Operations Manager

Job Classification: Exempt, Full-Time

Work Schedule: Regular Office Hours, Monday through Friday

Reporting Relationship: Senior Vice President/COO

Primary Accountabilities:

The Operations Manager supports the safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation of KEPCo-owned facilities and related programs. This role helps with operational planning, compliance, budgeting, project coordination, and communication for KEPCo’s Operations and Engineering functions. The position works with internal teams, member cooperatives, regulatory and market organizations, and facility partners to support reliability, compliance, power supply activities, and operational priorities.

Major Duties:

General

• Support budget tracking, forecasting, and reporting for Operations activities.
• Coordinate operational plans, vendor activities, and contracts that support departmental objectives.
• Help improve processes, reporting tools, data analysis, and operational performance monitoring.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and updates for senior leadership and the Board of Trustees as requested.
• This position does not have initial direct supervisory responsibility.

Operations

• Manage the operation, compliance, budgeting, and project coordination of KEPCo-owned facilities, including Sharpe Station and Prairie Sky Solar, with field work as needed.
• Collaborate on Southwest Power Pool (SPP) submissions, initiatives, and related operational coordination.
• Support compliance with applicable safety, reliability, and regulatory requirements, including NERC reliability standards and the National Electrical Safety Code, as applicable.
• Assist with KEPCo’s power supply, energy risk management, energy hedging, and congestion hedging activities.
• Coordinate operational projects of varying scope with appropriate guidance.

Administrative

• Support departmental budgets and cost-control efforts.
• Provide operational support to KEPCo member cooperatives as needed.
• Provide updates to the Senior Vice President/COO on operational priorities, project status, and power supply planning as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required. A degree in engineering, operations management, business, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution is preferred.
• At least seven (7) years of experience in electric utility operations, budgeting, compliance requirements, and project coordination is preferred.
• Experience supporting regulatory, reliability, or market activities, including NERC or SPP-related work, is desirable.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and concisely with leadership, staff, and members.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in cross-functional team settings.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, professionalism, regular attendance, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.

Work Environment:

• The KEPCo office is located in Topeka, Kansas. Employees may work from home on Mondays and Fridays in accordance with company policy and business needs.
• Professional, deadline-driven work environment that includes office-based responsibilities and periodic field visits to operational facilities.
• Regular interaction with staff, members, vendors, and external stakeholders.
• Moderate travel is required.

Additional Duties:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the position. Duties may change over time, and the employee may be asked to perform other related responsibilities as needed.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Topeka, KS 66615