Description

Cleveland Public Power, OH - Deputy Commissioner, Operations

CLEVELAND, OH (pop. 372,624). The City of Cleveland’s Public Power utility is seeking a collaborative, team-focused and experienced project management professional to serve as its Deputy Commissioner of Operations. This leadership role will be instrumental in assisting the Commissioner of Cleveland Public Power in managing the utility’s day-to-day field operations including the execution of key initiatives for the construction, maintenance, and recovery of the utility’s electric transmission and distribution system. This is one of four new positions designed to deliver a transformative strategic vision for Ohio’s oldest and largest public electric utility. In total, these newly established roles are an investment made to strengthen CPP’s leadership capacity by building a team that will support sustained organizational growth and success. 

The City of Cleveland, the 16^th largest metropolitan area in the U.S., offers abundant amenities, includes three major professional sports teams, world class museums and arts institutions, and easy access to the region’s international airport. Cleveland is in the midst of an economic transformation and is home to an enviable share of emerging talent, enthusiastic entrepreneurs, and skilled workers, with leading-edge sectors in healthcare, biotech, and higher education. 

Cleveland Public Power (CPP) has been serving the area for more than 120 years. It is Ohio’s largest municipal electric power provider and ranks 35 out of 2,000 publicly owned electric utilities in the country. CPP delivers reliable, affordable power to approximately 75,000 residential and commercial customers. CPP has 305 authorized positions, and revenues of more than $260 million. It is a key partner in the City’s economic development efforts. 

The Deputy Commissioner oversees a staff of about 150 in-house and field personnel. The position provides direct oversight of superintendents of troubleshooting, construction, maintenance, fleet, meter services and other operational units. 

Among other responsibilities, the Deputy Commissioner of Operations oversees restoration of services during outages and emergency events, monitors electric system performance, evaluates maintenance needs, and ensures system reliability and resilience. In addition, the position plans for training, certification, and professional development programs for field crews and operations staff, including overhead, underground, meter, lighting, line clearance, fleet maintenance, and substation maintenance functions.

Successful candidates will possess: 

• A bachelor’s degree in electrical construction management or related fields such as public works, emergency management, or project management. 
• Eight to ten years of demonstrated progressive experience in electric utility operations, construction, or power delivery systems.
• Four to seven years of progressive supervisory experience in managing a unionized workforce, navigating collective bargaining agreements, and overseeing multi-disciplinary teams (e.g., field crews, dispatch, engineering).
• Proven experience evaluating, selecting, and implementing advanced utility technologies and system upgrades.

Ideally, candidates will also possess: 

• Strong coordination, project, and people management skills. 
• The skills and diplomacy to build collaborative teams within and across CPP’s divisions.
• A track record of assessing the skills and abilities of existing personnel in an effort to maximize their talent and expertise, including opportunities for employees to take on new challenges as professionals. 

The Deputy Commissioner of Operations is appointed by CPP’s Commissioner, and reports directly to him. The salary range is $130,000 - $157,000 +/-, with a hiring salary of around $140,000 expected. The City offers a comprehensive and competitive CLE Total Rewards benefits package that includes health insurance, paid leave time, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities. 

The position is open until filled, with a first review of applicants on September 21, 2026. Candidates should apply with resume and cover letter to the attention of Lee Szymborski, Senior Consultant, MGT. Tel: 847-380-3240 X 103. 

The City of Cleveland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants should be aware that, as a public institution in the state of Ohio, Cleveland Public Power is subject to the Ohio Open Records Law (Ohio Rev. Code § 149.43). This means that certain records and documents related to employment, including but not limited to applications, resumes, and other materials submitted during the application process, may be subject to public disclosure upon request.

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

https://www.govhrusa.com/careers-page-govhr/?rpid=EDTI2FEdFgo