Salary : $167,793.60 Annually
Location : Longview, WA
Job Type: Full Time
Department: Operations
Division: Dispatch
Opening Date: 08/12/2025
Closing Date: 9/7/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: IBEW

Description
Cowlitz PUD is the local publicly owned power company for Cowlitz County. We are looking for a NERC Certified Dispatcher to join our team.

You are a great fit if:

• You area technical person, with a NERC certification.

• You like the flexibility of working a rotating schedule with night shifts and day shifts.

• You are good at managing your time and enjoy working independently with a busy workload.

• You want to work at a company whose mission is to give back to the community by providing safe, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable energy to its customers.

Cowlitz PUD as an employer offers:

• Rotating Dispatch schedule working two 6 am to 6 pm for day shifts and two 6 pm to 6 am for night shifts and then 3 days off.

• Collaborative work environment throughout the entire company.

• Community and Public Service opportunities in Cowlitz County.

• Opportunities for continued learning, career development and professional growth.

Our Strategic Plan:
Through our Strategic Planning process, Cowlitz PUD prioritized the following initiatives for the coming years in accordance with our mission and vision:

1. Resource Planning
   Ensure an adequate and reliable power supply to meet the electric load requirements and clean energy obligations of Cowlitz PUD and the community.

1. System Reliability and Security
   Develop and manage Cowlitz PUD's assets and planning tools to ensure a high level of electric reliability, physical and cyber security, and safety.

1. Business Efficiency
   Implement business systems to achieve efficient use of Cowlitz PUD's resources.

1. Engagement
   Cowlitz PUD will communicate, educate, and engage with its employees, customers, and stakeholders to maintain positive relationships and prepare for future change.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
A Dispatcher is responsible for monitoring, operating, and controlling the District's transmission and distribution systems with district software. Schedule, prepare and direct all switching of transmission and distribution lines within the district's system. Responsible for the management of all weekends, holidays and after hours' calls concerning electrical questions. Maintain system integrity and safe operating conditions for employees and the public.
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Experience, Working Conditions and Other Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalency.

• Must be NERC certified with a minimum of four years of experience in a transmission/distribution control center environment.

• Must take the PSP Metrics assessment profile and receive a passing grade.

• Must adhere to the District's residency requirements for response workers.

• Must be familiar with PC, laptop and tablet functions.

Desirable Qualifications:

• A two (2) year technical degree in electrical technology from an accredited college or a certificate in electrical technology from a vocational/technical school. Successful completion of one or more apprentice programs in electrical field, or equivalent electrical education/experience.

Hiring Process
Your application will not be reviewed if these items are missing or incomplete.
Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.

1. Supplemental questionnaire responses

1. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.

1. Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education.

At Cowlitz PUD we believe part of having a rewarding work place is to have a healthy work environment. You will find that we offer a full benefits package that fits all needs the needs of work/life balance.

About our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time permanent employees. Actual benefits may vary by position type or be prorated for other than full-time work. Check with Human Resources for specific benefit information.

Insurance Benefits:
As an employer, we offer medical, dental and vision to employees and their families. To help cover the costs of medical expenses we offer our staff a VEBA Health Reimbursement Benefit package. This package allows you to reimburse yourself for medical expenses and also save for the cost of medical at retirement.
We also provide a variety of life insurance options that will fit your families needs. For employees we offer group life coverage in the amount of 2x's your annual salary and you have the option of selecting additional life insurance for yourself, your spouse and your dependents.
To help with those times that you may be injured off the job we have short term and long-term disability for employees.

Retirement:
Cowlitz PUD employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs, PERS 2 or PERS 3.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Cowlitz PUD also has a 401k retirement plan and employees can select either traditional or Roth through Fidelity and there is an employer match benefit as well. The District matches up to 4% of the gross wages earned by staff employees. The match for union employees s dictated by the match that is negotiated through the collective bargaining agreement, which is currently 3.5% of gross wages earned by union employees.

Paid Time Off:
Employees begin accruing vacation starting the first full month of employment. Since we value our employees loyalty, the amount of paid time off you can accrue increases the longer you work with us.
Holidays:
Full-time employees are entitled to ten paid holidays:

• New Year's Day (January 1)
• President's Day (third Monday in February)
• Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Veteran's Day (November 11)
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas Day (December 25)
• 2 Floating Holidays

Some of the other benefits that Cowlitz PUD offers include:

• Employee Assistance Program
• Education Assistance Program
• On-Site Gym
• Wellness Program
• Clothing Allowance, twice per year for logo wear
• Calm App Membership

01

To qualify for this position, you must live within 30 minutes of our Operations center or within Cowlitz County. If you live outside of this zone, are you willing to relocate?

• Yes
• No
• Already meet the requirement

02

Are you NERC certified? If yes, when does your license expire?
03

Do you have any electric utility experience outside of dispatching, such as a journeyman level electrical worker or electrical engineering? If yes, please elaborate.
04

Do you have experience operating transmission, distribution, or both systems? List voltage levels you have experience operating.
Required Question