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City of Sunnyvale

Senior Park Utility Worker: Tree Maintenance

The City of Sunnyvale offers:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Classic CalPERS members have 4% of the employee contributions paid by the City, leaving only 3% for the employee to contribute
• Retiree medical benefits available

The City of Sunnyvale is recruiting for one Senior Park Utility Worker: Tree Maintenance in the Department of Public Works.  This position will lead a small crew (2 to 4 person crew), where the incumbent performs the work duties assigned as well as directs and oversees the work of the crew members.  

This person is driven to continuously make a positive impact on the organization and believes that as a team we accomplish more.  As an organization, we are motivated to produce the highest level of service possible.  We provide maintenance services for about 40,000 street trees.

Working in the Public Works Department for the City of Sunnyvale as a Senior Park Utility Worker: Tree Maintenance provides an opportunity to improve the landscape in the community and see the results of your work.  All of this, plus a generous benefits package which includes: a competitive salary, career development, and training opportunities, make the City of Sunnyvale a great place to work.

Under general supervision, leads and performs journey-level landscape maintenance tasks and does related work, as required.

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:

High school diploma or GED equivalent, AND Four years of related tree maintenance experience, some of which shall have been at a level equivalent to Utility Worker or Maintenance Worker II with the City of Sunnyvale.

Required Licenses

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class B California driver's license and a safe driving record is required.

Salary:  $38.08 - $48.60 Hourly

A complete application consists of a City application and responses to the required supplemental questions. The position opens on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 and the final filing date is Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 5:00 pm.

To apply for this position, use the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sunnyvale/jobs/4467632/senior-park-utility-worker-tree-maintenance

San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José's local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José's Energy Department. Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local benefits, and increased transparency and accessibility.

San José Clean Energy serves more than 350,000 customers and has a peak load of almost 1 GW. SJCE is responsible for purchasing over 4,500 GWh of electricity annually and has an annual operating budget of over $300 million. Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact and in the forefront in the fight against climate change. SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José's ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing Climate Smart San José, the City's climate action plan.

SJCE centers equity in its drive to provide clean, renewable energy at competitive rates and provide local benefits. Since inception, SJCE has sprinted ahead to now provide 60% renewable and 95% carbon-free energy in our base product and has contracted to add over 1GW of new solar, wind, and battery storage to the grid. SJCE's low carbon energy supply is foundational as we work to meet the electrification goals outlined in Climate Smart San José. For more information about San José Clean Energy, please visit: www.sanjosecleanenergy.org .

The department is seeking to fill one (1) full-time Senior Power Resources Specialist position to support the Risk Management and Contracts Administration Division.

This position is part of an exciting fast-paced team responsible for mitigating risks and managing a power portfolio comprised of hundreds of MegaWatts of renewable energy projects.

The selected candidate will have the following duties and responsibilities:
 

• Manage and lead the administration of power purchase agreements (herein, referred as "power supply agreements"), including monitoring and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations.
• Review, understand and interpret power supply agreements; Develop and implement processes to ensure the power supply agreements are managed and settled timely, accurately, efficiently and in compliance with the contracted terms.
• Prepare, review and verify the accuracy of power supply settlement statements and invoices from counterparty power supply agreements and CAISO.
• Review and verify accuracy of the power supply prepayment transaction related invoices and ensure timely settlement.
• Interpret, analyze, communicate and resolve issues that arise during contract administration and manage the dispute resolution process with counterparties and CAISO in co-ordination with the Power Scheduling Agent.
• Develop procedures for invoice verification and oversight over settlement support functions.
• Collaborate with internal and external parties during negotiations and execution of power supply agreements and advise on implications to settlements process.
• Lead the development of analytics to validate settlements, measure contract performance and compliance.
• Responsible for driving process improvements in contract management.
• Responsible for ensuring RCA Staff team maintains an understanding of existing and new regulatory laws related to California energy markets that could impact power procurement.
• Provide technical advice and guidance to staff as needed.
• Understand SJCE Risk Management Policy and Regulations and application of relevant provisions for contract administration.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned.

The Risk Management and Contracts Administration Division is responsible for providing independent oversight of the risks in transacting for energy products and services as well as ensuring compliance with adopted risk management policies and procedures. This unit provides strategic support to facilitate the development and execution of various power supply agreements, and also manages the contracts administration and settlements function.

