Electric Operations Specialist

$57,595 - $67,808/Yr

Northern Natural Gas - Altoona, IA

Full-time - Entry Level

Altoona, IA

Warehousing and Storage

About the position

The Electric Operations Specialist plays a crucial role in supporting the electric operations organization to achieve both departmental and corporate objectives. This position operates under minimal supervision and is responsible for coordinating and analyzing various unit cost studies, managing claims submissions, and updating business unit procedures related to these responsibilities. The specialist also serves as a lead in training and providing support for administrative personnel, as well as coordinating as-built and materials requisitioning for operations scheduling and planning coordinators. In this role, the specialist will process and maintain information using specific software relevant to the department, including completing WMIS and CD Claims orders, CSS orders for electric service, and managing as-builts and property unit reconciliation for work requests. The position involves performing labor, materials, and vendor reclassifications for the electric operations district, overseeing the claims submission process, and monitoring its progress. Additionally, the specialist will manage monthly operating budgets, conduct audits, and resolve conflicts between capital, maintenance, and other activities. The Electric Operations Specialist will gather data, conduct studies, and generate reports on activities using various information technology resources, including work management information systems and compliance databases. The role also includes providing assistance in electric operations, restoration activities, and contractor management. The specialist will work closely with management to identify data sources and implement processes that support unit cost determination and ongoing tracking, as well as analyze business unit O&M and capital expenditures to recommend efficiency improvements. Moreover, the specialist will handle administrative tasks such as responding to inquiries, managing correspondence, processing payroll corrections, and updating departmental overtime lists. Responsibilities may also include researching information requests for purchasing functions, processing contractor invoices, and obtaining necessary city and county permits. The position may require additional responsibilities as assigned, making it a dynamic role within the electric operations team.

Responsibilities

• Process and maintain information using software specific to the function of the department or position, including completing all WMIS and CD Claims orders, CSS orders for electric service, and completion of as-builts and property unit reconciliation for work requests.
• Perform labor, materials and vendor reclassifications for electric operations district. Coordinate claims submittal process and monitor progress.
• Oversee monthly operating budgets, audits activities, queries and resolves conflicts between capital, maintenance and other activities.
• Conduct studies, gather data, generate reports on activities using multiple information technology resources including, work management information system, compliance database, oracle and others as needed.
• Provide assistance in the areas of electric operations, restoration activities and contractor management.
• Work with management to identify sources of data and implement processes to support unit cost determination and ongoing tracking.
• Analyze business unit O&M and capital expenditures and recommend areas to improve business unit efficiency. Provide support to business unit administrative assistants, including goal result reports as needed.
• Calling in and tracking of locates for electric operations (may include gas operations in certain districts).
• Restoration of hard and soft restoration processing and actively tracks and resolves customer restoration complaints.
• Provide administrative support to departmental staff including responding to phone inquiries, handling correspondence, time entry, making payroll corrections; and updating call out data and calculation of departmental overtime lists.
• Independently research a wide variety of information requests for purchasing functions including originating contract purchasing agreements, checking procurement requirements; and paying on invoices for electric delivery.
• Process and reconcile all contractor invoices on a timely basis, issue and return poles in Oracle inventory system in coordination with the job scheduler, monitor, track and report scrap metal activity including volume and money received.
• Respond to inquiries and provide problem resolution based on established policies and procedures or past experiences. Obtain city and county permits such as dig permits, obstruction permits and lane closures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as requested or assigned.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in business or related field, or three years of related, progressive work experience if an associate's degree is not possessed.
• A minimum of two years of experience in the electric utility industry with specific knowledge related to utility plant accounting and enterprise level materials requisitioning systems.
• Effective communication skills including listening, oral and writing skills to process information timely and accurately.
• Demonstrated proficiency in personal computer skills; experience using Microsoft Office software products.
• Proficiency in keying and software program features based on required assessments.
• Effective interpersonal skills, a customer-service focus and the ability to work as a member in a team-oriented environment.
• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects concurrently.