Director, Technology Infrastructure and Operations

Director, Technology Infrastructure and Operations Austin, TX, US, 78703 PEC is a dynamic and rapidly growing electric distribution cooperative committed to making energy more reliable, affordable, and an industry leader in customer satisfaction. As we expand and modernize our operations, we are seeking an experienced and visionary Director, Technology Infrastructure and Operations to provide strategic oversight and technical direction to the enterprise infrastructure and operations team, and ensure the security, reliability, efficiency, and scalability of our technology investments. PHYSICAL OFFICE LOCATION: PEC Technology Center – 1506 US-281, Johnson City, TX 78636 Position Summary This position is responsible for providing strategic oversight and technical direction to the enterprise infrastructure and operations team, and ensuring PEC’s infrastructure is reliable, efficient, secure and scalable to meet the strategic and operational goals. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the strategy, planning and overall management and administration of PEC infrastructure; network, telecom, and support operations, to ensure the availability, integrity, and scalability of our enterprise and grid systems

Select, manage, and standardize PEC’s infrastructure assets, tools, and technologies

Provide technical leadership, vision and guidance to teams regarding architectural and procedural best practices

Partner with application, data, and business leaders to plan technology investments and evaluate and implement technology solutions

Lead the planning, implementation, support, and maintenance of all hardware, software, and services used for network communications, telecom, computer, memory, application delivery, and endpoint devices

Ensure compliance with industry standards, regulations, and legal requirements related to data security, critical infrastructure and IT systems (e.g. NERC / CIP)

Ensure the reliability and performance of IT assets essential to grid management, contributing to the overall efficiency of the electric transmission and distribution systems

Implement High Availability solutions for business continuity and disaster recovery preparedness

Lead PEC’s efforts in planning and deploying technology solutions to enable IT functions across the cooperative through strategic technology investments

Lead development, implementation, and administration of PEC’s strategic IT technology roadmap, including governance structure and procedures, policy, and standards

Work closely with business unit and divisional leaders to determine technology to meet business requirements, plan budgets and resource requirements. Develops and implements the work plan and updates accordingly

Oversee planning and execution of major technology implementations, including aligning with roadmap/strategy as well as PEC’s Technology landscape

Achieve efficient, effective, and timely project execution by adopting best practice project management tools and processes

Provide overall leadership and direction to facilitate the development of Technology standards to insure functionality, compatibility, and integration in a complex infrastructure

Direct and approve strategic product architecture, as well as development and administration of necessary data infrastructure, architecture, management systems, and governance/policies supportive of same

Develop and manage Technology capital and O&M budget and prioritizes purchases in alignment with PEC’s budgetary and fiscal policies and procedures. Facilitates work with other utility department budgets for projects and infrastructure requiring resources in a cost-effective manner

Work closely with PEC IT and Cybersecurity staff to implement infrastructure and processes for

secure technology systems. Collaborates on the development and implementation of an enterprise risk-based cybersecurity program that ensures prioritized and appropriate levels of protection for systems. Collaborates to facilitate meeting all relevant industry Cyber Security Standards (NIST/NERC/APA/etc.)

Provide strategic technology input to business and technical teams to ensure project objectives and appropriate resources are anticipated, allocated and optimized to meet scheduled requirements

Match and prioritize available resources to specific business requirements and facilitates discussions and decisions on discrepancies

Maintain familiarity with electric utility innovation projects, including system & plant automation, distribution automation, grid edge and behind-the-meter technology

Consult on development of grid modernization strategy, including Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Automation/Smart grid and Technology projects, and their integration with the foundational technology architecture

Establish external relationships with industry peers to exchange information and strategies and maintains up to date knowledge of state-of-the-art technology concepts and solutions with an emphasis within the utility industry, but also including non-utility concepts as they map to utility issues

Work closely to ensure plans and strategies that enable PEC to achieve its strategic and tactical business objectives remaining in alignment with PEC’s Technology strategy

Build, promote, and oversee strategic relationships between Technology staff and other internal divisions and units promoting trust and partnership

Develop and manage relationships and collaboration opportunities with key vendors and technology partners

Recruit, develop and lead a dynamic team of technical professionals, project managers, and other support functions to develop and execute the division’s strategic and tactical assignments

Manage a multicultural and diverse staff in a workplace that values diversity, fairness, and equity

Maintain the security of confidential information

Stay abreast of advances in technology

Demonstrate regular and prompt attendance

Performs other related duties as necessary or assigned

Supervisory and/or Leadership Responsibilities

A full range of supervisory activities, training, evaluation, counseling and recommendation for termination. This includes, but is not limited to, effectively communicating organizational policies and other information to subordinates, ensuring that employees have a clear understanding of their responsibilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of Microsoft Enterprise Technologies including AD, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Office 365, LDAP, MS Exchange, DNS, DHCP

Knowledge of wide area network and wireless LPWAN technologies and protocols

Solid knowledge of Cisco networking, Unified Communications, Contact Center, Switches, Routers, Firewalls, VPN, Networking protocols, enterprise network security and remote access best practices.

Knowledge of IAM best practices

Knowledge of OS and networks. Experience with Windows server, iOS, Citrix, TCP/IP, L2/L3 switches, Load balancing firewalls and MS clusters

Knowledge of enterprise hardware (e.g. x86 Microsoft Windows servers, storage (EMC, IBM, HP, PURE)

In-depth understanding of the broad landscape of Operational Technology services and trends and their application to PEC’s mission, including their integration within PEC’s technology architecture

In-depth technical knowledge in Operational Technologies with a focus on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, Electric Distribution SCADA/Outage. Management

System (OMS)/Distribution Management System (DMS) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), T&D automation technology

Demonstrated knowledge of emerging utility technology strategy concepts, data systems and architecture, and innovative technology solutions

Knowledge of emerging utility and public infrastructure issues, and social, economic, and political impacts

Working knowledge of Project Management process and concepts. Demonstrated experience managing project budgets

Strong functional understanding of systems and processes including utility automation, networking technologies and Cybersecurity methods

Ability to lead service desk operations and end user device management

Strong ability to lead and manage change written and verbal communications skill, with experience creating and delivering public presentations to a variety of constituents

Demonstrated knowledge developing strategic recommendations for grid modernization and utility technology innovation

Minimum Qualifications - (Education, Experience, Certification, & Licensing)

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field

Directly related experience may substitute for education

Master’s Degree in related field preferred

Ten years of directly related experience in IT operations (i.e. ITSM, CMDB VMWare, SDWAN, NSX, ICS blade infrastructure) , including five years of management experience, with progressively responsible leadership and demonstrated ability leading high-performing teams in large organizations

Experience in Electric Utility Transmission and / or Distributions Operations, EMS, SCADA Systems preferred

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee may be required to stand; reach with hands and arms, stoop and kneel

The employee may be required to sit or stand for long periods of time

The employee may be required to lift, carry, push, pull or move up to 25 pounds

The employee may be required to travel

Exempt employees receive a fixed bi-weekly salary to compensate them for all hours worked during each pay period

This position may be required to work more than 40 hours per week

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of essential duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties that may be assigned based on the needs of the Cooperative.

, Position open until filledPedernales Electric Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.Join PEC At PEC, we know happy employees produce great work. As a PEC employee, you’ll find we’re always willing to invest in you — because we know that we do better when you do better.