General Manager- Lakeland Electric

City of Lakeland, FL; Lakeland (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Lakeland is seeking a highly experienced chief executive to serve as General Manager of the municipal electric utility. The role directs power generation, transmission, and distribution, while shaping long-range plans to sustain reliability and financial health.

The position requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and CPM certification (or completion within three years), plus at least six years in electric utility leadership.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of electric utility operations, finance, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience leading large public sector organizations and managing budgets.
• Ability to communicate with elected officials, regulators, and the public.
• Familiarity with emergency management and long-term capital planning.

Responsibilities

• Directs all activities of the municipal electric utility, including generation, transmission, and distribution.
• Develops long-range strategic plans to ensure reliability, resiliency, and capacity to meet demand.
• Oversees budgets, revenue forecasting, expenditures, and asset management.
• Reviews rate studies and recommends adjustments for fiscal stability.
• Acts as primary liaison with the City Manager, Utility Committee, and City Commission.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Decision making under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or Engineering

CPM certification (preferred/within three years)

Job description

This is highly responsible executive leadership work, directing the operations of a municipal electric utility. Work involves broad strategic, operational, financial, and technical responsibilities. The General Manager serves as the chief executive of the municipal electric utility, operating under authority delegated by the City Manager. The position is accountable for ensuring reliable, cost-effective utility services; maintaining regulatory compliance; achieving long-term financial sustainability; and advancing strategic initiatives to meet current and future customer needs. Performance is evaluated based on operational effectiveness, fiscal stewardship, regulatory compliance, and achievement of strategic objectives. The City Manager reviews the employee's performance to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of departmental operations in conformance with established goals and policies.

• Directs all activities of the utility system, including customer service, power generation, transmission, distribution, and infrastructure maintenance.
• Develops and implements long-range strategic plans to ensure system reliability, resiliency, and capacity to meet customer demand.
• Establishes performance metrics and ensures continuous improvement in operational efficiency and service delivery.
• Oversees emergency preparedness, system restoration, and crisis management activities.
• Develops, administers, and monitors the annual operating and capital improvement budgets.
• Ensures sound financial management practices, including revenue forecasting, expenditure control, and asset management.
• Reviews and oversees rate studies and recommends rate adjustments to ensure fiscal stability and competitiveness.
• Manages debt issuance, financial planning, and long-term capital investment strategies.
• Serves as the primary liaison between utility operations and the City Manager, Utility Committee, and City Commission.
• Prepares and delivers reports, presentations, and recommendations to governing bodies, the Utility Committee, and the City Manager.
• Represents the utility before regulatory agencies, community groups, industry organizations, and stakeholders.
• Maintains strong public trust through transparent communication and effective stakeholder engagement.
• Provides executive leadership and direct supervision to senior management and departmental leadership.
• Promotes a high-performance culture emphasizing accountability, professional development, and succession planning.
• Ensures a safe and inclusive work environment consistent with City policies and industry standards.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including but not limited to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and environmental requirements.
• Oversees audits, inspections, and compliance reporting requirements.
• Negotiates power purchase and sales agreements, fuel contracts, and major vendor relationships.
• Manages relationships with engineering firms, consultants, regional utilities, and energy market participants.
• Develops and maintains policies and procedures to ensure efficient and compliant operations.
• Establishes departmental goals, objectives, and performance standards.
• Ensures alignment with City policies and strategic priorities.
• May be required to participate in and/or facilitate training to support departmental or City initiatives and requirements.
• May be required to work alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
• Position is designated as Mission Critical.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, or Engineering, supplemented by specialized training in electric utility operations and administration.
• Demonstrated experience in utility operations, strategic planning, finance, and organizational leadership.
• Six years of experience in the management of an electric utility.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and other competencies necessary for success in the target position.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must possess and maintain a valid telephone number.
• Experience working with governing boards or electric utilities preferred.
• Completion of Certified Public Manager (CPM) or completion within three years.
• Rrequired to file a financial disclosure statement with the State of Florida in accordance with Florida Statutes, Chapter 112, Part III. This filing must be completed within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter, no later than July 1 of each year in which the individual serves in this position.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Electric utility operations, including generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
• Utility finance, rate structures, and capital planning.
• Federal and state laws and regulations governing utilities.
• Energy markets, regulatory frameworks, and emerging industry trends.
• Public administration and organizational leadership principles.

ABILITIES:

• Lead a large, complex organization.
• Develop and manage large-scale budgets and capital programs.
• Communicate effectively with elected officials, staff, regulators, and the public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Make sound decisions under pressure, including during emergency situations.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Sedentary work, with occasional walking or standing, exerting up to 10 pounds of force regularly, and performing routine keyboard operations.
• Requires site visits to utility facilities with exposure to operational environments.
• Normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify or assign additional responsibilities as needed.

All City of Lakeland positions are subject to testing (e.g. written, oral, performance, computerized, interview, and/or any combination). Candidates selected for testing will be notified via email or telephone. Please check your e-mail and telephone messages regularly, including "junk" folders. Test times and locations to be announced.

THE CITY OF LAKELAND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESS EMPLOYER AND A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE