Electric System Operator Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

Position - Status

SR MANAGER OF TECHNICAL SERVICES – RFT

Who can apply?

MEA Employees & The General Public

Posting Date

February 2, 2026 

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Department

Technical Services

Grade

Annual

Grade 17

$144,123 Min DOE

Union Representation

N/A

Hours of Work

8AM-5PM    

Work Location

Palmer, AK

PURPOSE

This position is responsible for managing the technical services of the Association.  Responsibilities include oversight of substation maintenance, metering, communications, relaying, and SCADA.  The position will also assist with the development of substation designs and commissioning.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

1.Promotes a safety culture in which safety is a value.  This culture is based on joint and individual engagement, ownership, and accountability regarding job safety and responsibility to perform work safely and adhere to safe work practices.

2.Performs the essential functions of the position in a safe and efficient manner.

3.Hires, trains, leads, informs, and motivates the Association's Technical Services employees.  Selects, evaluates, encourages, coaches, and disciplines directly reporting employees.  Establishes department goals and maintains performance measures of goal attainment.

4.Efficiently manages technical services development and project initiatives and deliveries, including providing primary oversight for project issues, creating cross-functional teams while managing timelines and deliverables.

5.Provides program management and leadership across technical services to organize and execute construction and maintenance projects and systems solutions that meet member and system requirements, while maintaining consistency with established processes, timeline and budget to reduce the Association’s risk.

6.Creates periodic status reports encompassing financials, risks, mitigations, contingencies and impact to revenue and presents summaries and analysis to executive management.

7.Oversees the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the Association’s electrical substations associated with the transmission, distribution, protection and control of electricity.

8.Oversees development of high voltage relay settings, protection philosophies, and set point calculation sheets. 

9.Submits O&M and Capital budgets for approval. Maintains approved O&M and Capital budgets for Substations, Relaying, Metering and SCADA.

10.Oversees schedules for maintenance, installation and rebuilds of protection, communication, and SCADA systems.

11.Oversees and evaluates bid awards for contractor and professional consulting services to accomplish maintenance, installation, and rebuilds for areas of responsibility.

12.Monitors and supports substation operations to ensure that cost and reliability meets all regulatory and industry standards, and member expectations.  

13.Analyzes reports from data obtained from AMI system and SCADA system to help ensure proper transformer loading, phase balancing on feeder circuits and volt/VAR to reduce electric line losses and increase grid efficiency.  

14.Monitors and supports electric metering function to include meter site installations and verifications.  Assures annual records of all CT metered member’s tests and verifications are documented and archived by department personnel.

15.Analyzes power supply and delivery cost and strategies that might assist the Chief Financial Officer in the development of rates and structures. 

16.Analyzes information and statistical data to monitor and evaluate electric system operations. 

17.Oversees design of and works with Operations on construction activities.

18.Participates in short- and long-range planning within the Power Delivery group.

19.Responds to internal/external concerns within Technical Services Department.

20.Develop and improve processes by assuring consistency with the policies, procedures, practices, rules, regulations, and philosophies.

21.Works with other senior managers and directors in Power Delivery to create opportunities which influence positive working relationships and collaborative, matrixed work groups.

22.Identifies consultants, negotiates contracts with, oversees contract terms, measures progress, and approves billings of Technical Services Consultants and construction contractors needed by the Association.

23.May participate in the negotiation of applicable collective bargaining agreements and applies and follows the negotiated terms.

24.Manages grievances and works with Human Resources to conduct investigations, evaluate evidence and facts, and work with legal counsel as appropriate.

25.Integral member of the Association’s Emergency Response Team.  Responsible for duties as outlined in the Association’s Emergency Response Plan.

The above items are not intended to be all inclusive of the essential functions or requirements of this type of work as they are subject to change based on operating necessity.  The employee will also perform other related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and other management personnel.

ESSENTIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS

•Qualified candidates are required to have:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
• Ten (10) years of directly related work experience in the electrical utility industry with a focus on engineering and operations areas, with progressively responsible management and supervisory experience.  
• Documented ability in the application of principles of directing, developing, and administering work programs and procedures; preparing reports for management and measuring results. 
• A Professional Engineer (PE) registration or ability to obtain a PE in the State of Alaska within one year.

•Requires advanced experience in the following areas:

• Design, construction, and maintenance of relay, control, communication, and SCADA systems.
• Electrical system operations in the field of electric utility metering.
• SCADA communications and control.
• Protective relaying or substation operation.
• Regulatory requirements and industry practices pertaining to electric system operations.

