Assistant Director of Utilities - Electric

City of San Marcos, Texas; San Marcos (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of San Marcos, Texas invites qualified candidates to apply for the Assistant Director of Utilities – Electric. The role provides strategic leadership for the electric utility, directing operations, system planning, and asset management to ensure safe, reliable service.

You will lead staff, oversee design and maintenance, engage with ERCOT and regulatory bodies, and collaborate with other departments to align utility projects with city goals.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of state and federal legislation related to public power and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of budgeting principles, administrative reporting, and departmental documentation requirements.
• Effective verbal and written communication; presenting clearly.
• Building positive relationships with City departments, external agencies, and the public.
• Creating and sustaining positive work cultures aligned with organizational goals.
• Managing electric utility operations, departmental programs, and assigned budgets.
• Hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating staff performance.
• Ability to apply regulatory requirements and interpret legislation and implement compliant utility practices.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in operational decisions and resolve conflicts.

Responsibilities

• Directs operation and maintenance of the electric distribution system to ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency.
• Supervises planning, engineering, and power delivery activities to align with goals.
• Implements codes, rules, and regulations governing customer installations and electric utility projects.
• Provides leadership and development to build effective teams delivering electric services.
• Oversees development of technical knowledge, skills, and training to strengthen staff expertise.
• Identifies system and business needs and supports implementation of improvements.
• Leads studies and design for system extensions, expansions, and maintenance.
• Oversees creation and maintenance of construction standards reflecting current practices.
• Oversees preparation of technical materials and maintains standards, procedures, and documentation.
• Develops and presents agenda items for City Council to support utility policy and project decisions.
• Participates in statewide planning and reporting with ERCOT, TREL, and NERC.
• Assists in developing wholesale power contracts and monitors regulatory developments.
• Represents the City on boards, committees, and stakeholder groups.
• Advises the Director of Utilities in policy development and acts on their behalf as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Team building

Public speaking

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, finance or related field

Tools

Modeling software for distribution systems

Job description

Become part of a team that thrives on Professionalism, Innovation, Customer Experience, Integrity, and Teamwork — the values that guide how we serve our community.

The Assistant Director of Utilities – Electric provides strategic leadership for the City’s electric utility, directing operations, system planning, and asset management to ensure reliable, safe, and efficient service delivery. This role oversees technical studies, system design, and long-term infrastructure needs while managing programs for system expansion, maintenance, and modernization. By addressing operational challenges, customer needs, and business priorities, the position drives continuous improvement and supports organizational decision-making. The Assistant Director also serves as a key advisor to the Director of Utilities, contributing to policy development and division-wide strategy.

The following list highlights the main responsibilities of this position. While it covers the core tasks, it may not include every duty that could be assigned. Employees may be asked to take on other responsibilities as needed to support the team and department.

Provides Leadership for Electric Division Operations

• Directs and manages the operation and maintenance of the electric distribution system, including substations, to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient service delivery.
• Supervises planning, engineering, and power delivery activities, ensuring alignment with operational goals and industry standards.
• Implements codes, rules, and regulations governing customer installations and electric utility projects.

Leads and Develops Staff

• Provides leadership and development to build effective teams across work groups delivering electric services.
• Conducts hiring, training, supervision, and performance evaluation of assigned staff; assigns work, monitors progress, and ensures quality of outcomes.
• Oversees development of technical knowledge, skills, and training to strengthen staff expertise and operational effectiveness.

Plans and Oversees System Improvements

• Identifies system and business needs, proposes solutions, and supports implementation of operational and capital improvement initiatives.
• Leads studies, analyses, planning efforts, and design preparation for system extensions, expansions, modifications, and maintenance.
• Oversees creation and maintenance of overhead and underground line construction standards, ensuring documentation reflects current practices.

Manages Documentation, Standards, and Technical Review

• Oversees preparation of technical materials, including designs, specifications, customer plan reviews, pole attachment requirements, equipment selections, planning studies, special reports, and performance metrics.
• Ensures accurate development and maintenance of approved electric system standards, procedures, and technical documentation.

Provides Strategic and Regulatory Support

• Develops and presents agenda items for City Council to support utility policy and project decisions.
• Participates in statewide transmission system planning and operations, including ERCOT meetings, subcommittees, and required reporting.
• Assists in developing, monitoring, and administering wholesale power supply contracts.
• Serves as an authorized agent for ERCOT, the Texas Reliability Entity, and NERC, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitors legislative developments affecting public power and electric utilities and advises leadership accordingly.

Coordinates with Internal and External Stakeholders

• Leads coordination with other City departments and divisions to support Electric Division objectives.
• Represents the City on industry, regional, or other boards and committees as assigned.
• Identifies customer issues and business needs and works collaboratively to address concerns and improve service.

Supports Utility Leadership

• Advises and supports the Director of Utilities in policy development and acts on behalf of the Director as designated.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, finance or related field. Commensurate combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in management in the electric power utility industry, with five (5) years in senior level management. Experience should include:
  1. Power system planning, engineering design and project management and capital planning as related to distribution, transmission, substation or protection and control systems.
  2. Modeling software for distribution systems.
  3. Thorough knowledge of and experience in managing or supervising design and repair of electric substation, distribution, metering, relay, and control systems.
  4. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
  5. Demonstrated leadership ability and successful team building history in high performing organizations.
• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of State and Federal legislation related to public power and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of budgeting principles, administrative reporting, and departmental documentation requirements.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication, including preparing and delivering clear presentations.
• Skill in building and maintaining positive working relationships with City departments, external agencies, community organizations, and the public.
• Skill in creating and sustaining positive work cultures that support team alignment with organizational goals.
• Skill in managing electric utility operations, departmental programs, and assigned budgets.
• Skill in hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating staff performance.
• Ability to apply regulatory requirements, interpret legislation, and implement compliant utility practices.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in operational decisions and effectively resolve conflicts.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position requires the ability to lift up to 30 pounds rarely. Subject to vision constantly; sitting, handling, fine dexterity and hearing frequently; standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, reaching, balancing, talking and foot controls occasionally; kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, twisting and climbing rarely.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Working conditions involve occasional exposure to maintenance machinery, vehicle/equipment hazards, exhaust fumes, and hazardous chemicals.