Vice President, Special Projects and Emerging Technologies

Sawnee EMC; Cumming (GA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Sawnee EMC in Georgia seeks a seasoned executive leader to manage special projects, energy programs, and strategic planning within the cooperative. You will oversee cross-functional teams, guide load forecasting, power resource planning, and contracts, while working with the COO/President & CEO to align operations with member needs.

The role requires extensive utility industry knowledge, strong financial acumen, and the ability to communicate with directors, staff, and public stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering and advanced degree in business, finance or related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in engineering, construction, or operations of an electric utility or consulting firm.
• Familiarity with electric utility transmission, station and distribution facilities, planning, operations and power systems software.

Responsibilities

• Lead special projects and emerging technologies under COO/President & CEO.
• Oversee energy efficiency programs, load forecasting and power resource planning.
• Develop contracts related to power purchases and advise energy partners.
• Direct cross-functional teams and coordinate with department heads.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Project management

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Advanced degree in business/finance or related field

Professional Engineer (PE) License in Georgia

Tools

Windows

Microsoft Office

NISC iVUE

Job description

PURPOSE:

1. Manages the development, evaluation and implementation of special projects and emerging technologies.
2. Assists with the development, interpretation, and implementation of complex engineering, operations, financial and accounting concepts, and techniques.
3. Assists with the development, evaluation and implementation of strategies related to energy efficiency programs, renewable energy, load forecasting, power resource planning, contract development related to power purchases and consultation with the cooperative's energy advisors/partners.
4. Assists the COO with implementation, coordination and oversight of organization procedures and programs.
5. Demonstrates an awareness that the job exists to effectively serve each SEMC member, and at every opportunity to achieve increased member and public understanding for support SEMC.

DEMANDS:

