Electric Distribution Superintendent

Northwest Iowa Community College; Sterling (KS); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Sterling is seeking an Electric Distribution Supervisor to manage daily operations of the city's electrical system. The role requires strong mechanical and technical aptitude, plus leadership and communications skills to supervise staff and ensure safety and compliance.

The position emphasizes budgeting, long-term planning, equipment operation, and hands-on electrical work across overhead and underground circuits. A technical electric degree and journeyman license are preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience in supervising a municipal electric distribution team and operations.
• Technical background in electric systems and equipment maintenance.
• Ability to prepare reports and enforce safety policies.
• Strong public relations and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manages and supervises daily operations of the electric distribution team.
• Supervises and trains staff in equipment operation and maintenance.
• Maintains records and reports to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Maintains other city equipment as needed.
• Monitors and orders parts; operates heavy equipment.
• Monitors and manages the department budget.
• Contributes to long-term plans for system improvements.
• Constructs, repairs, strings lines for distribution; repairs equipment.
• Sets poles and hardware; frames components.
• Installs and troubleshoots transformer stations and related gear.
• Constructs and maintains electrical metering.
• Enforces policies and procedures.

Skills

Electrical theory

Public relations

Supervisory skills

Budget management

Equipment operation

Safety compliance

Education

Technical degree in electric field

Journeyman electrical license preferred

Tools

Bucket trucks

Backhoes

Wire-stringing equipment

Electrical testing equipment

Radios

Job description

Under the supervision of the City Manager, the Electric Distribution Superintendent is a non‑exempt position under the FLSA. This employee is responsible for managing and supervising the daily operations of the city's electrical system. This employee should possess a strong mechanical and technical aptitude, and excellent managerial, supervisory, organizational, and communication and public relations skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Manages and supervises the daily operations of the electric distribution team;
• Supervises and trains departmental personnel in the operation and maintenance of equipment used for the distribution of electricity;
• Maintains and administers records and reports to ensure compliance with city, state, and national requirements;
• Maintains other city equipment as required;
• Monitors and orders parts and materials, and operates heavy equipment;
• Monitors and maintains departmental budget;
• Contributes to the development and design of long‑term strategic plans for maintaining and improving the city’s electric distribution system;
• Constructs and makes repairs as well as strings lines to underground and overhead distribution system in the city as well as repair electrical equipment on other city properties;
• Sets primary and secondary poles and frames hardware;
• Installs and troubleshoots single phase and three phase transformer stations, capacitor stations, cutouts. insulators, cross arms, and lightening arrestors;
• Constructs and maintains various types of electrical metering;
• Enforces departmental and city policies and procedures.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS:

• Performs line locates for any construction. or other digging operations;
• Performs daily water and electric readouts, disconnects, and monthly disconnect notices for non-payment;
• Assists with community‑wide projects that promote residents’ quality of life
• Assists other departments as needed;
• Performs other duties as deemed necessary or assigned;

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Experience: Four (4) to six (6) years of similar or related experience is required. Employee is expected to acquire any required certifications within five (5) years of employment. Employee is expected to have acquired the necessary information and skills to perform the job reasonably well within one (I) year of employment.
• Education: A technical degree in an electric field and a journeyman's e1ectrical license are preferred.
• Technical Skills: A thorough knowledge of operating and maintaining distribution equipment and a working knowledge of mathematics is required. This employee must be able to operate bucket trucks backhoes, wire‑stringing equipment, computers, radios, electrical testing equipment and other departmental equipment. The ability to understand and anticipate problems, to enforce department safety policies and procedures, to prepare reports. and to interpret written instructions, maps, schematics, diagrams, reports and manuals is required. This employee should possess a strong mechanical and technical aptitude, and possess excellent public relations, supervisory, managerial, organizational, oral and written communications skills.
• Problem Solving: Independent problem solving is a factor for this position. This employee encounters problems with scheduling conflicts, equipment malfunctions and power outages, and personnel issues. This employee should possess a strong understanding of electric theory and be able to apply it to practical problems.
• Decision Making: Independent decision making is involved in this position. This emp1oyee makes decisions about enforcing and maintaining safety, performing necessary repairs, prioritizing assignments, resolving personnel issues and performing daily duties in the safest and most efficient manner.
• Supervision: This employee works with occasional supervision from the City Manager. The position frequently supervises other departmental staff.
• Financial Accountability: This employee is responsible for departmental resources and equipment. This employee has the authority to purchase supplies and equipment up to a predetermined level without prior approval. The employee is responsible for revenue generation and expenditure control and participates in the annual budget process.
• Personal Relations: Weekly contact with the general public, subordinate personnel, and supervisory personnel, and occasional contact with the city's governing body is expected. The employee must be able to effectively communicate in both oral and written forms.
• Working Conditions: Adverse working conditions exist with this position. Exposure to high voltages, hazardous chemicals, working in extreme heat and in excessive noise is common for this position.
• Physical Requirements: Manual labor is expected with this position. The employee is expected to be capable of lifting and carrying heavy objects, extensive walking, and the ability to operate department equipment is required daily in this position.