THE OPPORTUNITY
The Airport Energy Manager is a key member of the John Wayne Airport’s Maintenance team. They will be responsible for the development, strategy and direction of Airport wide energy management program, strategies, utility management, and development of energy saving projects related to electrical & thermal generation as well as utility purchases. The manager will also provide leadership for the successful and continuous 24/7/365 operation of the Central Utility Plant (CUP) serving John Wayne Airport. The plant provides essential electrical and thermal utility services. This position will be the key driver to ensure the airport meets its current and future energy needs, and manages airport energy capacity.

The incumbent is responsible for working within John Wayne Airport to manage utility billing to customers, regulatory reporting/compliance, budget, and long-term strategic energy planning. They will manage electrical energy resources and maintenance to ensure reliability and sustainability The incumbent will be required to interact and oversee contracts with the plant operator and Southern California Edison to ensure compliance and cost effectiveness. This position will serve as an in-house engineering technical expert to assess future needs for electrical generation, transmission, and distribution capacity, or chilling capacity. Ensure integration and optimal utilization of various power resources, increase efficiency and ensure operational resilience. Collaborate on projects  involving electrical generation/distribution infrastructure maintenance and upgrades. Respond to any incidents involving unplanned disruption to the generation or distribution of power.

ABOUT OUR PLANTS

The Central Utility Plant (CUP) is located at John Wayne Airport. The CUP has four natural gas-fired internal combustion engines driving a total of 7 MW of electricity and two 550-ton absorption chillers, one 125-ton air-cooled centrifugal chiller, three 750-ton centrifugal chillers and support equipment including a cooling tower. The CUP provides power on a microgrid. Redundant power capability is maintained through access to the Southern California Edison electrical grid

DESIRABLE AND CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate possesses at least 4 years of progressively responsible experience in the operation, supervision, management and administration of power plants, cogeneration facilities and/or other power generating and distributing operations within a critical facility. Further, the ideal candidate will possess experience in utility management, design and commissioning, energy management programs and leading energy saving projects. An ideal candidate will also be licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) from the State of California.

A degree in utility management, electrical, chemical, mechanical, civil  engineering or a related technical degree is highly desirable.

Additionally, a highly desirable candidate will possess the following certificate, however not required: Certified Energy Manager (CEM)

The most successful candidates must possess demonstrated experience in the core competencies listed below:

Technical Expertise

• Development and implementation of energy management strategies, power distribution, countywide utility management, and development and implementation of energy saving projects related to electrical & thermal generation as well as utility purchases
• Public works/Engineering knowledge specific to central utility plant operations and management, electrical distribution systems and infrastructure
• General understanding of a microgrid – gas turbine/engine/electrical cogeneration plants
• General understanding of centrifugal refrigeration units, absorption chillers, closed water systems, large cooling towers, high voltage electrical distribution, transformers, and transfer switches
• General understanding of process controls, Supervisory Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA) and metering
• Regulatory compliance related to power generation (e.g., hazardous materials, wastewater treatment, life safety systems, emission, etc.)
• General understanding of governmental purchasing and contract administration including budget preparation
• Manage maintenance construction projects involving the repair of facilities and infrastructure

Supervision and Leadership

• Ability to lead the activities of contractors and/or County Staff
• Supervise and evaluate staff performance, training, coaching, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning/monitoring work
• Align organizational vision with County strategic goals and department business objectives
• Engage people, organizations, and partners in developing goals, executing plans, and delivering results
• Ensure that staff have the resources they need and that the workforce has the capacity to meet current and long-term organizational objectives
• Work cooperatively and maintain effective working relationships to accomplish objectives
• Set challenging, measurable project goals that are aligned with broad County strategies and departmental business objectives
• Assign clear authority and hold others accountable for goal achievement
• Monitor and execute procurement activities for assigned work unit; and negotiating and administering contracts
• Develop and implement policies and procedures and provide appropriate leadership in emergency response situations
• Develop appropriate leadership in emergency situations

Communication and Collaboration Skills

• Communicate effectively, tactfully and maintain effective working relationships with County leadership and management, departmental staff, contractors, engineering firms, outside agencies, and the general public both verbal and written, using technical and non-technical language
• Build consensus and negotiate with public and private parties
• Produce clear and concise written documents, technical reports, emails, program and project status reports and briefs
• Present ideas and compile materials clearly, concisely, logically and persuasively both orally and in writing to persuade and inform audiences with competing interests including but not limited to government officials, community organizations, and others
• Facilitate group discussions and build consensus using persuasive reasoning
• Perform administrative related responsibilities that involves coordinating with other  divisions, such as finance or budget, while responding to staff and customers’ demands within a short timeframe
• Effective active listening to understand other’s needs, resolve escalated issues, facilitate group discussions and build consensus using persuasive reasoning

Planning and Organization

• Demonstrate thorough understanding of the concepts of strategic planning
• Plan and organize to effectively allocate work among a team based on their respective job classifications and individual expertise
• Identify organizational priorities and relate them to resource and budget allocation
• Develop financial monitoring reports and systems
• Demonstrate cost consciousness and an ability to conserve departmental and/or County resources
• Make recommendations on improving facility management systems
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics

Problem Solving and Analysis

• Use ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks and find ways to increase efficiency in County procedures
• Re-engineer business processes and improve organizational effectiveness by proposing and implementing change initiatives required to improve efficiency, streamline operations and meet future business needs
• Develop technical solutions to new or highly complex problems that cannot be solved using existing methods or approaches
• Research and analyze changes in technology, regulatory compliance, trends, and best practices and develop appropriate recommendations and solutions

Safety Focus

• Proven track record of addressing public safety and complying with complex regulations, laws, and other rules
• Knowledge of state, federal and local laws, rules, and regulations regarding plant safety
• Knowledge of best industry practices to avoid injury
• Ability to develop safety procedures and policies to ensure safe operations of Utility Plants
• Ability to enforce violations of safety procedures and remedy safety issues
• Oversee the implementation of, and adherence to, quality assurance activities and standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here to learn about the minimum qualifications for the Operations and Maintenance Manager, Senior classification. Note that the job requirements outlined in this bulletin exceed that of the minimum qualifications for the general job classification.

AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
Employees must clear a background check, which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check, and Security Threat Assessment (STA) check. Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Airport Access Badge with an Airport Driving Endorsement within ten (10) days of employment. Airport Access Badge must be maintained and renewed every two (2) years.

LICENSE REQUIRED
Possess and maintain a valid California Driver’s license, Class C or higher as well as the ability to obtain and maintain a TSA Security and Clearance is required by date of appointment.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS 
Physical and Mental Requirements 
Possess vision sufficient to read standard text and a computer monitor and to drive a vehicle; speak and hear well enough to communicate clearly and understandably in person to individuals and groups and over the telephone; possess body mobility to stand, sit, walk, stoop and bend routinely to perform daily tasks and to access a standard office environment; possess manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms and shoulders repetitively to operate a keyboard, utilize office equipment and to write and drive; use a County approved means of transportation.

Environmental and Working Conditions 
Possess the ability to independently reason logically to analyze data, reach conclusions and make recommendations; possess the ability to remain calm and appropriately focused in rapidly changing and difficult situations involving conflict, complex issues, controversy and diverse stakeholder groups and interests; possess the ability to deal calmly and effectively with emotional interactions.

Function effectively in a standard office environment.