Cleveland Public Power, OH – Deputy Commissioner, Engineering & Reliability

GovHRUSA; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 130,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid leave time

Retirement plans

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Cleveland Public Power seeks an experienced Deputy Commissioner of Engineering and Reliability to lead engineering, planning, SCADA, and regulatory activities. The role oversees a ~20-person team and directs major infrastructure projects, reliability programs, and automation initiatives within Ohio’s largest municipal electric utility.

Ideal candidates have a PE license (OH) or ability to obtain in 90 days, plus 4–7 years in progressive engineering roles with leadership experience; ABET master’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering.
• Master’s degree in engineering (ABET) preferred.
• PE license in Ohio or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• 4–7 years of progressive engineering experience, including ≥3 years in supervision/management.
• Strong knowledge of Grid Infrastructure and Regulatory/Industry Standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee engineering, planning, SCADA and operations technology, transmission operations, regulatory compliance, and power/energy market purchasing.
• Direct staff of about 20 and lead major utility infrastructure initiatives (substation rebuilds, distribution upgrades, reliability programs, automation projects).
• Provide direction and oversight for engineering and reliability teams and support cross-divisional collaboration.
• Lead transformational leadership, coaching and development to embrace organizational change.

Skills

Professional leadership

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

SCADA/operational technology

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering

Master’s degree in Engineering (ABET)

Job description

CLEVELAND, OH (pop. 372,624).

The City of Cleveland’s Public Power utility is seeking a collaborative, detail-driven and experienced engineering professional to serve as its Deputy Commissioner of Engineering and Reliability. This leadership role will be instrumental in assisting the Commissioner of Cleveland Public Power in managing departmental operations, providing direction and oversight to engineering, reliability, and technical support teams, as well as leading major utility infrastructure initiatives. This is one of four new positions designed to deliver a transformative strategic vision for Ohio’s oldest and largest public electric utility. In total, these newly established roles are an investment made to strengthen CPP’s leadership capacity by building a team that will support sustained organizational growth and success.

The City of Cleveland, the 16th largest metropolitan area in the U.S., offers abundant amenities, includes three major professional sports teams, world class museums and arts institutions, and easy access to the region’s international airport. Cleveland is in the midst of an economic transformation and is home to an enviable share of emerging talent, enthusiastic entrepreneurs, and skilled workers, with leading-edge sectors in healthcare, biotech, and higher education.

Cleveland Public Power (CPP) has been serving the area for more than 120 years. It is Ohio’s largest municipal electric power provider and ranks 35 out of 2,000 publicly owned electric utilities in the country. CPP delivers reliable, affordable power to approximately 75,000 residential and commercial customers. CPP has 305 authorized positions, and revenues of more than $260 million. It is a key partner in the City’s economic development efforts.

The Deputy Commissioner oversees a staff of about 20. The position administers engineering and planning, SCADA and operations technology, transmission operations, regulatory compliance, and power and energy market purchasing. The Deputy Commissioner will also oversee infrastructure ventures including substation rebuilds, distribution upgrades, reliability improvement programs, and automation projects.

Successful candidates will possess:

• A bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering, or related field.
• Ideally, a master’s degree in engineering from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) college or university (or equivalent as determined by the Ohio Board of Registration of Professional Engineering and Surveyors.)
• Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Ohio or the ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire.
• Four to seven years of progressive engineering experience, including at least three (3) years in supervisory and/or management roles. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Strong knowledge of Grid Infrastructure and Regulatory and Industry Standards.

Ideally, candidates will also possess:

• The ability to lead major utility infrastructure initiatives, reliability improvement programs, and automation projects.
• Strong coordination and project management skills.
• The skills and diplomacy to build collaborative teams within and across CPP’s divisions.
• A track record of assessing the skills and abilities of existing personnel in an effort to maximize their talent and expertise, including opportunities for employees to take on new challenges as professionals.
• The ability to be a transformational leader who can coach and develop employees to embrace organizational change.

The Deputy Commissioner of Engineering and Reliability is appointed by CPP’s Commissioner, and reports directly to him. The salary range is $130,000 – $157,000 +/-, with a hiring salary of around $140,000 expected. The City offers a comprehensive and competitive CLE Total Rewards benefits package that includes health insurance, paid leave time, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.

The City of Cleveland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants should be aware that, as a public institution in the state of Ohio, Cleveland Public Power is subject to the Ohio Open Records Law (Ohio Rev. Code § 149.43). This means that certain records and documents related to employment, including but not limited to applications, resumes, and other materials submitted during the application process, may be subject to public disclosure upon request.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Posted: 2026-08-18