MANAGING DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES, LABOR & SAFETY

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1 W A S H I N G T O N MANAGING DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES, LABOR & SAFETY MID $100,000 S Plus Excellent Benefits Apply by February 9, 2014 (First Review, Open Until Filled)

2 WHY APPLY? Chelan County Public Utility District No. 1 (PUD), headquartered in Wenatchee, Washington, is located in the geographical center of the state at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers. The area is a recreational paradise offering an abundance of outdoor activities and adventures. Chelan County is also home to the Wenatchee Valley, the apple capital of the world, and, increasingly, the region is also known for producing quality wines. This is an outstanding opportunity to join one of the nation s most progressive and respected public utilities and manage its Human Resources and Safety divisions. In addition to a competitive salary, this challenging professional opportunity also offers an outstanding benefits package. The successful candidate will enjoy an exceptional living environment close to many outdoor activities and a favorable cost-of-living while working for an organization with a reputation for being one of the best run public utilities in the country. each approximately three hours driving time or a short half-hour plane ride away. The Wenatchee area provides ample opportunity for an incredible quality of life that is perfect for families of all ages, and those who want to enjoy the conveniences and charm of a smaller community with great people and a wonderful culture. The Chelan County seat is located in historic Wenatchee, population approximately 32,400, and is the county's largest city. Wenatchee is rated by National Geographic as one of the top 10 mountain towns in the U.S. and is an outdoors enthusiast's dream. Activities include water sports on the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers, hiking, biking, rock climbing and golf. Downhill and cross-country skiing are just minutes away. The natural beauty of the Wenatchee Valley provides a vivid backdrop to its diversified economy, where the quality of life is high and the climate is moderate with four distinct seasons and about 300 days of sunshine a year. It s the best of the Northwest without the rain. The Wenatchee Valley offers a range of educational opportunities, including public and private schools. Higher education opportunities are available at Wenatchee Valley College, a two-year community college serving North Central Washington. THE AREA Chelan County residents have access to excellent school systems, still-affordable housing, strong transportation systems and ready access to the metropolitan amenities of Seattle and Spokane, The area offers a number of cultural activities, including a variety of theaters, music venues and museums, including the 490-seat Performing Arts Center, The Pressroom Theatre, the Wenatchee Valley Symphony, Town Toyota Center (a 4,300- seat events center), and the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. 2 P a g e

3 THE DISTRICT MISSION To provide sustainable, reliable utility services that enhances the quality of life in Chelan County. VISION To be valued as an innovative, trusted and highly respected public utility for generations to come. VALUES Service Respect Innovation Ethics and Fairness Teamwork Operational Excellence Safety Chelan County Public Utility District No. 1 is a municipal corporation that owns and operates one of the largest non-federal, publicly owned hydroelectric generating systems (along with wind and solar resources) in the country. The PUD s 3,000- square-mile service area covers all of Chelan County and also extends into four neighboring counties. Chelan County PUD was formed by a vote of county residents in 1936 and began providing electric service in Chelan PUD has grown into a multi-faceted public utility with more than 48,000 electric customers, and over the years, has added water and wastewater utility services and wholesale telecommunications. The PUD generates clean, renewable hydropower at its three dams and owns and operates transmission and distribution facilities (lines, switchyards and substations) to deliver it to customers in Chelan County and to other utilities that serve customers across the Pacific Northwest. Two of the PUD s hydro projects, Rocky Reach and Rock Island, are part of an 11-dam system on the U.S. portion of the Columbia River. The Lake Chelan Hydro Project serves a dual purpose of generating power and regulating the water level of 50-mile long Lake Chelan, the third deepest body of fresh water in North America. The three hydroelectric generating projects have a combined total generating capacity of nearly 2,000 megawatts of low-cost, clean, renewable power. In 2012, the three sites produced about 10.4 million megawatthours of power, enough to meet the needs of a city of more than 900,000 people. In 1999, the PUD began construction of an internal fiber-optic backbone to link district facilities with excessive capacity. In addition to offering fiber network capacity to customer-owners through wholesale telecommunications, the PUD further diversified its operations with a fiber-optic telecommunication network that provides wholesale voice, data and television services to local service providers who market to end-users. The PUD currently has $816 million of debt and maintains bond ratings of Aa3, AA and AA+ through Moody s, Standard & Poor s and Fitch respectively, reflecting its strong business profile and well-regarded operating and management systems. The PUD is also the recipient of numerous awards from professional organizations such as the National Hydropower Association and the American Public Power Association. 3 P a g e

