1415 Electric Utility Director-FILLED

J Powers Recruiting, Inc.; Colton (CA); On-site; USD 237,272 - 289,999; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS Pension

Health benefits

Auto allowance

Education incentive

Paid holidays

Longevity pay

Job summary

The City of Colton seeks an Electric Utility Director to lead the Electric Department with oversight of a 54-person staff and a $138 million annual operating budget.

The role requires strategic planning, rate setting, resource planning, and coordination with City and external agencies; the ideal candidate has strong regulatory knowledge, leadership, and a track record of delivering reliable electric service. This is a senior city management position with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or public administration from an accredited college/university.
• Minimum five years of progressively increasing experience in an electrical enterprise, design and construction, transmission/distribution and resource planning.
• Three years of management and/or supervisory experience, preferably in California.
• Master’s degree desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain Electric Department goals, priorities, and policies.
• Manage the Electric Department budget; monitor expenditures and adjust as necessary.
• Oversee major construction, operation, and maintenance activities within the department.
• Assume responsibility for all Electric Department activities including power procurement, rate structure, and resource planning.
• Provide capital improvement planning and advise on financial matters and rate changes.
• Coordinate with attorneys, consultants, regulatory bodies, and trade associations for information and support.
• Attend professional and community meetings and respond to questions and concerns from the public.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in business administration or public administration

Five years electrical enterprise experience

Three years management experience

Master’s Degree desirable

Job description

Click here for the position brochure

Electric Utility Director

An opportunity to lead with authority, foresight, and public purpose!

THE COMMUNITY

The City of Colton, located in San Bernardino County, is proud of its growing role as a center for new business, residential, and employment opportunities. A comprehensive transportation network, available underdeveloped land, a skilled, ready to work labor pool, and a viable partnership between business, city, and county government contribute vitality to an already established commerce.

The City is focused on the high quality of living, education, job creation, community health, public safety, housing, retail, recreation, arts and culture, and infrastructure for development that is sustainable over time. With great parks, facilities, schools, businesses, and other opportunities, Colton is a destination for anyone seeking a sense of community and a high quality of life.

The Colton of today has historically served as a crossroads and center of regional activities. In the late 1700s, explorers from Mexico first passed through on their way north to Monterey. The first permanent settlement occurred in the early 1800s, and a formal town was laid out on a traditional grid street pattern in 1875 when the final transcontinental leg of the Southern Pacific Railway pushed through on its way to Los Angeles. Interstates 10 and 215 were both constructed to cross through the City, which attracted many transportation-based industries.

Colton is a diverse community where tomorrow’s contributors pursue their dreams in an attractive and safe environment abundant with opportunities for educational and economic advancement.

THE ORGANIZATION

The City of Colton is a general law city operating under the Council-Manager form of government. City Council is comprised of five members elected to serve four-year terms with staggered elections every two years. The Mayor is elected at large, and the four Council members are elected by district. Through a collaborative process, the Colton City Council sets priorities that reflect the community’s needs and desires.

As a Council, they are committed to earning the public’s trust by governing the City’s affairs with transparency. Their objective is to build upon a quality of life that will sustain abundant opportunities for current and future generations. The City Manager, appointed by Council, is a full-time professional manager who serves as the chief legislative advocate on issues of major significance to the City, and implements and maintains the City Council’s goals and objectives, policies, and priorities.

The current City Manager has been in this role for over 11 years and over 25 years with the City, indicating a strong level of stability in the organization. The Executive Staff is a close-knit group that works closely together and is comprised of all departments within the organization, which include Fire, Police, Public Works, Development Services, Finance, Human Resources, Community Development, and Utilities.

THE DEPARTMENT

The mission of the Electric Utility Department is to provide its customers with a reliable supply of electric service at an equitable price, essential to maintaining public health, economic vitality, and community well-being. The City of Colton provides electric, water, and wastewater services to its citizens. Established in 1887, Colton’s Electric Utility is the oldest founded utility in San Bernardino County. The utility was created to provide quality, reliable service to residential and business customers within the City. For the current year, the Electric Utility Department operates with approved appropriations totaling $138 million. The Utility Department’s goals include providing responsive and reliable service, equitable rates, and superior customer service.

Colton Electric Utility owns and operates its own power plant, five substations, and the entire electrical infrastructure, including the transmission and distribution lines within the City boundaries. Colton Electric Utility services and supplies 185 miles of overhead and underground lines, along with 20,405 service connections. The utility supply resources are a blend of renewables (wind/solar), geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, natural gas, and unspecified (Open Market) sources.

The utility serves approximately 17,000 residential customers, with the remainder comprising commercial and industrial customers, with a peak load of 93 Mega, or Million, Watts.

THE POSITION

The Electric Utility Director is the top management level class within the Electric Department, and is responsible for planning, managing, overseeing, and directing the operations and services of the City’s electric utility functions. With direction from the City Manager, the Electric Utility Director will oversee the electric enterprise, coordinate department activities with other City departments, officials, and/or outside agencies, and will manage a staff of 54 employees.

