What are the responsibilities and job description for the Department Manager - Substation position at Harris & Co Executive Search?
Department Manager – Substation
This role oversees large-scale high-voltage electrical projects with full responsibility for bidding, estimating, budgeting, scheduling, execution, and close-out. The position requires strong technical expertise, decision-making ability, and leadership over both internal teams and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities
• Manage all phases of high-voltage electrical projects from setup through completion
• Maintain strict safety and regulatory compliance with OSHA 1910.269, NFPA 70E, and NESC
• Oversee labor productivity, subcontractors, and material procurement
• Coordinate with field leadership, engineering teams, and clients to ensure safe, efficient delivery
• Support business development by identifying new opportunities and maintaining client relationships
• Provide oversight of substation construction activities, ensuring design, engineering, procurement, and field execution stay aligned with scope, schedule, and budget
• Direct and guide substation crews, foremen, and support staff, setting priorities and resolving technical or logistical issues
• Manage resource planning for substation projects, including staffing, workload forecasting, and assignment of field and technical personnel
• Ensure substation protection, control, and physical design standards are followed, escalating risks or deviations as needed
• Coordinate with utilities, transmission owners, and regulatory bodies on substation outages, energization plans, and commissioning activities
• Drive continuous improvement in the substation group related to safety performance, productivity, quality, and operational workflows
Qualifications
• 5 years managing high-voltage work (69kV to 500kV ) in transmission, distribution, or substations
• Strong understanding of power systems, codes, and safety requirements
• Proven leadership, problem-solving, and team-management capability
• Proficiency with standard office and project management software
• Ability to operate independently with minimal direction
• Experience supervising or leading substation-focused teams or departments is preferred
What the Role Offers
• Autonomy over major high-voltage projects
• Supportive project teams and a stable environment
• Competitive pay structure with bonus potential
• Strong benefits, PTO, and paid holidays
• Involvement in significant T&D and substation builds
Salary : $140,000 - $160,000
