Electric Generation / Substation Manager

Oxford Senior Living; Gardner (KS); On-site; USD 95,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Gardner seeks a Power Plant Manager to lead power generation facilities, substations, and transmission networks. You will mentor field staff, enforce safety and regulatory standards, and align operations with city-wide strategic goals.

The role requires a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, 7+ years in the utility sector, and prior supervisory experience. A strong focus on cross‑functional teamwork and data-driven decisions is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field.
• Licensure as valid driver’s license is required.
• 7+ years in power generation/ municipal utility with supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for power generation, substations, and transmission networks.
• Direct operations across multiple utility divisions including water and wastewater.
• Ensure safety, compliance, and operational discipline in field activities.
• Coordinate with regional energy boards and market operations.
• Oversee CIP projects, vendor bids, and multi-year budgets.

Skills

Executive leadership

Multi-utility operations

Field discipline

Strategic communications

System analytics

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

GIS

Lucity CMMS

Job description

• Location 120 E MAIN STREET,Gardner, KS, 66030-1310,United States
• Base Pay $95,114.00 - $117,914.00 / Year
• Job Category Exempt
• Employee Type Full Time
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree

Contact information

• Name Human Resources
• Phone [phone]

* Now Hiring: Electric Generation/ Substation Manager *

Are you an engineering leader ready to drive long-term strategic success across complex utility systems?

The City of Gardner is seeking a highly disciplined Power Plant Manager to oversee critical power generation, substation, and transmission infrastructure for our municipal electric utility. This key role is designed for a big-picture leader who wants to combine deep technical execution with broader, department-wide operational impact.

What We Are Looking For:

We are seeking an adaptive professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, 7+ years of utility experience, and a strong track record of operational accountability in the field. Because this position collaborates closely with other divisions—including our water and wastewater frameworks—candidates who possess dual-utility familiarity and a proven passion for mentoring crews, operators, and staff will stand out.

If you are a strategic thinker with a commitment to cross-functional teamwork and strong field discipline, we are taking our time with a highly selective interview process to find the perfect fit.

Requirements

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Executive Leadership Potential: Exceptional capacity for strategic thinking, project management, personnel development, and long-term succession planning within a complex public utility environment.
• Multi-Utility Operational Understanding: Strong operational familiarity with electrical transmission/generation systems coupled with a foundational understanding of municipal water and wastewater asset management concepts.
• Field Accountability & Discipline: Absolute commitment to enforcing safety manuals, operating procedures, and regulatory thresholds under minimal oversight.
• Strategic Communications: Outstanding interpersonal and public diplomacy skills; ability to articulate technical data or policy demands cohesively to crews, elected city council members, corporate vendors, and public citizens.
• System Analytics & Controls: Mastery of utility software systems, engineering platforms (AutoCAD, GIS), and specialized CMMS software (Lucity) to extract data analytics and track infrastructure depreciation.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field from an accredited institution.
• Licensure: Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License with a good driving record.
• Experience: Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive, hands‑on experience in the power generation or municipal utility sector. Must possess a minimum of three (3) years of formal supervisory experience managing technical field operators or utility teams. Preference will be given to candidates demonstrating exposure to dual-utility operations (electric and water/wastewater frameworks) and a verifiable track record of leadership progression.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Requires walking, bending, or climbing over rough, industrial, or unpaved utility yard terrain.
• Ability to work in variable outdoor weather environments alongside field crews during critical system inspections or emergencies.
• Must possess the visual acuity to evaluate engineering systems, manual hand/eye coordination, and the ability to safely maneuver up to 20 pounds.
• Splits time between a high-stakes, professional office environment and active industrial power generation spaces with moderate to loud noise levels.

Summary

The Power Plant Manager provides comprehensive operational leadership, field accountability, and strategic technical management for the City’s electric generation facilities, substations, and transmission networks. This position is directly responsible for enforcing high operational discipline, mentoring apprentices, and supervising the Engineering Technician, SCADA Specialist and Electric Operators. A critical focus on advanced technical systems management and overall utility integration.; the incumbent must demonstrate significant executive leadership potential and cross‑functional collaboration across multiple municipal divisions.

Job Scope

Operating with great independence and high visibility, the incumbent performs advanced managerial and professional engineering work. The position requires an elite balance of technical aptitude and people‑first leadership. Incumbents are expected to cultivate an absolute culture of safety, establish strict operational discipline in the field, and actively resolve complex systemic challenges. This position emphasis a cross‑functional alignment between different complex asset networks; the manager operates within a collaborative team structure across the Utilities Department (coordinating with electrical, water, and wastewater operations) and alternative City departments to safeguard the long‑term infrastructure health of the municipality.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The employee must execute the following duties accurately, timely, and with strong executive‑level leadership:

• Operational Discipline & Personnel Management: Directly supervises, evaluates, and mentors the Engineering Technician, SCADA Specialist, Electric Operators, and department apprentices. Establishes clear field accountability, builds standardized training pathways, and promotes a culture of absolute compliance and safety.
• Dual‑Utility & Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Collaborates deeply with the Electric Distribution division and other key utility infrastructure managers (including Water and Wastewater systems) to unify municipal planning. Coordinates resources, site surveys, and systemic workflows across disparate City departments.
• Generation & Substation Infrastructure Oversight: Directs the ongoing inspection, continuous maintenance, upgrade, and repair of all substations, transmission networks, and combustion turbine generation assets to ensure maximum public grid reliability.
• Regulatory Compliance & Environmental Stewardship: Manages all federal, state, and local regulatory programs including NERC, FERC, EPA, and EIA standards. Oversees regional air quality control protocols, KDHE compliance tracking, and the reporting of combustion turbine exhaust emissions.
• Market Dispatch Coordination: Guides and assists field operators with safely starting, running, and stopping combustion turbine units in precise alignment with City, KMEA, and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) market demand matrixes.
• Pipeline Safety & Public Protection: Directs compliance programs for the high‑pressure gas pipeline in strict adherence to Kansas Pipeline Safety Regulations and ensures impeccable utility asset tracking via Kansas One Call “Dig Safe” validation protocols.
• Capital Improvement (CIP) & Fiscal Execution: Fully administers assigned Capital Improvement Projects from inception to closeout. Drafts robust equipment bid specifications, evaluates complex vendor submittals, and provides data‑driven support to the Director for multi-year budget forecasts and long‑term cost estimates.
• Executive Development & Representation: Represents the Utilities Department at regional KMEA, power pool governance, and regional planning boards. Executes specialized administrative and managerial tasks as requested to focus on representing the City at high‑level regional energy boards and governance councils.

Selection Guidelines:

Formal application, rating of education and experience; and successful completion of oral interview; reference check; physical and drug screen; and background checks are required. Job related tests including assessments may be required.