San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José's local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José's Energy Department. Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local benefits, and increased transparency and accessibility.

San José Clean Energy serves more than 350,000 customers and has a peak load of almost 1 GW. SJCE is responsible for purchasing over 4,500 GWh of electricity annually and has an annual operating budget of over $300 million. Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact and in the forefront in the fight against climate change. SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José's ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing Climate Smart San José, the City's climate action plan.

SJCE centers equity in its drive to provide clean, renewable energy at competitive rates and provide local benefits. Since inception, SJCE has sprinted ahead to now provide 60% renewable and 95% carbon-free energy in our base product and has contracted to add over 550 MW of new solar, wind, and battery storage to the grid. SJCE's low carbon energy supply is foundational as we work to meet the electrification goals outlined in Climate Smart San José. For more information about San José Clean Energy, please visit: www.sanjosecleanenergy.org .SJCE is administered by the City of San Jose's Energy Department. This Department is seeking to fill one full-time Senior Power Resources Specialist position for the Regulatory Compliance and Policy Division. This position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Regulatory Compliance and Policy and will provide technical analysis, identify and evaluate the potential business impacts to SJCE from proposed regulatory and legislative changes and provide expert public representation of SJCE. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience in working for, or on proceedings/initiatives from, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and/or the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).

The Senior Power Resources Specialist will be responsible for overseeing a variety of regulatory compliance filings, engaging in complex electric regulatory proceedings, collaborating closely with external partners, and/or effectively advocating for SJCE's interests at the CPUC, the CEC, and/or the CAISO.

Typical duties of this position may include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and submit timely and accurate regulatory compliance filings with public agencies.
• Manage and prepare technical comments, data requests, written responses, and/or position papers, related to a variety of regulatory proceedings.
• Keep abreast of key California regulatory issues affecting SJCE by attending conferences, fostering internal and external relationships, and following industry developments.
• Monitor, review, analyze, and summarize regulatory filings, proposals, and proceedings that could impact SJCE and its customers. Communicate clearly the results of the analysis and possible impacts.
• Coordinate with technical experts and external regulatory counsel to develop effective and persuasive communications for submission to the CPUC, CEC, CAISO, California Legislature, and/or any other legal or regulatory body as required.
• Collaborate with and build contacts with other SJCE Divisions, City Departments, trade organizations, policy representatives, and regulatory agencies.
• Ensures compliance with policy directives, federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and local codes and standards; provides recommendations and assists in the coordination of organizational processes and policy revisions.
• Serves as a resource and may provide guidance to contractors and consultants.
• Other duties as assigned.

THIS IS A HYBRID POSITION, REQUIRING PART OF THE WORK WEEK TO BE ONSITE IN THE DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE OFFICE. The hybrid work schedule may change due to the department's business needs in the future.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Salary Information
Senior Power Sources Specialist: $135,211.44 - $165,634.56
This range includes an approximate five (%5) ongoing pensionable pay. Actual pay shall be determined by the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Please click on the Job PDF to view the announcement.

The Department: 

SVP currently provides over 600 Megawatts of power to residential and business customers within Santa Clara, of which 40 percent of comes from carbon-free renewable resources. In addition to using green energy from large-scale wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric projects outside of the area, SVP employs innovative ways to locally produce electricity by operating Thermal Generation facilities utilizing Simple Cycle, Combined Cycle, and Cogeneration technologies. It is the mission of Silicon Valley Power to be a progressive, service-oriented utility, offering reliable, competitively priced services for the benefit of Santa Clara and its customers. Being competitive in the marketplace with a continuous focus on customer service, SVP can provide economic value to the City of Santa Clara and its customers while maintaining low residential rates and offering competitive rates for all customers.

The Positions: 

Silicon Valley Power is recruiting to fill various Electric Program Manager positions in the following specialties: Capital Project, Contracts, Distributed Energy Resources and Storage, Environmental, Safety, and System Operations.  