•Construction, operation, and maintenance of electrical system facilities as well as progressively responsible supervisory experience preferred.

•Qualified candidates must have a valid Alaska driver’s license (or ability to obtain as required under State of Alaska regulations) and a driving record which is acceptable and insurable by the Association and the Association’s insurance carrier at standard group rates.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

•Support a culture of safety excellence through active involvement in safety improvement and promote a sense of shared responsibility for safety.

•Advanced knowledge in electric transmission and substation design, system planning, and interconnected transmission system operation.

•Advanced knowledge of current management techniques, practices, and theories.

•Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and applicable software.

•Knowledge of hiring, performance appraisals, disciplinary process and conducting terminations. 

•Knowledge of applying contracting procedures and provisions as well as project management techniques.

•Advance skill in exercising independent judgment, initiative, and discretion.

•Advanced skill in problem solving.

•Advanced skill in collaborative leadership, relationship building and organizational skills.

•Skill in composing policies, procedures, letters, memorandums, and reports.

•Skill in effective, professional verbal, telephonic, and written communication.

•Advanced ability in directing and developing work programs and procedures.  

•Advanced ability to effectively administer company policies, procedures, union contracts, goals, and objectives.

•Ability to make operational/economic evaluations of plans in adjusting standard practices and techniques and recognize discrepancies and deviations.

•Ability to analyze processes for efficiency and make recommendations for improvement.

•Ability to facilitate cooperation between work groups and work functionally across all levels of the organization.

•Ability to receive and provide constructive criticism.

•Ability to self-motivate improvement based on successes and failures.

•Ability to lead the corrective action and continuous improvement processes within area of responsibility.

•Ability to drive problem-solving, decision-making and accountability within team.

•Ability to prepare reports for management and measuring results.

•Ability to maintain confidentiality.

•Ability to read and comprehend technical documents.

•Ability to effectively delegate and collaborate with others to accomplish assignments.

•Embrace and embody the Association’s Core Values through decisions, actions, attitude and behavior to directly contribute to the success of the organization.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

•The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position; this list is not inclusive of all the physical demands that may be required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

•Physical demand activity percentages:

• Major occurs 60% or more of work time.
• Moderate occurs between 20-60% of work time.
• Minor occurs less than 20% of work time.

•Physical demand requirements:

• Ability to understand, read, hear, and carry out written instructions.
• Ability to understand, read, and verify documents electronically, verbally, or hard copy.
• Major amount of sitting and finger use.
• Moderate amount of feel/touch items and depth perception.
• Minor amount of standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, climbing (stairs, ladders), balancing kneeling, crouching, crawling, turning/twisting, bending at waist, handling of items, eye-hand coordination, and foot-hand-eye coordination.
• Working area is 90% inside and 10% outside.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

•The work environment conditions described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

•This position primarily works in an office setting; however, this position may require field work in variable weather conditions.  The incumbent must be able to work in conditions including, but not limited to, rain, high winds, temperatures in excess of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit, large amounts of snow possibly over long periods of time and in darkness, etc.  

•Incumbent must be able to travel to other Association offices and organizations to attend meetings, seminars, etc.

•The incumbent must be able to work long hours under stressful conditions when restoring power during storms, outages, or other emergency conditions.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

This position is classified as an exempt, non-represented position, and therefore is not eligible for overtime compensation.  All Association employees are expected to work widely varying amounts of time outside the normal shifts to assist in power restoration or other needs of the Association.

MEA requires a post offer drug test. Any positive test result or refusal to consent will disqualify an applicant from employment.

MEA is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in any portion of the application or interview process should advise MEA in advance by calling 907-761-9218.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

To apply, please visit www.mea.coop to submit an application by the closing date.

Matanuska Electric Association, Inc.

163 East Industrial Way (P.O. Box 2929), Palmer, Alaska  99645

Telephone: (907) 761-9218/ Fax:  (907) 761-9264

MEA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Veterans/Disabled employer.

Benefits Include 

•401(k) matching 2%

•Medical, Dental, Vision insurance 

•Life insurance 100% paid by MEA

•Long Term Disability 100% paid by MEA

•Employee assistance program

•Paid time off starts at 3.385 hrs/wk

•11.5 paid holidays per year.

•Retirement Defined Benefit plan/Pension