Outage Communications Specialist (Entry or Associate Level)

About the Role

The Outage Communications Specialist (OCS) tracks both planned and unplanned outages, provides a single source of truth for outage status and estimated restoration times, and supports critical wildfire and outage data validation functions to improve the overall customer experience during outage events. • Use the Distribution Outage Management System (OMS) to monitor and manage customer outages 24/7 across PGE's service area. • Review and validate Estimated Restoration Times (ERT), asset availability, and forecast appropriate restoration timelines. • Prepare, review, and update planned outage switching sheets and upload related documents in the Maximo Asset System. • Issue, monitor, and update planned outage status in real time, communicating changes to crew coordination, customer relations, work order owners, and key customers. • Communicate real‑time outage activities with line crew and ensure restoration times are met or updated. • Notify the Mapping Department of device mapping corrections as needed. • Perform real‑time OMS updates for secondary voltages during unplanned outages and assist with customer callbacks. • Coordinate with Distribution Control Center staff, operators, and repair dispatch to gather situation information. • Create and disseminate outage communication updates to employees and customers via OMS and the outage log, updating published ERTs as conditions change. • Monitor outage management tools (OMS, Maximo, Itoa, outage map, wildfire monitoring tools) for de‑energization/re‑energization and ensure compliance with NERC, WECC, FERC, OPUC, DOE, and other regulations. • Respond to data requests, synthesize data from multiple sources, develop reports, and conduct outage response analysis using OMS and Tableau. • Compile, analyze, and report metrics on ERT forecasting efficiency, system interruptions, and outage performance; verify data integrity and recommend improvements. • Interact with crews, work order owners, repair dispatch, key customers, corporate communications, and other stakeholders for both planned and unplanned outage events. • Provide peer‑to‑peer training and share knowledge with team members. • Assist in training new hires and key stakeholders (associate level). • Participate in outage After Action Reports (AAR) and conduct investigations and data analysis (associate level). • Lead communications and meetings with crew coordination, work order owners, repair dispatch, key customers, emergency management, corporate communications, and engineering during outage events (associate level).

Key Responsibilities

• ▸oms monitoring
• ▸maximo updates
• ▸real‑time status
• ▸outage communications
• ▸data analysis
• ▸compliance checks

What You Bring

The role is staffed 24/7 within the Distribution Control Center at our Integrated Operations Center in Tualatin, OR, on a rotating shift schedule, and includes a multi‑week onboarding and qualification period with capability assessments. We are hiring two positions open to entry and associate level candidates, with the level determined by the applicant’s qualifications, experience, and demonstrated skills. • Hold an associate degree in a relevant field or possess equivalent experience. • Have at least one year of experience in operational roles such as generation, transmission, distribution, or a related field. • Proficient with PGE’s Outage Management System, Maximo, GIS, Vehicle Locator System (AVL), radio system, Microsoft Office, and SharePoint. • Knowledgeable about electrical principles, PGE’s distribution system, safety procedures, and geographic territory. • Demonstrate strong verbal communication, analytical thinking, decision‑making, interpersonal, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.

Requirements

• ▸associate degree
• ▸1+ year
• ▸outage management
• ▸maximo
• ▸gis
• ▸electrical knowledge

Benefits

Compensation ranges from $61,950 to $123,875 plus a performance‑based incentive bonus, and a total rewards package supports employee well‑being and professional development. PGE is an equal‑opportunity employer that values equity, inclusion, and provides accommodations for applicants who need them.

Work Environment

Onsite