Capital Project Management

The focus and priority of this position will be to perform complex professional project management work to support the successful completion of over $300 million in near-term capital improvement program projects to support electric utility load growth.  The position is assigned to the customer development and project management unit which manages, plans, and oversees the development and implementation of the capital improvement program. This position will report to the Principal Electric Utility Engineer overseeing the System Expansion Program and will work collaboratively on the management of these critical projects. The individual will perform and manage the work related to planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance of utility projects, including receiving stations, substations, electric transmission and distribution facilities, and other electrical infrastructure.  The incumbent is expected to manage consultants and directly administer public works contracts. Experience in electric utility engineering, utility asset management, GIS and work order management system is desirable.

• Distinguishing Characteristics/Experience:
  1. Direct knowledge in managing, planning, and overseeing the development and implementation of Capital Improvement Program(s) (CIP).
  2. Ability to provide extensive, in-depth, and specialized administrative, budgetary, financial, and compliance research, analysis, and support.
  3. Experience in management, engineering, financial, high-level administrative planning and analysis, and/or project management experience.

Contracts Portfolio 

The focus and priority of this position will be to perform complex professional work to support the development and management of SVP’s contracts portfolio.  SVP’s operation requires hundreds of unique contracts including specialized services agreements, leases, agreements with customers for substation construction, funding and deposits, public works contracts, license agreements, power purchase and resource adequacy agreements, as well as other unique agreements.  The position is assigned to the Business Services Division.  The incumbent will both lead staff supporting contracts functions and have direct involvement in negotiating and reviewing contracts.   Experience in utility contracts is desirable.

• Distinguishing Characteristics/Experience:
  • Direct knowledge and experience in contracts review, negotiating, and management for a variety of contract types.
  • Ability to providing extensive, in-depth, and specialized administrative, budgetary, financial, and compliance research, analysis, and support
  • Experience in managing and assigning work to administrative and clerical staff.

 

Distributed Energy Resources, Renewable Energy and Power Purchase Contracts

This position develops and implements cutting edge programs entailing distributed and renewable generation, energy storage, demand response, and microgrids. Incumbents perform professional level, individual work in project development.  Duties may include supervising and participating in the conduct of studies and surveys, data interpretation, forecasting, commodity purchasing, contract negotiation, pricing/rate making, engineering studies, development of policies and procedures, evaluating regulatory and legislative initiatives, preparing, reviewing, and managing budgets and operations.  Commodity purchasing and contract negotiation may include evaluation and development of strategies for electricity generation, both distributed and utility scale. Incumbents may supervise management and non-management staff and act as project team leaders and manage programs and projects.  Project management responsibilities include preparing RFPs, evaluating proposals, and managing contractors and consultants. 

 

Environmental

This position will ensure the City’s compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulatory agency requirements and guidelines pertaining to Air Quality, Water, Wastewater, Storm water, and Industrial waste.   This position will work with staff across multiple Divisions to develop, implement, and perform procedures and guidelines designed to ensure compliance and develop staff.  They will compose, compile, track, and analyze information related to regulatory, program, and compliance oversight. This position will act as SVP’s Subject Matter Expert and provide technical and functional advisement to Management and Staff concerning Environmental Compliance. This position requires in-depth knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws/regulations. This position also requires the ability to forecast and identify compliance issues and to develop mitigation strategies to correct issues. The position will also assist in the development of budgets, service contracts and training programs.

Safety

This position establishes, implements, and enforces an effective department wide safety and compliance program that prevents injury and illness. They will work to ensure that employees, both management and non-management, comply with the rules and regulations of Federal, State and Local Regulatory Agencies, and that company safety and compliance policies and procedures are consistently followed.

The position will also facilitate the development and completion of the department’s compliance and controls register, controls testing and auditing, standards development and review, horizon scanning for new and changing regulatory requirements, and serving as an OSHA subject matter for the department. The position will also assist in the development of budgets, service contracts and training programs. 

System Operations

This position will administer programs for work management, maintenance monitoring and asset management focused in all areas of Utility Operations (Metering, Substations, Transmission and Distribution). This position will also be responsible for the performance, review, and implementation of improvements to these programs.  The position will develop, maintain, and improve SVP’s Outage Management System. This position will work to ensure compliance with all applicable NERC standards and seek constant improvement in SVP Work and Safety standards affecting System Operations. The position will also assist in the development of budgets, service contracts and training programs. 

