation and Protection & Control Engineering staff.
Establish departmental priorities, assign work, balance workloads, and ensure effective use of engineering resources.
Promote employee development through mentoring, training, succession planning, and performance feedback.
Build a culture emphasizing safety, accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Conduct performance evaluations, establish employee goals, and provide regular feedback on individual and team performance.
Direct substation and protection engineering activities for capital projects, maintenance initiatives, and system improvements from planning through construction support.
Monitor project schedules, budgets, milestones, and engineering deliverables to support successful project completion.
Coordinate engineering activities with internal and external stakeholders.
Identify project risks, resource conflicts, and schedule impacts, and develop mitigation strategies.
Coordinate and oversee engineering services performed by consultants, contractors, and external engineering firms to ensure compliance with project requirements and GRDA engineering standards.
Maintain accountability for the quality, timeliness, and completeness of engineering deliverables produced by the Substation and Protection & Control Engineering teams.
Provide technical leadership and engineering oversight of substation and Protection & Control designs to ensure compliance with engineering standards, utility practices, regulatory requirements, and GRDA design standards.
Oversee assigned engineering compliance activities and ensure appropriate technical personnel fulfill responsibilities associated with NERC Reliability Standards, GRDA engineering standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Represent GRDA, as appropriate, in regional organizations concerning substations, Protection & Control, and related topics.
Perform other duties as assigned.