Manager of Standards & Materials

Position Summary

The Manager of Standards & Materials leads all efforts in researching and developing standards and specifications for utility material, its application in design, and utilization in construction. The role will coordinate with other departments to forecast material inventory needs and manage warehouse activities to ensure cost efficiency and adequate inventory control. The role manages the development and utilization of Compatible Units (CU’s) for accurate and efficient use in design, accounting, and operations. Additionally, this role is responsible for the internal reference documents and external technical communication that facilitates consistent utility design and safe construction practices. As a department manager, the individual will develop and enforce work procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and supervise staff, providing coaching and support for achieving desired results.

Responsibilities

Primary Position Responsibilities 

• Leads department’s efforts in the research and development of standards and specifications for utility design and construction, material purchasing, and engineering design and philosophy documents and guides.


• Establishes material inventory forecasting needs through coordination efforts with other departments to ensure material availability based on project timelines.


• Manages warehouse activities including inventory levels to facilitate cost efficiency and adequate inventory controls.


• Preparation and management of annual operating and capital budgets for Standards cost center.


• Manages process for development and utilization of Compatible Units (CU’s) within the enterprise applications based on defined material standards for accurate utilization in design, accounting, and operations.


• Develops process for input collection and facilitates updates in an orderly manner to establish references for consistent utility design, safe and efficient construction, and applications of material based on their specifications and criteria.


• Promotes, educates, and supports CoServ’s technical reference material to internal and external end users.


• Publishes CoServ Electric and Gas Service Policy to ensure proactive communication to prospective customers and ensures adherence to pertinent local and national codes and CoServ operational requirements through the policies’ enforcement.


• Administers input and provides technical oversight for design reference guidelines to ensure consistent design practices across engineering functions that meet CoServ operational requirements.


• Evaluates and recommends selection of utility material based on CoServ best practices, pertinent use cases, and applicable codes and regulations.


• Oversees investigative efforts associated with root cause analysis for any material failures to determine corrective actions.


• Coordinates with internal stakeholders for material utilization input and optimization of construction standards to match operational best practices.


• Develops and oversees work procedures, rules, and policies to ensure their compliance with CoServ Tariff, CoServ policies, CoServ standards, as well as specifications, criteria, rules, and regulations of entities with regulatory authority related to the engineering field operations and service functions of CoServ.


• Supervise, coach, motivate, and lead supervisor and their staff including holding employees accountable for achieving desired results.


• Support employees to ensure effective and timely response to all inquiries.


• Oversees staff’s preparing and maintaining project status updates/tracking related to updates to Standards and Guideline documents.


• Trains department staff and others in aspects of application of material and design best practices related to utility infrastructure.


• Complies with established CoServ safety and operating rules, procedures and guidelines including reporting unsafe practices to a supervisor.


• Complies with established CoServ Information Security Handbook, policies, procedures, and guidelines including reporting suspected information security incidents to Tech Support.

Secondary Position Responsibilities 

• Maintain a thorough knowledge of NEC and NESC codes, applicable codes and regulations, standard utility practice, good engineering principles, and CoServ tariffs, service rules, policies, and line extension policies.


• Ability to travel, if necessary, for business and training.


• Assist in technical training of Engineering, Design Services, and Operations employees and other employees as directed or requested.


• Attends required company training.


• Performs other duties and activities as directed or required by management.


• Demonstrate continuous improvement by establishing metrics and streamlining processes for a positive member experience.


• Attends CoServ University training as required.


• Performs other duties and activities as directed.

Position Requirements 

• High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalency.


• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Engineering, Project Management, or related field, and ten (10) years of high-level experience in utility industry; OR fifteen (15) years of high-level experience in utility industry.

Education, Experience, and Certifications Preferred 

• Master of Business Administration OR Professional Engineering license AND


• Fifteen (15) years of experience in utility industry in engineering or operations.

Skills and Abilities Required 

• Ability to work under strict deadlines while prioritizing and managing multiple tasks.


• Ability to work independently, with minimum supervision, and in teams.


• Knowledgeable in utility equipment design best practices.


• 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.


• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, Teams, SharePoint, Visio, and Power Point.


• Ability to work in an office and field environment.

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.