As a member of the City's Unclassified Service, this is an "at-will" position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager.  An incumbent in this classification:  demonstrates strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills; sets a good example; and correctly applies the tenets of the City's Code of Ethics and values. 

 

 THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. 

This description may not include all the duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be performed.

Under general direction, the incumbent will:
•    Plan, develop, implement, evaluate, and manage an assigned program or core department service area; Supervise subordinate supervisory, professional, technical, and/or clerical staff; participate in the selection, hiring, training, and coaching of staff; conduct performance evaluations; and implement disciplinary actions as required; 
•    Research and analyze program operations to ensure effective utilization of resources and increase productivity of work, provide regular reporting measures, conduct presentations, and make recommendations to management; 
•    Plan and implement work plans and projects for assigned area; 
•    Oversee daily operations of assigned program area and safety ensuring that all applicable regulatory requirements are followed; 
•    Develop and monitor resource models and/or programs in alignment with State, Federal and local regulations and policies; 
•    Deliver and manage communications to internal and external customers; 
•    Administer program budget, including budget preparation, forecasting, and monitoring expenses and revenue; 
•    Plan, implement, and monitor program or service area goals and objectives in alignment with Department goals to ensure effective programming and operations; 
•    Monitor and report on assigned area activities, including managing resources, tracking short and long-term work activities and provide recommendations to management staff to improve efficiency in assigned area; 
•    Serve as the subject matter expert in assigned specialty and provides consultation to subordinates, vendors, and management on assigned area of expertise; 
•    Set the standard for safety and adhere to all applicable safety and environmental standards and regulations, including City safety standards and policies; 
•    May act as a representative of the Department in assigned program or service area; 
•    Implement programs which may include such functions as scheduling, coordinating, and assigning staff to projects;
•    Oversee request for proposal processes, participate in the preparation of vendor contracts, negotiate contracts, and act as lead contract administrator for planned program objectives;
•    Prepare a variety of narrative and periodic reports to keep management informed of program/project status;
•    Implement program audit systems to ensure appropriate use of public funds;
•    Develop qualitative and quantitative measures to evaluate program/project financial status, customer satisfaction, contractor performance, and public relations;
•    Maintain current knowledge of external program trends and legislation to ensure necessary compliance;
•    May represent the Department and participate in regional and state efforts to meet compliance, legislative and societal goals;
•    Develop, implement and evaluate marketing and educational materials to present to internal and external customers;
•    Use City computer applications (including but not limited to Microsoft Suite) and databases to track program status and funds and use; 
•    Prepare reports, memos, and supporting documentation; 
•    May act as Division Manager on a temporary basis, as assigned; and
•    Perform other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
•    Education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Economics, Public or Business Administration, Environmental Sciences, Finance or a closely-related field; AND
•    Three (3) years' experience leading, supervising, managing, and coordinating work including but not limited to, customer related programs, project management, building facilities management, or writing, developing or administering safety or environmental compliance standards; OR
•    Generation/Substation/Transmission and Distribution/System Operations Specialties:  Three (3) years of experience in a lead, supervisory, or senior role performing work, including but not limited to a Supervisor, Engineer, Manager, Lead Technician, or Foreperson,  

ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTION
•    For Generation/Substation/Transmission and Distribution/System Operations Specialties: additional years of experience in a role equivalent to, but not limited to a Control Room Operator, Electric Utility Technician, Engineer, Lineworker, or working in a lead, supervisory, or senior role performing work, including but not limited to a Supervisor, Manager, Lead Technician, or Foreperson may substitute for the degree requirement on a year for year basis up to four (4) years.
•    For Generation/Substation/Transmission and Distribution/System Operations Specialties: Two (2) years of experience working in a role equivalent to, but not limited to a Control Room Operator, Electric Utility Technician, Engineer, or Lineworker may be substituted for one (1) year of experience as a lead, supervisor, or senior role up to six (6) years.
•    Two (2) years of experience in customer related programs, project management, building facilities management, or writing, developing or administering safety or environmental compliance standards may be substituted one (1) year of experience as a lead, supervisor, manager, and coordinator experience up to six (6) years. 

