Director of Engineering / Enova Power Corp

Director of Engineering

Sartor and Associates has been retained by Enova Power Corp., a progressive company dedicated to energizing and empowering our communities while providing the highest level of service and a safe and positive work environment, to recruit a Director of Engineering.

BACKGROUND

In September 2022, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc. and Waterloo North Hydro Inc. merged to become Enova Power Corp.  Enova is owned by the City of Kitchener (53.4%), the City of Waterloo (30.8%), the Township of Woolwich (8.5%), the Township of Wilmot (4.5%), and the Township of Wellesley (2.8%).

Enova Power is the 7th largest electricity distribution company in Ontario by customer count, providing energy solutions to over 160,000 residential and business customers in the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, Township of Woolwich, Township of Wilmot, and Township of Wellesley.  Enova Power’s 311 employees are dedicated to providing safe and reliable energy solutions that energize and empower their communities.

Enova Strategic Direction

Vision: To drive what’s next in energy and sustainability for our communities and beyond.

Values:

• Safety and wellbeing above all
• Everyone has a voice
• Transparency
• Driven to explore new ideas
• Inclusive and empowered

Pillars: At Enova, we’re dedicated to:

• Dependable and reliable service
• Customer and community partnerships
• Continuous improvement

Strategic Areas of Focus:

• Post-Merger Integration
• Grid Resiliency
• Innovation & Growth
• Empowering Communities

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Reporting to the Vice President Grid Transformation & Chief Distribution Officer (CDO), this position is responsible for the management and direction of the utility’s infrastructure expansion and sustainment programs, including overhead and underground distribution systems; supply planning; GIS; and asset management. 

The incumbent leads and directs the affairs of Engineering; ensures alignment with corporation vision, mission and strategic goals; provides engineering support to engineering and operational activities as well as expanding services to other utilities and customers; provides technical expertise to analyze complex problems and assists the corporation to adapt to new and changing situations.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team the incumbent is a key contributor in achieving the Company’s purpose and the strategic vision of the Engineering division and is an engaged change leader.  The incumbent promotes a high-performance culture, enhances the leadership capabilities of the team, collaborates with leadership to meet system reliability targets, and ensures compliance with corporate policies, procedures, safety rules and regulations.

Direct Reports to the Director of Engineering (4):  Manager Distribution Engineering, Manager of System Planning & Customer Connections, Engineering Services Supervisor (GIS), Executive Assistant - Engineering.

DUTIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Strategic Planning & Provision of Expert Advice: Contribute to the formulation of corporate strategic plans and execute strategies and plans as they relate to the Engineering department in alignment with corporate plans. Counsel and confer with the VP Grid Transformation & CDO on the day-to-day business of the utility particularly as it refers to matters of a technical nature and keep the VP Grid Transformation & CDO informed of any unusual items that would have a significant effect on the Corporation.  Provide technical and analytical support to internal and external stakeholders.  Assist external auditors and respond to audit review. Represent the utility at various municipal and utility business organizations, committees and functions.
• Asset Investment Planning & Management: Lead the development of capital investment plans to sustain and expand the corporation’s distribution infrastructure; balance near term and long term needs to deliver reliable, safe and cost-effective and environmentally responsible solutions. Formulate plans weighing a diverse set of risks, benefits and costs; justify expenditures to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Budgeting: Direct the preparation of short term and long-term operating and capital budgets for the Engineering departments including the justification of major expenditures and ensure alignment with the corporation’s asset planning, financial and strategic objectives. Work in cooperation with the Senior Leadership Team regarding any corporate wide budgeting constraints.
• Technical: Oversee and direct the overall planning, engineering design and construction of the sustainment and expansion of Enova’s infrastructure systems including distribution lines, GIS, asset management; ensure compliance with applicable rules, regulations, engineering standards and practices.
• Maintenance & Support: Develop and execute maintenance and support programs for GIS and asset management.
• Staffing: Manage, direct and optimize the deployment of departmental staff resources.  Delegate and plan schedules, hire, manage performance, conduct reviews, and ensure that training and development are available to enhance performance and knowledge level of staff.   Ensure that staff is cross trained for appropriate backup procedures to cover absences.  Ensure compliance with corporate policies, procedures, established best practices, and relevant regulatory rules and regulations.
• Labour Relations: Manage staff to ensure that the Collective Agreement is administered in a fair and reasonable manner and promotes a positive culture for union/management relations.  Attend regular Labour Management meetings and participate in labour negotiations.
• Safety: Provide leadership for Occupational Health & Safety activities for the organization to effectively promote a culture of health, safety and loss prevention.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor of Electrical Engineering or equivalent
• Professional Engineering license (P.Eng)
• Regulatory Specialist Certificate required within 2 years
• Class G Driver’s License

Experience: 

• Minimum of 10 years in positions of increasing responsibility performing, managing and directing the planning, design, construction and operations functions in an electrical utility

Knowledge: 

• Expert knowledge of the planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance requirements of distribution systems
• Advanced knowledge of the Utility Work Protection Code, EUSA rules, ESA Distribution Safety Regulations, IESO and OEB codes and regulations, and all other applicable government regulations
• Advanced knowledge of business and management principles including budgeting, strategic planning, resource allocation and leadership techniques
• Advanced knowledge of the contents and administration of the collective agreement
• Intermediate knowledge of the Employment Standards Act
• Advanced knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety requirements as it relates to individual, organizational and operational requirements
• Intermediate knowledge of engineering software, including Geographical Information Systems (GIS), asset management, and pole line analysis
• Advanced knowledge of the regulatory framework including Distribution System Planing (DSP) preparation

Skills:

• Advanced skills in MS Office and intermediate knowledge of various engineering design, information, reporting and analytic software packages
• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Advanced planning, organizational and project management skills
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to understand and analyze complex issues
• Ability to adapt to new and changing situations
• Ability to effectively represent the interests of the organization, resolve conflicts, build strong business relationships, and persuade various internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to make decisions and accept responsibility
• Ability to provide strong leadership to motivate and direct work to ensure consistency with the objectives of the organization.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

To explore this opportunity further, please email your resume (filename - “Last name, First name - CV”), with “Enova Director of Engineering” in the subject line, in confidence to Larry Sartor at larry@sartorandassociates.com and Mark Fukuzawa at mark@sartorandassociates.com.

It is Enova’s policy to comply with all applicable laws and regulations which prohibit unlawful discrimination because of race, religion, creed, colour, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability or marital status or any other protected class.

We thank all those that apply for the position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding.