Director of Operations – Transmission & Distribution

Full-Time | Travel Required | East Region, US 

Lead the Teams Powering America’s Future

Strengthening our nation’s power infrastructure takes experienced leadership, disciplined execution, and teams that understand what it takes to safely deliver complex work in the field.

Every day, utilities, businesses, and communities depend on reliable electrical service. Michels Power, Inc. helps build and maintain the overhead transmission and distribution infrastructure that makes that reliability possible.

If you are an experienced power utility construction leader who knows how to develop people, manage regional operations, improve financial performance, and turn strategy into execution, a career with Michels Power, Inc. may be the next step for you.

About Michels Power, Inc.

Michels Power, Inc. supports America's electrical and communication backbone by delivering comprehensive overhead and underground construction services for 69 kV to 765 kV electric utility systems and fiber networks. As one of the largest private power utility electrical contractors in the United States, Michels Power combines experienced project leadership, highly skilled field resources, and one of the industry's premier equipment fleets to successfully execute complex power delivery projects across North America.

Our teams design, build, and maintain critical infrastructure including transmission lines, distribution systems, electrical substations, renewable energy facilities, battery energy storage systems (BESS), communication systems, structure foundations, heavy civil infrastructure, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) projects. We provide comprehensive project oversight from planning and scheduling through procurement, construction, quality assurance, commissioning, and project closeout.

Leveraging engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) delivery capabilities, Michels Power is proud to be a member of the Michels Family of Companies.

Position Summary

As Director of Operations – Transmission & Distribution, you will provide leadership and oversight for divisional operations with responsibility for creating an environment focused on safe, efficient, and profitable execution. Working closely with the Vice President, you will help establish strategic goals and direct regional teams in executing those priorities across the business.

You will maintain visibility into safety, revenue, margin, production, workforce, and financial performance while supporting the leaders responsible for day-to-day construction operations. You will evaluate operating and financial results, allocate resources, address business and project challenges, and work with executive leadership to make decisions that support the continued success of Michels Power.

The right person for this role brings significant overhead electric transmission and distribution construction experience, has led operations at a regional or comparable level, and understands how to translate business objectives into results in the field.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Regional Leadership

• Lead and oversee Transmission & Distribution operations, ensuring alignment with divisional and company objectives.
• Work with the Vice President to establish strategic goals and translate those goals into operational priorities.
• Provide leadership and direction to Regional Managers, Project Managers, and operational teams.
• Manage operations to achieve established safety, revenue, margin, production, and performance goals.
• Maintain visibility across the project portfolio and help leadership teams address operational, staffing, and execution challenges.
• Support managers in leading their teams, evaluating performance, and implementing effective work methods.
• Make informed decisions regarding operational priorities and allocation of resources across the business.
• Promote company policies, Michels Family of Companies culture, and core values.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop managers responsible for project and regional operations.
• Establish clear expectations and reinforce accountability throughout the organization.
• Support recruiting, employee development, succession planning, and retention of key operational talent.
• Evaluate organizational and workforce needs based on current operations and anticipated workload.
• Build effective teams by creating an environment that encourages collaboration, sound decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with leaders throughout Michels Power to ensure teams have the resources and support necessary to execute successfully.

Financial & Business Performance

• Provide leadership and oversight for divisional financial and operational performance.
• Review activities, costs, operations, and forecast data to evaluate progress toward established goals.
• Facilitate monthly financial reviews with Project Managers, Regional Managers, and General Managers.
• Review revenue, margin, production, forecasts, and other key measures of business performance.
• Prepare and communicate monthly financial information to executive leadership.
• Identify operating trends and work with leaders to address performance issues and improve results.
• Support budgeting and resource allocation decisions that enable safe and profitable operations.

Project Delivery & Resource Planning

• Maintain visibility into major projects and work with project leadership to address execution challenges.
• Collaborate with project and field leadership to evaluate manpower, equipment, scheduling, and other operational requirements.
• Support planning for current and future workloads to ensure appropriate resources are available across the division.
• Work across operational functions to address issues affecting project delivery, production, cost, schedule, and customer expectations.
• Visit project locations regularly to maintain direct visibility into field operations and support project and field leadership.

Client Relations & Business Growth

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with electric utility customers and industry partners.
• Support business development and growth efforts by providing operational perspective on opportunities, resources, and execution capability.
• Participate in customer discussions and help resolve significant operational or project issues.
• Work with leadership to evaluate market opportunities and the resources necessary to support sustainable growth.

Safety, Quality & Culture

• Maintain and promote a strong health, safety, environment, and quality (HSEQ) culture for employees, customers, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Ensure operations comply with applicable HSEQ policies, procedures, regulations, and continuous improvement objectives.
• Identify and communicate workplace hazards and risks and ensure unsafe or nonconforming conditions are addressed.
• Reinforce the expectation that safe execution is the responsibility of every employee, regardless of position.
• Partner effectively with Safety, Quality, Human Resources, Finance, Equipment Operations, and other Michels Family of Companies teams.

What It Takes

• Bachelor’s degree and 15 years of power utility-related experience, including responsibility for at least a geographic region of operations, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant experience within overhead electric transmission and distribution construction.
• Project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading regional operations, multiple project teams, or a significant construction portfolio.
• Strong understanding of overhead transmission and distribution construction operations, field execution, workforce planning, and resource management.
• Experience evaluating financial and operational performance, including revenue, margin, cost, forecasts, and production.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and hold operational leaders accountable.
• Strong decision-making, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with field leadership, project management, customers, and executive leadership.
• Valid driver’s license for the type(s) of vehicles that may be driven and an acceptable driving record as determined by the Michels review team.
• Travel required, with potential for extended duration. Extended meaning the travel may account for up to 100% of your workweek. 

Why Michels Power?

• Family owned and operated
• Invests approximately $5,000 per employee annually in training and development
• Meaningful work that powers communities and industries
• Strong safety culture where everyone is responsible regardless of title
• Part of the Michels Family of Companies
• Long-term career growth opportunities

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits program, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Legal Plan
• Identity Theft Protection and Monitoring Plan

Benefits may vary based on position and location.

Why You?

• You like to surround yourself with dedicated, value-driven people.
• You relish new challenges and evolving technology.
• You cringe when you hear: "Because that's the way we've always done it."
• You like to know your efforts are noticed and appreciated.
• You want to make your own decisions, but know support is always available.
• You want to work to make a difference.

Join a company that powers progress. Be a part of Michels Power, Inc.—where you don't just build projects, you build a career.