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license is required at the time of appointment and for the duration of employment.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
•    An advanced degree in Engineering, Public or Business Administration, Environmental Sciences or related field is desirable.
•    When assigned to Systems and Project Management, a: Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from Project Management Institute (PMI) or an equivalent certification from accredited program is desirable.
•    When assigned to Generation/Substation/Transmission and Distribution/System Operations  Specialties, experience working in a power plant, substation,  transmission &  distribution, or Electric System Control Center environment is desirable.
•    When assigned to Safety Compliance, an in depth knowledge of OSHA and CalOSHA standards is desirable. 
•    When assigned to Environmental Compliance, an in-depth knowledge of Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC), Air Permits, and Water Permits is desirable. 

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
•    Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.
•    Incumbents may be subject to initial and periodic comprehensive background checks. 
•    May be required to work unusual hours and weekends in performance of their duties and be available on an "on call" basis.
 

Other Requirements:  

• Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.
• Incumbents may be subject to initial and periodic comprehensive background checks. 
• May be required to work unusual hours and weekends in performance of their duties and be available on an "on call" basis.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST 

Incumbents in this position are required to file a Conflict of Interest statement upon assuming office, annually and upon leaving office, in accordance with City Manager Directive 100.  

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee admittance into the examination process.  Only the most qualified candidates who demonstrate the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position will be invited to interview. 

 

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application. 

Knowledge of:
•    Local, State and Federal Laws related to environmental, safety, health, electrical system construction, maintenance, inspection, and NERC regulations pertaining Electric Utilities;
•    Best practice utility maintenance and project planning strategies and methods;
•    Cost-benefit and return on investment analysis for proposed programs
•    Basic understanding of Electric Utility economics, methodologies and principles; 
•    Best practice utility compliance, maintenance and operations methods; 
•    Electric department contract methodologies;
•    Project management tools and methodologies, including workload planning and budgeting;
•    Project and workload planning;
•    Preparation, negotiation, and administration of contracts and fiscal planning;
•    Negotiation techniques and strategies;
•    Principles and practices of customer service;
•    Research methods and statistical analysis;
•    Principles and practices of management, employee supervision, training, and performance evaluation;
•    Pertinent State, Federal, and Local laws and regulations for assigned specialty area; 
•    Problem solving and conflict resolution practices and techniques; and
•    Office safety practices, procedures and standards.

Ability to:
•    Develop, implement, and monitor programs and projects;
•    Effectively problem solve with various teams and management to improve and streamline processes;
•    Supervise staff in compliance with applicable Memorandum of Understandings
•    Analyze situations, identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines;
•    Identify, research and gather relevant information from a variety of sources;
•    Collect and analyze data and prepare a variety of statistical and narrative reports;
•    Operate standard office equipment and learn City databases and software programs; 
•    Develop and maintain electronic databases;
•    Effectively develop, negotiate, and monitor contracts;
•    Interpret and apply laws and regulations, policies and procedures;
•    Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing and carry out oral and written instructions;
•    Prepare and present clear, concise and complex written and oral reports and presentations;
•    Develop and conduct effective public relations programs on assigned specialty; 
•    Speak effectively before large groups of people;
•    Establish and maintain tactful, courteous and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including the general public;
•    Work independently with minimal supervision;
•    Work effectively as a member of the department to achieve common goals and be able to deliver excellent customer service to both internal and external City clients;
•    Work effectively in time-sensitive situations and meet deadlines;
•    Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously;
•    Develop creative and practical solutions to complex and difficult problems; and
•    Bend, stoop, reach, carry, climb, and lift as necessary to perform assigned duties.
 

Additional Information: 

You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applications must be filled out completely (i.e. do not write “see resume or personnel file.”)  To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and, 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov.  Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis for consideration to the position.  If you are interested in applying you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, before the position is closed. A first review of applications will be on September 18, 2023. 

 

The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov. 

The Department: 

SVP currently provides over 600 Megawatts of power to residential and business customers within Santa Clara, of which 40 percent of comes from carbon-free renewable resources. In addition to using green energy from large-scale wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric projects outside of the area, SVP employs innovative ways to locally produce electricity by operating Thermal Generation facilities utilizing Simple Cycle, Combined Cycle, and Cogeneration technologies. It is the mission of Silicon Valley Power to be a progressive, service-oriented utility, offering reliable, competitively priced services for the benefit of Santa Clara and its customers. Being competitive in the marketplace with a continuous focus on customer service, SVP can provide economic value to the City of Santa Clara and its customers while maintaining low residential rates and offering competitive rates for all customers.

