Director of Critical Infrastructure

Position Summary

The Director of Critical Infrastructure leads Substation Engineering, Electric and Gas Control Center, Distribution Automation, and Gas Critical Infrastructure functions. The role oversees engineering, asset lifecycle management, operational technology, and control center operations to support safe, reliable, and efficient electric and gas service. Responsibilities include developing departmental personnel, managing budgets and engineering consultants, overseeing applicable compliance activities within assigned areas of responsibility, and coordinating infrastructure planning, maintenance, and emergency preparedness with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Primary Position Responsibilities

• Ensure departmental functions and activities are performed safely, efficiently, and effectively in accordance with standard utility practices, good engineering principles, applicable codes and regulations, and CoServ policies.
• Supervise, coach, motivate, and lead departmental managers, holding them accountable for achieving desired results.
• Determine departmental staffing requirements and obtain needed staffing with appropriate approvals. Develop workforce plans, succession strategies, and technical development programs to support long-term departmental effectiveness and organizational continuity.
• Oversee preparation of annual operating and capital budgets for Substation and Gas Critical Infrastructure, Electric and Gas Control Center, and Distribution Automation cost centers.
• Establish internal controls and enforce approval authorities for departmental operating and capital expenditures.
• Determine engineering consultant requirements, negotiate rates, terms, conditions, and contracts with appropriate approvals, and manage professional engineering contractors supporting departmental projects.
• Direct preparation of engineering plans for electrical substations and gas distribution regulation stations (DRS) to support short- and long-range system forecasts.
• Direct substation and DRS design and project management, including approval of layouts, engineering plans, and cost estimates for critical utility supply infrastructure and upgrade projects identified through construction work plans and system needs.
• Oversee preparation of accurate engineering drawings, bills of materials, and cost estimates that clearly communicate design requirements to field personnel and contractors.
• Direct development of equipment standards, specifications, and application best practices, incorporating input from other departments on infrastructure design and deployment.
• Oversee asset lifecycle management, including condition assessment, asset health evaluation, replacement planning, and risk-based capital prioritization for critical utility infrastructure.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders on maintenance strategies, inspection programs, and operational practices that support the long-term reliability and performance of critical utility infrastructure.
• Coordinate with the transmission service provider on planning and construction of transmission and substation projects supporting CoServ’s system.
• Oversee the utilization of Distribution Automation, SCADA, communications, and related operational technology platforms to support data accuracy, system effectiveness, and operational readiness.
• Direct Electric and Gas Control Center operations and system operator activities to support safe, effective, and reliable monitoring and control of utility infrastructure in a 24/7 operating environment.
• Establish operational performance expectations, readiness standards, and response protocols supporting system reliability, resiliency, operational continuity, and emergency preparedness, including gas emergency response and restoration coordination.
• Ensure gas control center procedures, monitoring activities, alarm management practices, and operator training programs support safe and compliant system operations.
• Oversee system operator training on SCADA-controlled equipment and technologies and provide or coordinate technical training within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Implement data-driven operational improvements supporting grid asset efficiency, load balancing, resiliency, and energy management.
• Establish performance expectations and monitoring processes for critical infrastructure assets and departmental operations.
• Monitor and report key performance indicators, evaluate trends, and recommend improvements supporting safety, reliability, asset utilization, regulatory compliance, and service delivery.
• Serve as a key member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) during system emergencies and direct activities within the assigned role.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on technical compliance requirements associated with NESC, NEC, ANSI, OSHA, ERCOT, NERC, and other applicable governmental or regulatory requirements within the role’s areas of responsibility.
• Develop and enforce departmental procedures, rules, and policies, and implement compliance processes and reporting to support adherence to CoServ tariffs, standards, specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Direct and oversee compliance activities within assigned areas of responsibility associated with applicable federal, state, and local gas utility regulations, including pipeline safety, operator qualification, emergency response, public awareness, and damage prevention requirements.
• Support development, implementation, and continuous improvement of programs that identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with critical gas infrastructure assets and operations.
• Comply with CoServ safety and operating rules, procedures, and guidelines, including reporting unsafe practices to a supervisor.
• Comply with CoServ’s Information Security Handbook, policies, procedures, and guidelines, including reporting suspected information security incidents to Tech Support.
• Coordinate with governmental entities, members, developers, contractors, and internal engineering and operations personnel on service requests and line construction projects.
• Maintain working relationships with city, county, state, and regulatory authorities and represent CoServ within assigned responsibilities and delegated authority.
• Provide technical input, written responses, and verbal testimony for legal or regulatory proceedings within assigned areas of responsibility and in coordination with appropriate CoServ representatives.
• Negotiate and act on behalf of CoServ Electric and CoServ Gas on service certification matters within delegated authority and with required approvals.

Secondary Position Responsibilities 

• Provide technical support and direction to CoServ personnel within the role’s areas of responsibility. Maintain effective working relationships and communication between assigned departments and other CoServ departments.
• Coordinate design efforts with Business Development to ensure accurate costing information and support business acquisition activities involving substation and DRS infrastructure.
• Participate as a voting member on technical matters within CoServ’s Standards Approval process.
• Represent CoServ on local and national technical committees.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, utility best practices, industry trends, and evolving gas regulations and standards, and recommend their application to CoServ operations.
• Promote continuous improvement through post-event reviews, operational assessments, and process optimization initiatives, using established performance metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Maintain knowledge of applicable electric and gas codes and regulations, utility practices, engineering principles, and CoServ tariffs, service rules, policies, and line extension requirements.
• Attend meetings, conferences, schools, workshops, and required CoServ University training to maintain and expand relevant technical, regulatory, and professional knowledge.
• Participate in CoServ’s Leadership Communications Team (LCT) and Emergency Response Program (ERP).
• Actively promote CoServ’s objectives, plans, programs, and goals.
• Stay informed about public and political questions affecting areas of responsibility and develop informed responses.
• Perform other duties and activities as directed.

Position Requirements

Education, Experience, and Certifications Required

• High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalency.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field, AND twelve (12) years of utility distribution and/or operations experience with a minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience
• Registration as Professional Engineer in Texas OR ability to be licensed within 6 months of hire.

Education, Experience, and Certifications Preferred

• NERC Operator Certification OR Master’s in Business Administration, Engineering, or related technical field.

Skills and Abilities Required 

• Proficient in oral and written communications.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and strict timelines.
• Excellent decision making, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven planning, organizing, and leadership skills while being team oriented.
• Must be capable of effectively executing company objectives and goals.
• Results oriented leader with proven success in managing expectations, communications, and technical areas of expertise.
• Demonstrated strengths in time management, project management, follow-up, and execution.
• Ability to create win/win situations in conflict resolutions.
• Exhibits strong understanding of utility systems and their operations.
• Familiar with utility best practices associated with Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) and SCADA platforms used in electric and gas operations.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, Teams, SharePoint, Visio, and Power Point.

Physical Requirements 

• Works both in the office and outdoors.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.
• Drives company vehicle as needed.
• Operates office equipment such as a computer, telephone, fax machine, copier, etc.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time.
• Works in potentially hazardous conditions caused by pets and wildlife in or near the work site.
• Works in areas with possible exposure to poison oak, poison ivy, and insect stings.

Other Requirements

• Must have and maintain a valid Texas driver's license