4 The PUD relies on staff to optimize resources and enhance value for the benefit of the District's customer-owners. Through careful planning of expenditures and anticipated revenues, staff routinely monitors its longer-term forecasts and takes appropriate actions with a focus on sustainability. The PUD operates from three offices located in Wenatchee (headquarters), Chelan and Leavenworth. The District regularly employs about 650 full- and part-time employees, and approximately 65 seasonal park, fish and wildlife, and student employees during the year. Sixty percent of the employees are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #77 union. PUD management and the labor union share a positive, productive working relationship. The District has an annual operating budget of $226 million for 2014 that includes capital investment projects of $52 million. The District is directed by a five-member board of commissioners elected by the voters of Chelan County. General Manager, Steve Wright, who reports directly to the commission, is responsible for the overall operation of the utility. Mr. Wright joined Chelan County PUD in September 2013 after 32 Steve Wright, General Manager years at the Bonneville Power Administration, the last 12 as the head of the federal power marketing agency. THE DEPARTMENT & POSITION The Managing Director of HR, Labor & Safety reports to the General Manager and is a member of the Senior Management Team. This position plans, leads, organizes, controls and directs the PUD s human resources and employee safety and health functions. Through subordinate managers and a director, the managing director oversees programs, policies, and procedures for recruiting, compensation, benefits, organizational development, HRMS, labor relations, employee relations, payroll, affirmative action and employee safety and health. The managing director manages the strategic aspects of the labor relations program including the investigation and disposition of grievances, and overseeing labor/management, arbitration and contract bargaining processes. The current organizational structure of the HR, Labor & Safety department consists of seven direct reports to the managing director who direct or manage specific areas such as safety, recruitment, organizational development, etc. A part-time HR assistant also reports to the managing director. There are a total of 19 employees in the department. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the managing director is involved in enterpriselevel matters such as setting the strategic direction of the District, making budgetary recommendations on behalf of the assigned areas, and providing operational and policy management recommendations. The managing director is relied upon for expertise and counsel on employment and safety issues, as well as initiatives vital to the overall performance of the utility. The managing director leads departments that collaborate on innovative approaches to support strategic objectives and provide sound solutions for staffing, performance management, training, labor and employee relations, organizational development, compliance, compensation, benefits, information systems, payroll and industrial safety matters. 4 P a g e

5 Competitive candidates will be self-motivated, influential and have planning, negotiation, decisionmaking and organizational skills, as well as excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills. Well-developed counseling and coaching skills are essential qualifications, as is a strong business sense and the ability to align priorities for the areas assigned with the finances of the PUD. OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES This position has been vacant for some time and the ideal candidate for this position will be looking for the opportunity to make the community their home and help the District take the existing department to the next level. The District is seeking a proven leader who can assess the state of affairs of all assigned programs and make recommendations for improvement to the general manager. There are a number of changes happening at the District and this key position will help lead a strong change management process at an enterprise level. An important role for the new managing director will be to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization. This position requires a demonstrated knowledge of pertinent federal/state employment laws including FMLA, ADA, NLRA, ADEA, FLSA, and HIPAA, etc., and their application in the administration of effective and legally compliant human resources programs. The new managing director will have the ability to develop and prioritize district-wide goals and objectives, and will also have the ability to develop and implement effective and measurable business unit strategic and operational plans that align with District goals and objectives. While Chelan County PUD has a strong record of retaining employees, many employees will be retiring in the coming years. Candidates with experience in succession planning and strategies for replacing talented and experienced employees will be a plus. The current labor agreement with IBEW #77 expires March 31, Preparations for negotiations will be a top priority for the new managing director who will be part of the bargaining team along with the labor relations manager and other non-represented members of the PUD. IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE The ideal candidate for this position will be an accomplished, compassionate leader who has a very strong human resources foundation and extensive executive leadership experience. This person is someone who is respected by others in the field and by current/prior subordinate staff. As the new managing director, he or she will model PUD values, setting the tone for all employees, and lead by example. The new managing director will be a customerfocused HR professional, effective in challenging traditional paradigms when necessary, with an ability to work independently in a fast paced environment. The position requires exceptional interpersonal skills in effective mediation and facilitation of conflict situations, and a high tolerance for stress. 5 P a g e

6 EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE A BA/BS in Business or Public Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management and Labor Relations or other related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Master s degree or Juris Doctor degree is helpful, but not required. The ideal candidate will be an experienced individual with a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible and demonstrated experience in human resource management, including four years at the strategic/managerial level in Human Resources, including experience in a lead role with labor management, arbitration and/or collective bargaining. Experience with represented workforces is required. Experience managing employee safety and health programs is preferred. Knowledge of the emerging HR and safety issues and the utility industry is desired. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Mid $100,000 s Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance (2 plans 1 is zero cost; includes all eligible dependents) Life Insurance and AD&D Long Term Care Short and Long-term Disability 8 Holidays/3 Floating Holidays Personal Leave (initial accrual at 27 days per year) Retirement (Washington State Public Employees Retirement System) Deferred Compensation (with matching funds up to 5%) Chelan County PUD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce. All qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply by February 9, 2014 (first review, open until filled). Applications, supplemental questions, resumes and cover letters will only be accepted electronically. To apply online, go to and click on "submit your application" and follow the directions provided. Resumes, cover letters and supplemental questions can be uploaded once you have logged in NE Gilman Blvd., Ste 350 Issaquah, WA P a g e