The Position: 

This is a professional, management position in the unclassified service responsible for scheduling, purchasing, and managing Silicon Valley Power (SVP) electric and hydro energy requirements in the hour ahead and real-time markets by optimizing those resources and by dispatching the generation plants, scheduling water flows and making sales of surplus resources in order to serve our customers consistent with SVP"s risk parameters. This position requires working 12 hour day and night shifts along with holiday and weekend shifts. SVP operates a 24/7 real time desk which is the primary responsibility of this position.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.   

THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESDIES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS.  ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW.

As a member of the City's Unclassified Service, this is an "at-will" position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager.  An incumbent in this classification:  demonstrates strong ethical, professional, and service-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills; sets a good example; and correctly applies the tenets of the City's Code of Ethics and values.

This description may not include all the duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties that may be performed.
Under general direction:
• Develop and submit schedules based on contract requirements and prudent economics to cover City load and to ensure the timely flow of Silicon Valley Power, South West (SW) electric and hydro resources;
• Coordinate energy, capacity, transmission, and ancillary service transactions with the appropriate broker, marketer, utility, generator, scheduling coordinator, and/or control area working within counter-party credit limits;
• Create and/or assess all electronic tags pursuant to Western Electric Coordinating Council (WECC)/ National Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC) Policies, South West (SW) business practices, and Independent System Operator (ISO) requirements;
• Adjust schedules real-time during emergency transmission derates or curtailments;
• Manage resources to meet NERC/SVP reliability criteria during all operating conditions;
• Determine resource costs and availability considering existing market conditions, generating plant limitations, maintenance, outages, transmission ratings and curtailments, and existing contract provisions;
• Conduct economic analysis of current resource options and market opportunities;
• Continually evaluate market conditions (including ISO ex-post prices, imbalance energy prices, ancillary service costs and transmission and congestion price differences), generating plant limitations, maintenance, outages, transmission ratings and curtailments, and existing contract provisions;
• Negotiate purchases and sales of energy, capacity, ancillary services and the purchase of transmission to meet load and SW trading objectives;
• Conduct economic analysis of current resource options and market opportunities;
• Determine optimal short-term use of existing power purchase contracts based on market information;
• Develop an hourly trading strategy for energy, capacity, transmission, and/or ancillary services by dispatching resources in a correct way;
• Evaluate and optimize the resources in real-time, to generation dispatch, capacity needs, energy, transmission and ancillary services purchases and sales;
• Utilize various market applications, including but not limited to California Independent System Operator (CISO) applications to submit capacity, energy, transmission, and ancillary service bids in power scheduling and power trading;
• Implement South West (SW) Trading Guidelines and management directives;
• Ensure that NERC/SVP reliability criteria are met;
• Prepare real-time documentation and reports for after-the-fact analysis;
• Develop pricing strategies for energy limited resources;
• Negotiate with assigned SW stakeholders
• Manage resources to meet WECC/NERC reliability criteria during all operating conditions;
• Work with trading staff to develop pricing strategy for energy-limited resources;
• Perform contingency analysis to develop optimized strategy for the dispatch of generation resources, and to optimize purchases and sales of capacity, energy, transmission, and ancillary service;
• Manage hydro reservoir levels and in-flows to ensure economic dispatch of SW’s projects;
• Prepare and submit all reports required as a scheduling coordinator including inter-tie, California Central System Operator (CISO), and South West (SW);
• Adjust/optimize/balance schedules to account for system outages;
• Provide training of co-workers;
• Forecast weather conditions by using like seasons, days and temperatures;
• Forecast customer energy requirements considering historical demands and applicable load shapes;
• Develop and maintain harmonious operations with interconnected utilities, wholesale entities, electric and hydro trading partners and other stakeholders through the use of effective communications practices; and
• Perform other related work as required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education and experience equivalent to:
•  Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a closely related field; and
• Three (3) years experience in public or private sector power scheduling or trading and/or Independent System Operator (ISO) scheduling.

LICENSE
Possession of a valid Class C California driver’s license is required at the time of appointment and for the duration of employment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
• Incumbents must have the ability to work, as assigned, to schedules that may include Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and non-traditional work hours; and a willingness to work overtime as required.
• Candidates hired into this position may have to pass an initial and periodic, comprehensive background checks, which include fingerprinting, to meet Federal, State and/or industry security requirements.  Incumbents will have to meet any Federal (FERC and NERC) and State (CPUC) mandated certifications.
• Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee admittance into the examination process.  Only the most qualified candidates who demonstrate the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position will be invited to interview.

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Knowledge of:
• Wholesale and retail electric utility business, Hydro reservoir monitoring for optimum SW dispatch, dispatch of generation resources, production costs of energy by fuel type, system load characteristics and load curves;
• Market applications, including but not limited to ICE and CISO;
• Real-time evaluation and optimization procedures for generation dispatch, capacity needs, energy, transmission and ancillary services, purchases and sales;
• WECC/NERC policies and SW Business Practices;
• Trading procedures, systems to track and analyze capacity, energy, transmission, and ancillary service transactions, market strategies for wholesale purchases and sales of electricity and relevant trading directives;
• Schedule transactions, scheduling procedures, management directives, and how to solve scheduling conflicts;
• Scheduling and tagging procedures based on SW, CISO, WECC contract requirements and reporting requirements;
• Integrated power system operations and SW, NERC, FERC, and CISO policies, procedures, protocols and business practices;
• Research, planning and technical analysis for complex scheduling projects and preparation of reports including recommendations;
• Research methods and statistical analysis, complex spreadsheets and database applications and project and workload planning;
•  Work-related computer applications, including e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, databases and the internet;
• Applicable laws, regulations and permits affecting the electric utility industry;
• Customer energy requirements and real-time weather forecasting, and
• Business practices, contract principles, financial statements, and economic analysis techniques.
Ability to:
• Apply the principles of power generation and transmission systems, including interconnected utility operations;
• Implement the integration of purchases and sales to economically reduce overall costs of energy and energy management systems;
• Interpret, explain and apply complex contracts, policies, protocols and business practices, implement strategies associated with short-term trading, and negotiate transactions;
• Interpret and explain complex contracts, policies, protocols, and business practices;
• Evaluate capacity, energy, and transmission transactions, implement market strategies to complete wholesale purchases of electricity, and perform economic analysis to determine benefit/cost of wholesale power market purchases and sales;
• Draw conclusions and project consequences of decisions and recommendations;
• Establish and maintain positive and effective relationships with City employees, contractors and other governmental representatives;
• Work as team player and be willing to deliver excellent customer service to both internal and external City clients;
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing to consistently represent facts and situations accurately, transmit information concisely and in an effective manner, and present a balanced picture of situations;
• Prepare and present highly technical and complex written and oral reports;
• Work effectively in time-sensitive situations and meet deadlines; coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously;
• Review and analyze important detailed and highly complex technical Electric Utility records and reports;
• Train and supervise the work of others in a team environment; and
• Walk or stand for extended periods of time and bend, stoop, reach, carry, crawl, climb, and lift as necessary to perform assigned duties.

Additional Information: 

You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applications must be filled out completely (i.e. do not write “see resume or personnel file.”)  To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a 1) Cover Letter and, 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov.   Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of Friday, August 25, 2023 at 4:00 PM. 

The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov. 

About the Department

San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José’s local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José’s Community Energy Department. Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local control, and increased transparency and accessibility.

San José Clean Energy serves more than 350,000 customers and has a peak load of almost 1 GW. SJCE is responsible for purchasing over 4,500 GWh of electricity annually and has an annual operating budget of over $300 million. Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact and in the forefront in the fight against climate change.

SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing Climate Smart San José, the City’s climate action plan.

SJCE centers equity in its drive to provide clean, renewable energy at competitive rates and provide local benefits. Since inception, SJCE has sprinted ahead to now provide 60% renewable and 95% carbon-free energy in our base product and has invested $1 billion to add nearly 550 MW of new solar, wind and battery storage to the grid. SJCE’s low carbon energy supply is foundational as we work to meet the electrification goals outlined in Climate Smart San José. For more information about San José Clean Energy, please visit: www.sanjosecleanenergy.org.