1. A bachelor's degree in engineering and advanced degree in business, finance or a related field is required.
2. Ten (10) or more years of increasingly responsible experience in the engineering, construction, and / or operations department of an electric utility or engineering consulting firm, with supervision preferred or equivalent experience as solely determined by the Corporation.
3. Proven familiarity with electric utility transmission, station, and distribution facility, planning, construction, operations, maintenance, specifications, power systems software, and accounting / administrative principles and practices.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Professional Engineer (PE) License in the State of Georgia is preferred.
2. Management experience, including substantial responsibility in areas such as utility operations, financial management, member or customer relations, strategic planning, Board relations, rate structures, and legislative or regulatory matters.
3. Demonstrated managing change and achieving strategic and financial objectives.
4. Working knowledge of utility industry, Battery Energy Storage Systems and other emerging technologies.
5. Working knowledge of applicable RUS, NESC, NEC, DOT, OSHA, GUPC regulations and procedures, and corporate policies and procedures.
6. Comprehensive working knowledge of the technology of line and substation service and maintenance.
7. Comprehensive knowledge of design and operations of generation, transmission and distribution systems.
8. High level of competency and working knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office, and NISC iVUE to include Financials/Vault/Service/Outage/Admin software. Advanced working abilities creating and updating spreadsheets, databases and developing presentations.
9. Advanced skills for organizing and maintaining records and workflow.
10. Experience working with a governing board and communicating effectively with directors, employees, members, business partners, public officials, and community stakeholders.
11. Ability to manage frequent multiple changing priorities, frequent interruptions, conflicts, and frequent contact with internal and external customers.
12. High level of language skills as determined by ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and/or legal documents; ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or members of the business community; ability to write communications that conform to a prescribed style and format.
13. Ability to communicate well with all departments of the corporation, as well as members of the corporation.
14. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish controlling factors, and develop valid conclusions.
15. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables and approaches.
16. Ability to seek solutions to complex business, regulatory and financial problems.
17. Must be able to segregate fact from fiction and provide unbiased solutions to real world problems.
18. Requires attendance at external meetings, with occasional overnight travel.
19. A valid driver's license.
20. Regular and reliable attendance and punctuality record.
21. Flexible work hours as necessitated by circumstances, on-call functions, and irregular work shifts.
22. Flexibility for irregular work hours, including evenings and weekends as necessitated by circumstances.
23. Position requires this individual report in time of natural disaster and weather-related emergencies, and recognizing that the Corporation (SEMC) is an electric utility.
24. Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner is an essential job function.
25. Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner is an essential job function.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Acts as the leader for special projects as assigned by the COO or President & CEO.
2. Proven leadership experience managing multiple projects and cross-functional teams.
3. Will assist Executive team in leading long-term power supply strategy for the cooperative, including review of all power supply contracts, load forecasting, power resource planning, and consultation with SEMC's energy advisors.
4. Assist the cooperative to meet forecasted electrical capacity and energy requirements to meet current and future loads by evaluating, analyzing, and recommending new energy resources or conservation required to meet objectives.
5. Serves as the cooperative's principal developer and facilitator of energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives relating to industrial, commercial, and residential energy efficiency programs. Stays current on best practice industry standards and potential program enhancements.
6. Maintain up-to-date knowledge on SEMC's transmission and power purchase contracts and the related billings.
7. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of market conditions and trends including monitoring activities of power suppliers and counterparties, benchmarking peer data with power suppliers, as needed.
8. Ability to formulate conclusions/recommendations based on supported and reliable data.
9. Assist with planning and implementing policies and procedures and programs for all areas of energy services.
10. Evaluates programs, services, techniques, and procedures and develops ideas for enhancing existing programs and develops new programs.
11. Direct and coordinate department activities with other departments.
12. Develops department work plan and budgets.
13. Makes optimum use of time. Maintains appropriate records in timely and comprehensive manner.
14. Maintains current knowledge on advances and changes in SEMC policies, programs, services, the Cooperative industry and in the electric utility industry in general.
15. Always conducts himself / herself in an ethical and professional manner.
16. Can propose real world solutions to complex and comprehensive projects.
17. Processes and maintain confidential material in a circumspect manner.
18. Maintains current knowledge on advances and changes in occupational field, SEMC policies, programs, and services, and in the electric utility industry in general.
19. Continue expanding knowledge and capabilities within job and organization through the independent pursuit of self‑study courses and outside course offerings.
20. The job requires the ability to work under frequent deadline pressures, multiple changing priorities, and frequent interruptions, along with assisting customers as needed.
21. The duties identified above are the major responsibilities/essential functions of this position. These are not intended to cover each aspect of the position. At times, the scope, duties, functions, and responsibilities of a given position may change or be temporarily altered based on the needs of SEMC.
22. The basic requirement of every position is to perform all tasks, projects, and any other duties as requested and assigned by the reporting authority to fulfill the objective of SEMC.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO)
2. Requires the reliable and accurate performance of duties, to include decision‑making responsibilities, without direct supervision.
3. Fulfill managerial responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
4. Internal Communication: This position's internal communications include all SEMC employees and assigned contract workers.
5. External Communication: This position's external communications include all SEMC members, the public, as well as vendors, legal advisors, regulatory agencies, professional organizations and others.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. While performing the duties of this job, the work in general office conditions with sedentary physical requirements and is regularly required to sit, speak and hear, use hands to key, grasp, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms.
2. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, kneel or crawl.
3. Duties are performed within an office environment with extended periods of time spent working with a computer and reading print materials.
4. General office conditions to include external meetings, with exposure to outside environmental conditions on an infrequent basis.
5. The employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock.
6. Duties require the physical ability of sitting, keyboarding, stooping, crouching, reaching, grasping, hearing, speaking, writing, operation of telephone, operation of miscellaneous office equipment, as well as other defined sedentary tasks.
7. The employee is frequently required to lift ten (10) pounds. The employee is occasionally required to lift twenty-five (25) pounds.
8. The vision requirements include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
9. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
10. Position requires operation of a motor vehicle.