DescriptionThe Department: As a community owned, not for profit municipal electric utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) has provided dependable electric service for over 125 years. SVP provides electricity service to over 57,000 residential and business customers. Today, SVP owns, operates, and participates in more than 1200 MW of electric generating resources and serves a peak load of approximately 700 MW. SVP’s expansion plan will double the operating capacity over the next ten years. High-profile customers include large corporations such as Intel, Applied Materials, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and NVIDIA. SVP currently provides more than 40% of Santa Clara’s electricity from carbon free renewable resources. In addition to using green energy from large-scale wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric projects outside of the area, SVP employs innovative ways to produce electricity locally by capturing and burning methane gas from a closed city landfill and using power from solar generating systems on city-owned garages and vacant, unusable land. SVP is supported by a staff of 222 full-time employees and has a revenue budget of more than $761 million for the fiscal year 2024-25.
The Position: SVP is seeking a candidate who is a strategic thinker, enjoys challenges, and will work collaboratively with other areas of the organization and City to elevate the use of technology in all aspects of operating an electric utility. SVP is in a unique position among electric utilities in experiencing dramatic growth over the next 5-10 years, primarily due to energy intensive data centers but also due to electrification. The successful candidate will continue efforts to elevate technology to support SVP’s growth plans and other goals while at the same time ensuring a focus on core functions and continuous improvement in the way SVP operates, including:
- Develop, manage, and continually update a proactive Cybersecurity portfolio for the Electric Department, including a Utility Cyber Security Policy that maintains NERC CIP Compliance yet promotes Utility Business functionality.
- Develop Utility Strategic Technology Plan that identifies core competencies and principles of SVP focused Systems Support Group. This plan should leverage existing abilities of City IT group, Cloud computing opportunities, and consultants to deliver current and emerging technology
- Support, maintain, and administer more than 50 databases (Oracle, SQL), all on-prem, cloud, and hybrid/hyper-converge servers
- Support and administer AMI network, NERC CIP and other compliance initiatives, technology needs, SharePoint (corporate and NERC), GIS platform, and security cameras and monitoring
- Provide physical security planning support for Electric Dept facilities and substations; and
- Develop and implement workforce technology changes
- This position will play a critical role over the next few years to not only support SVP’s ambitious goals, but also the City of Santa Clara as it hosts several high profile events, including the February 2026 Superbowl and several Soccer World Cup Games later in Summer 2026
As a member of the City's Unclassified Service, this is an "at-will" position and the incumbent serves at the discretion of the City Manager.
The position is housed at SVP main offices in Santa Clara but may also have the flexibility to work partially from Northern California Power Agency’s Satellite Office in Citrus Heights in Sacramento County.
Additional Information: Applications must be filled out completely (e.g. do not write “see resume, NA, or personnel file.”). To receive consideration for the screening process, candidates must submit a
1) Cover Letter and 2) Resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Application packets may be submitted online through the “Apply Now” feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov . Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of
October 18, 2024 at 4:00 PM. THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL MULTIPLE POSITIONS IN THIS, OR OTHER DIVISIONS OR DEPARTMENTS BESIDES THE POSITIONS LISTED BELOW. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THIS CLASSIFICATION, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO ENSURE YOU ARE CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY UTILIZE THE APPLICANTS FROM THIS RECRUITMENT. MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMITTANCE INTO THE EXAMINATION PROCESS. ONLY THE MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO DEMONSTRATE THE BEST COMBINATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IN RELATION TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES OF THE POSITION WILL BE INVITED TO TEST OR INTERVIEW. The annual salary range for this position is $228,759.12 - $296,068.80.
Minimum QualificationsEDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Economics, Engineering, Business Administration, Financial or Risk Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Public Administration or closely related field;
• Six (6) years of experience at a responsible level in engineering, administration, contracts administration, reliability standards compliance, customer relations and strategic services, economic trend analysis and forecasting, financial analysis, marketing, rate setting, resource planning, power contracts power trading, risk management, statistical analysis of market place business practices and operations, communications, information technology, environmental and regulatory compliance, engineering operation and maintenance in the electric utility industry or related field; and
• Including a minimum of 2 years of management experience.
SUBSTITUTIONS
• 8 years of applicable electric utility experience may be substituted for the education requirement.
• An advanced degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field may be substituted for up to 2 years' experience on a year for year basis.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
• An advanced degree in the applicable field is desirable; and
• Possession of a certificate of registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of CA is desirable.
LICENSE
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at the time of appointment and for the duration of employment.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
• Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job.
• May be required to work unusual hours in emergency situations;
• Required to pass initial and periodic comprehensive background checks, which may include fingerprinting, to meet Federal, State, and /or industry security requirements; and
• Seven (7) year criminal background check and employment verification are required.
Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application. The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov .
The position is housed at SVP main offices in Santa Clara but may also have the flexibility to work partially from Northern California Power Agency’s Satellite Office in Citrus Heights in Sacramento County
City of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview for Bargaining Unit #9Miscellaneous Unclassified ManagementThis summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara’s benefits available to Bargaining Unit #9 employees in 2024. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager’s Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change.