Position & Duties - External

The Department seeks to fill one full-time Energy Services Manager (Senior Power Resources Specialist) position to support the Account Management, Marketing, and Communications team. This position will report to the Deputy Director overseeing Account Management, Marketing, and Communications. This division is responsible for delivering customer- centric pricing, billing, marketing, outreach, and community programs for San José Clean Energy. The Energy Services Manager (Senior Power Resources Specialist) will be responsible for advancing commercial customer services and programs by conducting strategic customer outreach and account management on behalf of the agency. This position will act as a strategic partner for the largest San José Clean Energy commercial, industrial, and municipal customers.

As the senior member of the Accounts Services team, the Energy Services Manager (Senior Power Resources Specialist) will be responsible for leading SJCE commercial customer engagement efforts, using data and customer information to address customer needs, improve the customer experience, and improve systems. The Energy Services Manager (Senior Power Resources Specialist) will also support the development and execution of SJCE strategic energy pricing initiatives for all residential and commercial customers, partnering with leadership to design a dynamic long-term energy pricing strategy. The ideal candidates should be well-versed in PG&E rate structures, including residential and commercial rate schedules, and be comfortable engaging with large commercial customers regarding custom energy programs and services.

Duties include the following but are not limited to:

• Initiate and develop relationships with key commercial, industrial, and municipal accounts, including both existing customers and potential clients
• Engage with large commercial and industrial energy users regarding custom energy products and programs such as EV charging infrastructure and distributed energy programs such as demand response or load shaping
• Train Account Services team members to provide commercial customers with expertise on account issues, including billing, cost, service, and program inquiries
• Lead the development of tools and processes to analyze the potential impact of alternative rate structures (e.g., new time-of-use variants, low-income discounts, etc.)
• Manage the development of custom rate design and energy products for the retention and attraction of large commercial customers
• Implement data visualization tools and dashboards to help inform decision-making cross-departmentally
• Perform other related duties as required.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third-party job board application system. To apply, applicants must complete an application via the City of San Jose’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Per the City’s COVID19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all employees starting on or after February 11, 2022, to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent a documented medical and/or religious exemption. Proof of vaccination means that employees are required to be “up-to-date” with regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. Consistent with the Santa Clara County Public Health Order issued on December 28, 2021, "up-to-date" means that employees are required to be vaccinated with the entire initial series of a COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

Salary Information:

The total annual salary range for a Senior Power Resources Specialist is $127,567.44- $156,265.20. These ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Bargaining Unit: City Association of Management Personnel (CAMP) Competencies:

Competencies: The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

• Job Expertise – Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures, policies, and federal and state rules and regulations. Experience in the electric industry, principles of rate development, and the ability to design specialty rates are highly desirable.
• Leadership - Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible & approachable, interacts on a regular basis; promoting a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.
• Collaboration – Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
• Analytical Thinking – Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach
• Fiscal Management – Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.
• Problem Solving – Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
• Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
• Communication Skills – Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Qualifications - External Education and Experience

• Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Economics, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Law, Natural Resources, Statistics, or related field to utility business.
• Experience: Three (3) years of experience in energy resources operations, planning, purchasing, scheduling, or contract negotiations.
• Licenses or Certificates: Valid California Driver’s License may be required.
• Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent, or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant’s training and experience based on the application, cover letter and resume, and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process. Please note that there is a 4,000-character limit, including spaces, for each text response.

1. Do you have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Economics, Engineering, Environment Studies, Law, Natural Resources, Statistics, or another related field to the utility industry?
2. Please specify your degree, field of study, and the college or university where you obtained your degree. You may also include any additional degrees or applicable certifications that you have achieved.
3. Do you have three (3) years of experience in energy resources project or program management, operations, planning, purchasing, scheduling, or contract negotiations? How have you obtained three (3) years of experience in energy resources project or program management, operations, planning, purchasing, scheduling, or contract negotiations?
4. Please attach a cover letter to summarize your qualifications and describe how your experience qualifies you as the Energy Rates Manager.

You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Zoe McChesney at zoe.mcchesney@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information

- Link to Benefits page

- Link to Department website

To apply, please complete an application via the City of San José’s website at www.sanjoseca.gov/citycareers.

This position is open until filled, please apply as soon as possible. Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.govand we will research the status of your application. Please contact Human Resources at (408) 535-1285, or Human.Resources@sanjoseca.gov if you have any questions.