General Manager

                                       TOWN OF LYNDON ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT

                                                             JOB DESCRIPTION 

Position Title:            General Manager                                Department:  Management

Reports To:               Board of Electric Commissioners      Date: February 25, 2025

Wage Range: $100,000 - $130,000

GENERAL SUMMARY: 

• The General Manager is responsible for managing the Town of Lyndon Electric Department (LED), developing short and long-term strategies, safeguarding the financial health, ensuring effective service for electric customers, complying with Federal and State regulations under the authority and policies of the Board of Electric Commissioners (BOEC).

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: 

• A Bachelor's degree is preferred with seven years of progressive responsibility in leadership roles or equivalent education and experience in a public utility or comparable environment. Recent industry experience includes working knowledge of wholesale power, renewable energy sector, and a detailed understanding of how the electric industry operates within Vermont, FERC, and ISO-New England's utility regulations.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• Maintain accountability directly or indirectly through subordinate managers for all Department staff. Carry out supervisory responsibilities per Department policies, regulations, and applicable laws.  Interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 

• Works directly with and recommends to the BOEC, development of the reports directly to the BOEC, keeping the Board advised and informed on matters impacting the Department. Requires strong and effective communication skills, direct interaction with the Board, and implementation and carrying out Board policy and directives.
• Makes recommendations to the Board regarding developing LED's strategic objectives, plans, goals, including new approaches, programs, policies, and procedures designed to support these endeavors. Be proactive in ensuring that the Department's initiatives, programs, and services are updated regularly to reflect changing trends, marketplace dynamics, and member system needs.
• Manages the development and presentation of the annual budgets for both the Department and specific projects, authorizes and establishes criteria for expenditures; monitors and controls expenses and revenue generation; ensure the fiscal integrity of the Department through effective financial management and planning. Communicate regularly with the Board on all financial and operational aspects of the Department.
• Works diligently to ensure the implementation within the Department of any core mission adopted by the BOEC.
• Interacts with staff, financial advisors, investment bankers, auditors, and other professionals on financings, credit ratings, or other financial matters to ensure the financial health of LED, and monitors with appropriate oversight the work of all those professionals engaged by the Department.
• Diligently maintains appropriate oversight of accountants, law firms, consultants, and other professionals engaged by the Department.
• Willingly interacts with industry colleagues, including peers at other Municipal Electric Department's.
• Maintain oversight of the Department's interests in the McNeil generating station, the Swanton Project Ten Peaker, and any other future assets of Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (VPPSA). Works to maximize the value of those assets for the benefit of the Department and its ratepayers.
• Builds and maintains a culture of proactivity and compliance regarding cybersecurity to safeguard customer information, protect infrastructure, and adhere to regulations.
• Manages the LED's business staff and Union workforce while cultivating a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates top-quality employees. Provides a growth path for selection, training, and development of business staff and union workforce to develop and retain top-quality employees.
• Makes recommendations regarding employee's compensation, promotion, transfer, or dismissal as appropriate while following the LED's policies and procedures.
• Establishes objectives with subordinate department heads, determines performance standards, and monitors to ensure departments meet goals.
• Oversees that LED's safety program complies with Federal and State requirements.
• Develops performance standards and assesses employees to ensure the attainment of operational and financial objectives. Participates in department executive meetings and other such meetings as required. Define, develop, and recommend appropriate ethics policies and procedures for the Department while cultivating a culture where employees willingly adhere to those policies.
• Maintains solid relations and builds respect with Vermont agencies, regional and federal regulators, and other industry participants and organizations. Oversees the Department's regulatory participation on the state, regional and national levels, including but not limited to those with Vermont regulatory agencies, ISO-New England, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
• At the Board's discretion, accept appointments to serve on the VPPSA Board of Directors and other industry-related Boards. Any compensation received from such directorships or any compensation received from Board fees, lectures, writing, consultative work, or otherwise arising from or related to their position as General Manager belongs to the Department.
• Manages the Department's interests in the assets of VPPSA and works to maximize the value of those assets for the benefit of the Department and its ratepayers/customers.
• Maintain current knowledge of trends, field practices, and related industrial processes through peer association, seminars, studies, and literature reviews.
• Performs other related duties as required.

 SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Resolve technical and complex administrative problems and develop relevant alternatives and recommendations.
• Decisiveness, handle multiple tasks, and be detail-oriented while working with a wide variety of people.
• Recognize organizational priorities and work cooperatively to support their accomplishment.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of personnel and financial management, read and understand financial statements.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, interact effectively with a wide variety of people, and establish positive public relations.
• Possess a strong ability and willingness to make effective public presentations at a wide variety of forums.
• Be competent in business administration, power supply, financial principles, electric utility operations, and human resources management.
• Have strong leadership, planning, supervisory, communication, and organizational skills.
• Identifying and understanding evolving trends impacting practices of the electric industry, including renewable power generation, GIS smart grid, and energy efficiency.
• Understanding of utility power supply products and markets.
• Have a working knowledge of bond markets, credit rating factors, and methodologies.
• Be certified in basic: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and First Aid.
• Have working knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Office Products, including but not limited to, Excel, Word etc.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• Function within a typical office environment, not subject to extremes in temperature, noise, odors, etc.
• Frequent interruptions to assist staff, respond to ratepayers and regulatory concerns.
• Regularly uses computer keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment requiring eye-hand coordination and finger dexterity.
• Regional travel to attend meetings monthly and interstate travel centered primarily around interaction with VPPSA member systems.
• Some national travel to attend relevant meetings and conferences as appropriate to advance and protect the interests of the Department, VPPSA, and its member systems.
• Working conditions, equipment failure, and workloads during peak periods may cause increased stress levels.
• Outside of regular business hours, at times of extended outages, perform a leadership role in restoring service.

POSITION CLASSIFICATION:

 This executive position is an Exempt position under the FLSA.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job.  The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Revised:  2/25/25