Retirement: - Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Classic Employees: 2.7% @ age 55 formula -employee pays 8.00% of gross pay, minus $61 bi-weekly
- New Employees: 2.0% @ age 62 formula - employee pays 7.00% of gross pay
Medicare and Social Security (FICA)
- Employee pays 6.20% up to $10,397.40(Social Security) and 1.45% (Medicare) of gross pay
Health Insurance: - City contribution up to $2042.82/month, based on enrollment in a CalPERS health plan
- Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre-tax basis
- Coverage is effective as early asthe first day of the monthafter date of hire
- If an employee enrolls in a plan with a premium that is less than $946.86/month, they will be paid the difference in cash
- Employees hired on or after 1/1/2023who opt-out of City-offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptableproof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash-in-lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details
Dental Insurance: - Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory
- City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
- Coverage is effective as early asthe first day of the monthafter date of hire
Vision Insurance: - Choice of two VSP plans
- City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee
- Coverage is effective as early asthe first day of the monthafter date of hire
Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA): - City contributes $50.00 a month toward employee’s VEBA account
- Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre-tax)
Life Insurance: - City pays for $50,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage
- Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
- Additional optional insurance may be purchased by the employee for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children
State Disability Insurance (SDI): - Employee pays 1.1% of gross pay (includes Paid Family Leave)
- 7 day waiting period. Weekly paid leave for absences due to non-work related injuries/illnesses. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
Paid Family Leave (PFL): - Up to 8 weeks of benefits within a 12-month period to care for a family member or to bond with a new child
- No waiting period. Weekly paid leave benefit. Benefit is based on past earnings. Refer to edd.ca.gov for more information
Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance: - Benefit is 60% of basic wage up to $13,333; max $8,000/month
- City paid benefit. City pays $.207/$100 of insured earnings
- 60 calendar day waiting period
- Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment
Deferred Compensation: - Voluntary plan through Nationwide Retirement Solutions
- Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or100% of gross compensation into a pre-tax 457(b) account or a post-tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules
Flexible Spending Account (IRS Section 125 Plan): - Employee may contribute up to $3,200per year in pre-tax dollars to a health care spending account
- Employee may contribute up to $5,000 per year in pre-tax dollars to a dependent care spending account
- Employee may contribute up to $315per month in pre-tax dollars to a commuter benefit plan
Vacation: - Vacation is accrued bi-weekly, cannot use vacation during first 6 months of City service
- For 1 -4 years of service: 10 days (80 hours)/year
- For 5 -9 years of service: 15 days (120 hours)/year
- For 10 - 15 years of service: 21 days (168 hours)/year
- For 16 - 20 years of service: 22 days (176 hours)/year
- For 21+ years of service: 24 days (192 hours)/year
Maximum accrual is 480 hours Once per year, employees can elect to convert up to 80 hours of accrued vacation to cash to be paid out in up to two cash-outs the following calendar year
Sick Leave: - Sick leave is accrued bi-weekly for equivalent of 96 hours per calendar year with no maximum accrual
- Up to 48 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness
- Up to 32 hours/year of accumulated sick leave may be used for personal leave
Employee may convert sick leave to vacation once per calendar year (annual maximum conversion is 96 hours sick to 48 hours vacation) Partial sick leave payoff provision on retirement depending on years of service
Management Leave: - 120 hours of management leave credited to employees each January 1st
- New employees hired between January 1st and June 30th receive 120 hours of management leave their first year
- New employees hired between July 1st and December 31st receive 60 hours of management leave their first year
Unused management leave may be carried over from one calendar year to the next; however, an employee may never have more than 240 hours (calendar years 2021 through 2024) of “banked” management leave
Holidays: - Seventeen paid eight-hour holidays per year (13 & 4 holidays between 12/25 to 1/1 of following year)
Mobile Communication Device Allowance: - $80/month in lieu of carrying a City-issued cell phone
Auto Allowance (an alternative to mileage reimbursement or use of a City vehicle): - Department Heads receive $320/month (up to $520, with City Manager approval). Assistant Department Heads and Division Managers can receive $200/month (Up to $500 with City Manager approval)
Tuition Reimbursement Program: - Up to $2,000 per fiscal year for tuition reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program: - Confidential counseling to employees and dependents. Up to maximum of five (5) consultations per family member per incident per year
- City paid benefit
Retiree Medical Reimbursement Program: - Employees who retire from the City with at least ten (10) years of service shall receive reimbursement to help cover retiree single health insurance premiums. The reimbursement maximum includes the PEMHCA minimum.
- Up to age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to$416/month in 2024(amount adjusted annually)
- After age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $249/month in 2024(amount adjusted annually)
Alternate Work Schedule: - An employee shall be eligible to work a 9/80 alternate work schedule according to the conditions, criteria, and requirements set forth in City Manager's Directive 71. Requests to work a 9/80 schedule shall be made through or by the Department Head to the City Manager. The City Manager must approve the schedule and the City Manager or Department Head (for employees other than Department Heads) may terminate the schedule at anytime.
Closing Date/Time: 10/18/2024 4:00 PM Pacific
