Oversees the maintenance and expansion of Advanced Weather Forecasting and Situational Awareness programs in support of our client’s Wildfire Mitigation Plans. Serves as the primary contact for meteorological information needed within the business.
Oversees a wide range of meteorological data to provide continuously updated weather information from a variety of sources to better manage the impacts of weather on the electric distribution and transmission system to identified vulnerabilities.
Oversees daily, weekly, and long-term seasonal weather forecasts products, advisories, and warnings concerning a number of hazardous weather conditions, such as severe weather, fire danger, high winds, flash floods, and winter storms to support T&D system operations and generation operations.
Responsible for selecting, coaching, and developing employees and responsible for management of employee salaries.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain the annual budget to support staffing, operational, and technology requirements for a 7/24 hour wildfire operations center.
- Support the development of analytical tools for various operational organizations and wildfire mitigation planning.
- Continually maintain and enhance procedures for monitoring our client’s weather network and associated alerting,
- Improve all real-time and operational forecasts through process improvements via new technologies and advancements.
- Work closely with engineering and operational organizations to integrate weather information into fire risk mitigation and community resilience projects.
- Monitor and report to upper management real-time weather conditions and expected forecast on a recurring basis during storm events and major construction operational events.
- Interview hire, train, coach and manage employees.
- Serve as our client’s subject matter expert for all weather-related matters.
- Integrate a wide range of meteorological data to provide continuously updated weather information to better manage the impacts of weather on the electric system and identified vulnerabilities.
- Analyze surface observation data, satellite imagery, NEXRAD Doppler RADAR data, and Numerical Weather Predication data using AWIPS.
- Provide short- and long-term seasonal weather forecasts to allow preparedness, and proactive resource availability in the case of pending severe weather.
- Work with our client’s energy supply function on short- and long-term seasonal weather forecasts to optimize hydro, wind, and solar generation asset utilization.
- Provide weather forecasting data to support power procurement transactions.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the National Weather Service and the company.
- Collaborate with local, state, and federal government agencies (i.e. National Weather Service, CalFire, Oregon Department of Forestry, Utah DNR-FFSL, etc.), universities, and other research groups to advance the science of Meteorology and develop new technologies and communication tools to promote safe, reliable operation of the electric distribution and transmission systems and renewable generation assets.
- Responsible for ensuring all company owned weather stations are fully functional and maintained as required.
- Represent the company, and act as the primary point of contact as required with local, state and federal agencies, the private sector, volunteer organizations and the public for all weather-related matters.
- Oversee the preparation and dissemination of operational weather reports prior to and during significant weather events.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in Atmospheric Science, Environmental Sciences or a related field; or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
- A minimum of ten years operational forecasting experience.
- A minimum of five years’ direct people management experience.
- Management skills including the ability to establish objectives, execute policy, and lead the development or implementation of a system, program, or process.
- Mastery of theoretical meteorology, including the dynamics of the atmosphere, mesoscale meteorology, and the application of computer methods of numerical weather analysis and predication.
- Advanced knowledge of fire weather concepts and fire weather forecasting techniques.
- Knowledge of meteorological processes, climatology, forecasting techniques, and weather modal analysis.
- Ability to manage time effectively, perform under pressure, and meet deadlines in a fairly fast paced environment.
- High degree of independent initiative, discretion and sound judgment as well as the ability to integrate company priorities in emergency situations.
- Ability to review, analyze and recommend improvements to systems, processes and measures of performance.
- Ability to assess issues from multiple organizational and functional perspectives and discern an ideal proposal with more optimal results when appropriate.
- Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively, to recognize actual and potential danger and communicate as required.
- Ability to translate highly technical meteorological concepts into non-technical terms.
- Communication and interpersonal skills to influence and motivate others, and use oral and written skills to communicate objectives and action plans.
- Excellent leadership skills, strong organizational abilities to oversee multiple and complex issues, and experience presenting complex topics to internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to handle daily communication of expectations, mentor others, provide feedback and work collaboratively with other departments.
- Demonstrated proficiency in data management skills, as well as general understanding of GIS techniques.
- Must be proficient in the use of applications and tools (e.g. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.).
- 24/7 availability to support emergency operations and disasters.
Preferences
- Advanced degree.
- Certified Consulting Meteorologist Certificate.
- Knowledge of our client’s strategic plan, regulatory and political environment, as well as our client’s policies, procedures, and practices, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
