Position Summary

The Director of Design Services leads the safe, efficient, and compliant execution of design for electric and gas utility projects by directing and developing design staff. The Director is responsible for service standards and all business processes related to the design of utility services for residential, commercial, and industrial new service requests. The Director directs and oversees utility distribution system designs and enforces compliance with CoServ operational processes and policies, utility best practices, and industry standards and codes. The Director’s department staff are responsible for the design, layout, and cost estimation for utility projects that are acceptable solutions to internal and external stakeholders. The Director analyzes production processes to enhance efficiency, oversee personnel scheduling, and support customer inquiries. Additionally, the Director develops work procedures, manages budgets, negotiates contracts with consulting firms, and interfaces with regulatory entities and stakeholders.

Primary Position Responsibilities

• Accountable for ensuring that their department functions and activities are performed in a safe, efficient, and effective manner in accordance with standard utility practice, good engineering principles, applicable codes and regulations, and the rules and policies of CoServ.

• Supervise, coach, motivate, and lead managers of their department including holding employees accountable for achieving desired results.
• Oversee the preparation of annual operating and capital budgets for Design Services cost center.
• Direct, oversee, and approve the design, layout, staking, plan preparation, cost estimating and coordination for all overhead and underground utility construction, replacement and upgrade projects including construction work plan projects, relocation projects, thoroughfare lighting, distribution feeder extensions for subdivisions, single phase and three phase line extensions for new service, and miscellaneous replacement and service/line upgrade projects.
• Direct and oversee major distribution system design and construction including management of professional engineering contractors which may be utilized in the engineering of these projects.
• Direct the creation of engineering drawings that effectively communicate design details to field personnel and contractors while maintaining a high level of accuracy for bill of materials and cost estimates.
• Direct the operations of CoServ’s Design Services department that includes all CoServ Electric and Gas Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Design.
• Advise CoServ’s legal representatives and Real Estate department activities such as acquisition, release, or defining of easements as necessary for engineering projects.
• Develop processes, criteria and rules and provide management and oversight for inspection of completed utility construction work to ensure that utility facilities are constructed and maintained according to CoServ’s engineering and construction standards and specifications, standard utility practice, good engineering principles, applicable codes and regulations, and the rules and policies of CoServ.
  • Develop and enforce work procedures, rules, and policies to ensure that work and activities performed by department employees comply with CoServ’s tariff, policies, standards, specifications, criteria and rules, and the regulations of entities with regulatory authority.
• Establish internal controls and enforce approval level authorities for departmental operational and capital expenditures.
• Determine departmental staffing and engineering consultant requirements and acquire needed staffing with appropriate and required approvals including negotiate rates, terms and conditions and contracts with engineering firms for required consultant staffing.
• Develop with other stakeholders, implement, and oversee employee development program for CoServ design staff.
• Provide technical oversight in the research and development of standards and specifications for utility design and construction, distribution line material purchasing, and engineering design and philosophy documents and guides.
• Oversee and approve periodic updates of the CoServ Distribution Reference Guidelines, which serves as the technical reference manual for design best practices and competency guidelines for the employee development program.
• Train department staff and others in aspects of distribution design of overhead and underground facilities for residential, commercial, and industrial loads
• Conduct and facilitate training as a subject matter expert on topics such as load calculations and analysis, cost estimating, field staking, preparation of construction plans and drawings, and obtaining required easements and permits.
• Recommend and approve all necessary annual changes for CoServ Electric and Gas Service Policy to ensure adherence to pertinent local and national codes and CoServ operational requirements.
• Negotiate terms with consulting firms to provide engineering and design services to CoServ.
• Manages professional engineering contractors which may be utilized in the engineering of certain projects.
  • Interface and coordinate with city, county and state entities and representatives, members, developers, contractors, engineering, and operations personnel and other CoServ departments related to service requests and line construction projects.
  • Provide written responses for legal or regulatory actions and includes verbal testimony before legal and regulatory entities.
  • Maintain business relationships with City, County, State, and Regulatory authorities and includes appearances before City, County or State authorities.
• Negotiate and act on behalf of CoServ Electric and CoServ Gas regarding service certification subject matters.
• 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

• Provide support and technical direction to CoServ personnel for all aspects of Design Services area or responsibility.
• Serve and represent CoServ on local and/or national technical committees.
• Participates as a voting member for technical items related to CoServ’s Standards Approval process.
• Maintain good working relationship and facilitate good communications between their departments and all other departments at CoServ.
• Reviews completed work orders and cost data to assure conformance with plans and acceptability of construction charges.
• Coordinates design efforts with Business Development to ensure utilization of accurate costing information and supports business acquisition.
• Assist in technical training of Design Services and Operations employees and other employees as directed or requested.
• Actively promote CoServ’s objectives, plans, programs, and goals.
• Attend meetings, conferences, schools, and workshops to maintain and increase knowledge about utility best practices, engineering practices, and codes and regulations.
• Demonstrate continuous improvement by establishing metrics and streamlining processes for a positive member experience.
• Participates in CoServ’s Leadership Communications Team (LCT) and Emergency Response Program (ERP).
• 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.
• Stay alert to public and political questions that may arise and develop an informed response.
• Attends CoServ University training as required.
• Performs other duties and activities as directed.

Supervisory Responsibilities



• Direct reports include 2 Design Services Managers.
• Manage a department of approximately 40 employees.
  • Including contract employees as needed to meet project timelines.
• Assures employees understand the hazards associated with the work to be performed, safety rules that apply and the proper procedures to perform their work safely.
• Directs design and engineering staff.
• Ensure subordinates adhere to the CoServ policies and procedures.
• Communicates Company policies to employees.
• Provides employee development opportunities.

Position Requirements

Education, Experience, and Certifications Required

• High School Diploma or G.E.D equivalency.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering or related field, AND fifteen (15) years of utility distribution and/or operations experience with a minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience.

Education, Experience, and Certifications Preferred

• PMP Certification OR Master’s in Business Administration, Engineering, or related technical field OR Registration as Professional Engineer in Texas.

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

Skills and Abilities Preferred

• None

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)