Senior Watch Office Manager

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

Job Summary

CenterPoint Energy is involved in an enterprise-wide effort to efficiently centralize monitoring, assessment, and reporting of incidents, accidents, and significant events across the enterprise. At present, there are several areas throughout the company that maintain on duty or on call personnel who are responsible for receiving and gathering information on an incident, assessing the need for a response, managing the response (if needed), notifying regulators, and keeping management informed; however, there is no single entity charged with looking broadly across the company to ensure that all appropriate organizational units are engaged, coordinating an overall response, and escalating the company's response when appropriate. When incidents occur, key decision makers such as the Crisis Management Council, other Senior Executives and Incident Commanders, often receive fragmentary information from several sources, and they do not have dedicated mechanism to collect additional information and achieve a complete and cohesive understanding of a problem, risks, and its impact.

This Manager position will create and manage a company-wide Watch Office to maintain awareness of all incidents or events that might have a significant impact on the company. The Watch Office will assess and regularly reassess the scope and impact of incidents, keep executive management informed, and recommend escalation if needed. This is expected to result in simplified and streamlined reporting procedures for operational units and employees as well as timely and accurate reporting to executives and regulators. Establishing and operationalizing a 24/7 CenterPoint is goal for CenterPoint leadership in 2025.

This position will work closely with representatives across diverse business lines such as High Voltage and Distribution Operations, Gas Operations, Corporate Communications, Customer Service, Local Public Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Information Technology, Cyber and Physical Security, and Corporate Real Estate to build consensus in establishing notification, incident management, and response processes and procedures as well as making recommendations to executive leadership.

Essential Functions

• Developsand manage a Watch Office that provides information sharing support for business operations 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Responsible for developing standardized reporting structures and formats, ensuring appropriate analysis of information, and distribution to the appropriate audiences which spans from staff level to the most senior company executives.
• Supervise a team of technical specialist watch standers. Make, recommend and/or approve employment decisions. Establish performance expectations and goals aligned with Company objectives, policies, and procedures, and manage and provide guidance on employee performance. Manage, train, and develop staff by providing timely feedback, coaching, and support. Promote the Company's safety culture to ensure a safe work environment.
• Manage the identification and implementation of new technologies to support watch operations and situational awareness tools for crisis response. Work closely with other emergency managers to determine technology needs and work with the technology community to discover cutting edge solutions.
• Manage the development of and monitor emergency response staffing rosters. Work across all operating units to satisfy staffing needs and develop and implement rosters that are used to support disaster operations.
• Manage project controls system and budget formulation for the Watch Office. Organize budget input and track expenses, ensure that project control systems are in place, provide project status, and lead development of Watch Office input into the General Rate Case.
• Develop strategies to identify critical information requirements for all operating units and develop business plans to ensure strategies are regularly updated to meet company needs.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in the design of drills and exercises.
• Responsible for the establishment and execution of a Watch Office and all associated notification processes
• Builds and maintains relationships with industry peers and industry organizations to understand industry trends and best practices; makes recommendations and communicate updates to stakeholders.
• Knowledgeable of all applicable regulatory requirements and impacts to EP&R.

Education Description

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Experience

• Requires seven to ten (7-10) years of experience working in a 24/7 monitoring and reporting center or related experience, preferably at a utility.

We want you to know

Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together.

What we bring to you

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

Job Type:Full Time

Posting Start Date: 04/10/2025

Posting End Date: 04/10/2025

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR * 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a), and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

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