DOC Field Planner

Arizona Public Service Company; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona Public Service Company is seeking a DOC Field Planner to direct switching operations, outage scheduling, and system restoration for distribution networks. You will provide technical support to Operations and Maintenance, coordinate outages, and ensure safety and reliability in daily activities and during storms.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED and at least five years with APS in related electrical operations, with strong field evaluation and independent-work skills.

Qualifications

• Requires High School diploma/GED and 5 years APS field experience.
• Experience in transmission/ distribution operations and outage planning.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to change.

Responsibilities

• Formulate switching orders to safely and efficiently reconfigure circuits to allow for planned construction and maintenance of distribution facilities.
• Provide assistance to construction and operations and maintenance personnel to determine necessary equipment needs and outages for planned work. Ensure timely and clear communications are delivered to customers, external agencies and internal departments.
• Provide guidance and support to operation center during storms and emergency situations to assist in system restoration. Ensure that restoration efforts support the integrity of the electrical system.
• Develop and implement plans to restore system back to normal after repairs are completed.
• Support operators, troublemen, and line crews to ensure reliable maintenance, construction and operation of the APS electrical system.
• Direct the work planning process from an Operations perspective, including assisting in the prioritization of work plans, work schedules, resources and material coordination with Operations &Maintenance, Customer Construction, Advanced Grid Technologies and area managers.
• Provide consultation on Operational Studies and Construction budget preparation concerning load growth, construction and maintenance, engineering standards and plans for distribution, substation, and system reliability. Identify areas for improvement or operational issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Assist Distribution Operations Center (DOC) during emergency events by coordinating Operator activities, tracking and prioritizing outages, developing restoration and manpower utilization plans, and communicating outage information to the Floor Supervisor and incident command center.
• Ensure compliance to the Accident Prevention Manual, IBEW Contract, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) guidelines.

Skills

Outage coordination

Field evaluation

Safety awareness

Independent work

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

PI database

Geographic Information System

Advanced Distribution Management System

Blue Print reading

Job description

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Our present and future success depends on the creative and dedicated people of our company who demonstrate the principles outlined in the APS Promise: Design for Tomorrow, Empower Each Other and Succeed Together.

Summary

The DOC Field Planner provides direction and oversight to APS personnel involved in the construction, maintenance and operation of APS' distribution and network systems. This role:

• Provides technical support to local Operations and Maintenance, Construction, management, and Distribution Operations Center personnel.
• Ensures that system utilization is optimized while adhering to APS' operating practices and procedures and without compromising the system's safety, integrity, and reliability.
• Responsible for researching, planning, coordinating, and scheduling of system outages and reconfigurations required for planned system additions and modifications.
• Coordinates and oversees work activities of various APS functional areas and interconnected utilities to ensure that the outage restoration is completed in a timely manner.
• High School diploma/GED and five (5) years' experience with APS working as a Journeyman Lineman, Journeyman Electrician, Electrical Engineer, or equivalent experience where extensive knowledge of the transmission and/or distribution systems operations, maintenance and/or construction is obtained.
• Must have the ability to work independently and be self-directed in establishing priorities and adapting to change.
• Working knowledge of electrical theory and operation of an interconnected electric distribution system, lines and substation equipment, protective schemes and relays, general safety practices and the APS accident prevention manual.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly assimilate and evaluate information to determine the scope of unplanned system outages, and formulate viable options to isolate the problem and reconfigure the system in order to restore service.
• Must be able to perform field evaluations as to the extent of damage, and direct field personnel in the priority and required sequencing of activities needed in the completion of permanent repairs in order to return system to its normal configuration.

Preferred knowledge, skills, or qualifications:

• Experience with the following applications is preferred: Transmission Outage Application, Advanced Distribution Management System, Geographic Information System, PI database.
• Extensive experience and technical knowledge of distribution switching and clearance writing.
• Experience and technical knowledge of substation, distribution and transmission equipment, transmission and distribution electrical design/schematics and one-line diagrams.
• Experience with Blue Print reading/interpretation.
• A valid Arizona driver's license is required.
• May also require the administration of a test.

Major Accountabilities

1. Formulate switching orders to safely and efficiently reconfigure circuits to allow for planned construction and maintenance of distribution facilities.
2. Provide assistance to construction and operations and maintenance personnel to determine necessary equipment needs and outages for planned work. Ensure timely and clear communications are delivered to customers, external agencies and internal departments.
3. Provide guidance and support to operation center during storms and emergency situations to assist in system restoration. Ensure that restoration efforts support the integrity of the electrical system.
4. Develop and implement plans to restore system back to normal after repairs are completed.
5. Support operators, troublemen, and line crews to ensure reliable maintenance, construction and operation of the APS electrical system. Formulate plans for required planned outages to the system to ensure the integrity of the electrical system during construction and maintenance activities. Perform field checks of equipment and infrastructure as necessary.
6. Direct the work planning process from an Operations perspective, including assisting in the prioritization of work plans, work schedules, resources and material coordination with Operations &Maintenance, Customer Construction, Advanced Grid Technologies and area managers.
7. Provide consultation on Operational Studies and Construction budget preparation concerning load growth, construction and maintenance, engineering standards and plans for distribution, substation, and system reliability. Identify areas for improvement or operational issues and recommend corrective actions.
8. Assist Distribution Operations Center (DOC) during emergency events by coordinating Operator activities, tracking and prioritizing outages, developing restoration and manpower utilization plans, and communicating outage information to the Floor Supervisor and incident command center.
9. Ensure compliance to the Accident Prevention Manual, IBEW Contract, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) guidelines.

Export Compliance / EEO Statement

This position may require access to and/or use of information subject to control under the Department of Energy's Part 810 Regulations (10 CFR Part 810), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730 through 774), or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter M Part 120) (collectively, 'U.S. Export Control Laws'). Therefore, some positions may require applicants to be a U.S. person, which is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), a Political Asylee, or a Refugee under the U.S. Export Control Laws. All applicants will be required to confirm their U.S. person or non-US person status. All information collected in this regard will only be used to ensure compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws, and will be used in full compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin and other factors. For positions at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Stations (PVNGS) all openings will require applicants to be a U.S. person.
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates ('Pinnacle West') maintain a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in employment. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination shall include, but not be limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, compensating, reassigning, demoting, transferring, laying off, recalling, terminating employment, and training for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other classification or characteristic protected by law.
For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to EEO is the Law poster. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of every person hired to work in the United States, refer to E-Verify poster. View the employee rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Arizona Public Service is a smoke free workplace.

CIP Requirement:

This position requires Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) access consistent with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards. The applicant considered for this role will be required to obtain and maintain CIP access for the duration of employment in this position. A full seven (7) year criminal history will be obtained through the pre-employment background check process (or, for current employees, through supplemental background check process) to fulfill the CIP access requirements. In addition, this position requires an additional background check every seven years to maintain access.

Onsite: Requires work to be performed in the field and/or at an APS facility. Depending on the responsibilities of the role, this may include, but is not limited to, working at a power plant, job site, or in the community.

*Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).

*Role types are subject to change based on business need.

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