This position provides complex staff support to the City Manager, requiring specialized knowledge and expertise in developing and administering functions and programs affecting the City on a long-term and continuous basis. The Electric Utility Director will assist the City Manager in preparing agenda reports, resource planning, and rates to present to City Council and residents of the Electric Department programs. Communicating with engineering consultants, financial consultants, and professional trade associations to acquire information and assistance is essential. Typical responsibilities include:

• Developing, implementing, and maintaining Electric Department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for appropriate service areas; ensuring that established goals and priorities are achieved.
• Managing and coordinating the development of the Electric Department budget; monitoring and approving expenditures; advising appropriate department personnel on budget matters; making adjustments to the budget as necessary.
• Overseeing all major construction, operation, and maintenance activities within the department; staying abreast of smaller construction and maintenance activities.
• Accepting full responsibility for all Electric Department activities and services, including activities associated with the electric enterprise of the City; managing the buying and selling of electric power; monitoring and maintaining direction over electric rate structure, power resources, and delivery, power system planning, transmission, local distribution, handling emergency power situations.
• Providing short-term and long-term electric utility capital improvement planning for the City.
• Ensuring the fiscal viability of electric, resource planning, and transmission and distribution through marketing of revenue bonds and revenue anticipation notes to meet shorthand long term financial goals.
• Preparing, implementing, and revising as necessary, a Resource Plan to ensure that all energy requirements are satisfied.
• Managing energy contracts.
• Conferring with attorneys, engineering consultants, financial consultants, regulatory bodies, legislative and professional trade associations, and other pertinent groups or individuals to acquire information and assistance.
• Maintaining resources and knowledge with changes in CAISO, Federal, or State legislation, ordinances, rules, and regulations.
• In addition, this position is responsible for reviewing and evaluating service delivery methods and systems, including administrative and supporting systems, and internal relationships; and is responsible for identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing changes to standard operating procedures to enhance services. The incoming Director will conduct special studies on rates, develop and present recommendations for changes in rate and fee structures, and facilitate planning and forecasts.
• The Electric Utility Director also attends and participates in professional and community meetings, and responds to and investigates questions and complaints from the general public or officials.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• The ideal candidate is a proven leader with the ability to mentor and guide staff.
• Excellent knowledge of applicable regulatory codes and laws related to the development, construction, and operation of an electric utility is essential in this role.
• The ideal candidate must know electrical resource evaluation related to purchase contracts, generation options, and market opportunities, and must remain current with sources of information regarding the utility industry.
• A candidate with the vision and creativity to investigate innovative options and alternatives for generating revenue would excel in this role.
• The ideal candidate has a proven track record of attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and produce quality work.
• The incoming Electric Utility Director will be a confident, forward-thinker, performing well under pressure.
• The ideal candidate will have a team-oriented mindset, working with employees to achieve efficient overall operation, and will exercise tactful leadership to establish effective working relationships.
• Candidates who communicate clearly and courteously are encouraged to apply, as the Electric Utility Director is responsible for responding to community issues, concerns, and needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Qualified candidates possess a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively increasing experience in an electrical enterprise, design and construction, electrical substations, transmission/distribution, and resource planning.
• Three (3) years of management and/or supervisory experience, preferably in California.
• Special Requirements: Possession of a valid California Class “C” driver’s license issued by the California State Department of Motor Vehicles and a good driving record.
• A Master’s Degree is desirable.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The annual salary for the Electric Utility Director is up to $263,636.10. Placement is dependent on experience and qualifications. The City also offers an attractive benefits package, including:

• Work Schedule: 4/10 work week with Fridays off.
• Retirement: CalPERS Defined Benefit Pension – Classic members 2.5% @ 55; PEPRA members 2% @ 62, Classic members pay the full employee 8% contribution, and new PEPRA members pay the full employee contribution, which is currently 6.75% of the CalPERS contribution. The City does not participate in the Social Security System; however, it does participate in Medicare, and the employee portion is 1.45%.
• Health & Welfare Benefits: Currently, employees receive a $1,625 monthly Cafeteria health allowance for medical, dental, and vision plans for employee and dependent(s). City paid short-term and long-term disability and term life insurance coverage in the amount of $100,000. The City contributes up to $500 per month towards retiree health insurance. Annual medical reimbursement up to $1,000 per fiscal year.
• Incentive Pay: Bilingual Pay - $50/month; Longevity Pay - $100/month at 15, 20, and 25 years of City service; Educational Incentive – 5% for education above minimum job requirements; Auto Allowance – up to $450 a month.
• Annual Leave Accrual: 120 hours of vacation accrued for 1 – 5 years of service, 96 hours of sick leave, 80 hours of administrative leave, 12 paid holidays, 20 floating holiday hours. Previous governmental agency time is considered the basis for the vacation accrual rate.

TO APPLY

If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please contact:

Jenna Flanagan
[phone]
[e-mail]

Filing Deadline: We will begin reviewing first-round candidates on May 18, 2026.

Following the closing date, resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above. The most qualified candidates will be invited to personal interviews with J Powers Recruiting, Inc. A select group of candidates will be asked to provide references once it is anticipated that they may be recommended as finalists. References will be contacted only following candidate approval. Finalist interviews will be held with the City of Colton. Candidates will be advised of the status of the recruitment following the selection of the Electric Utility Director.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Jenna Flanagan at [phone].