The Control Authority Supervisor provides leadership to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation and restoration of the GBPC Transmission and Distribution system. This role is responsible for:
Leading restoration efforts in response to events on the power distribution system.
Ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
Overseeing the training, development, and coaching of System Operators (SO) and other personnel.
Developing operators at every level.
The Control Authority Supervisor I reports to the Operations and Maintenance Manager and will:
Maintain health, safety, and environment standards by:
Ensuring compliance with all safety policies and procedures.
Ensuring compliance with all environmental and health standards.
Completing all required HSE training.
Operate the Transmission and Distribution System Safely:
Coordinate timely service restoration for all customers.
Provide accurate information about system events to management, Corporate Communications, and other departments.
Plan, write, check, approve, direct, issue clearances/permissions, and monitor orders for switching, grounding, and tagging instructions.
Support the Emergency Storm Restoration Plan (ESRP) during storm restoration.
Supervise switching requirements between system operators and field personnel.
Prepare, disseminate, and maintain operations centre records and reports (e.g., circuit and equipment load, interruption reports, emergency contact numbers).
Coordinate with Generation Energy for emergency load shedding per Operating Procedures and Guidelines.
Ensure shift workload and system configurations are discussed and properly notified if daily workload cannot be accomplished.
Train new Operators, including On-the-Job Training for OMS/ADMS class instruction and switching/tagging procedures.
Coordinate dispatching activities with GBPC personnel and external entities (e.g., other utilities, government agencies, large members).
Review distribution system events and ensure proper reporting.
Communicate new and updated policies and procedures, ensuring compliance.
Perform other related duties as necessary or assigned.
Supervisory and/or Leadership Responsibilities:
Supervise system operations, outage requests, customer outages, and management notifications.
Respond to system outages and emergencies involving substations, transmission lines, distribution lines, and underground networks.
Prepare outage reports on system disturbances and events.
Oversee planning, operations, switching, and protection of distribution and transmission systems.
Direct switching for scheduled inspection, maintenance, and testing per safety rules.
Execute emergency isolation and restoration to minimize outage durations and achieve reliability targets.
Schedule duty call roster and provide technical guidance to employees.
Develop and implement practices, procedures, and methods for safe and reliable T&D system operation.
Direct, plan, document, review, and appraise work of direct reports; provide coaching, counselling, and disciplinary action.
Respond to callouts and emergencies as required.
Participate in emergency response activities, including Emergency Storm Response Plan.
Provide training, mentoring, coaching, and leadership for personnel.
Communicate expectations, coach employees, provide feedback, and collaborate with other departments.
Implement operating procedures and analyze system performance.
Lead shift/team incident management and maintain awareness of system conditions.
Promote safety, provide reliable electric service, and direct emergency restoration.
Notify Company personnel and regulatory agencies of system conditions and emergencies.
Ensure Control Centre records and documentation are updated timely.
Conduct performance reviews and evaluations.
Mentor new operators and ensure proper development.
Review reliability metrics and identify improvement opportunities.
Respond to operational events with a learning mindset and implement ideas for operational excellence.
Make staffing and scheduling decisions for daily operations and storm restoration.
Communicate with Crew Leads, Energy Operations, Grid Engineering and management during critical outage events and operational contingencies.
Preparing, teaching, and assisting in the development and advancement of staff through the competency-based training program by ensuring all field workers are appropriately signed off on all corresponding skills.
The Customer Operations Supervisor must have a high school diploma, five years of experience as a Linesman in the power industry, proficiency in Basic Electrical Theory, and BJC exams in Mathematics and English.
Knowledge of electric systems, SCADA, OMS, GIS, and OSHA Electrical Safety Standards.
Familiarity with protection systems for substation transformers, transmission lines, and distribution lines.
Leadership and teamwork skills to foster cooperative relationships.
Strong analytical, leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Ability to make operational decisions under pressure and handle emergency situations.
Experience in a 24x7 work environment, including nights, holidays, and weekends.
Thorough knowledge of transmission and distribution systems, planning/scheduling concepts, and company policies.
Proficiency in personal computers and related software applications.
Supervisory skills, including effective communication, conflict resolution, and training abilities.
Flexibility in a demanding work environment and ability to handle sensitive issues with tact.
Knowledge of utility system design, operations, maintenance, safety standards, and business processes.
Planning and organizational skills, including project and schedule management.
Ability to supervise and direct work, analyze system problems, and communicate effectively.
This position requires shift work, after-hours on-call, and may exceed 40 hours per week. It involves working in a secured control room and occasionally in the field.
