How to hire a substation superintendent

How to hire a substation superintendent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step substation superintendent hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a substation superintendent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new substation superintendent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The substation superintendent hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A substation superintendent's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, substation superintendents from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of substation superintendents.

   Type of Substation Superintendent	Description	Hourly rate
   Substation Superintendent	Construction managers plan, coordinate, budget, and supervise construction projects from start to finish.	$23-68
   Project And Field Manager	A project and field manager's role is to oversee the daily project and field operations to ensure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They work to identify and meet client needs by conducting research and analyses, setting goals and guidelines, establishing budgets and timelines, managing staff, delegating responsibilities, and monitoring procedures to ensure that operations adhere to standards and regulations... Show more	$33-60
   Contract Project Manager	A contract project manager is an executive professional who provides project management and business analysis to fill the needs of an organization. Contract project managers are required to monitor and inspect contract projects to maintain a high level of safety and quality traffic control in highly variable conditions... Show more	$25-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • SCADA
   • Project Completion
   • Safety Audits

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage feasibility studies, schematic design concepts, design development, RFP solicitations and contract negotiations.
   • Monitor HVAC systems with building automation systems and stand-alone data loggers to troubleshoot operational problems or to find inefficient control sequences.
   • Supervise commercial, government office building, school and college projects involving demolition and renovation.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your substation superintendent job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A substation superintendent can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, substation superintendents' average salary in kansas is 44% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level substation superintendents 65% less than senior-level substation superintendents.
   • Certifications. A substation superintendent with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a substation superintendent's salary.

   Average substation superintendent salary

   $83,602yearly

   $40.19 hourly rate

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   Entry-level substation superintendent salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing a substation superintendent job description

   A substation superintendent job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a substation superintendent job description:

   Substation superintendent job description example

   Job DescriptionWe are currently accepting resumes for an Transmission/Substation Superintendent Power Delivery in Columbus, OH
   
   Position Duties listed below:
   " Mentor and help to grow Jr. Superintendents
   " Review and approve the balance of Foremen, journeymen and laborer's composite labor rates
   " Manage contract administration (subcontractor/field management meeting for communication)
   " Develop a program to maintain good client relations involving staff on site
   " Initiate and attend supplementary and regular meeting with client for problem resolution and planning
   " Oversee and approve the monthly job cost updates and quarterly cash flow projections
   " Review, approve and negotiate change orders
   " Develop and implement a plan for project completion and turnover
   " Maintain daily diary for record-keeping purposes
   " Ensure that all performance evaluations and completed in a timely fashion for direct reports
   " Recommend, where appropriate, organizational, policy, and procedural or staff changes
   " Review and approve or reject promotions up to General Foremen.
   
   Required Skills listed below:
   " 8+ years' construction experience with 3+ years being in a Superintendent/Leadership capacity working on Transmission and Substation projects.
   " Must be a self-starter, highly motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
   " Ability to quickly learn and understand various processes regarding Kiewit's policies, procedures, and software programs.
   " Ability to identify and resolve any problems that may arise.
   " Excellent organizational, administrative, communication, and interpersonal skills.
   " Strong experience in Leadership, safety, negotiations, planning, and contract administration.
   
   Additional Requirements:
   " Regular, reliable attendance
   " Work productively and meet deadlines timely
   " Communicate and interact effectively and professionally with supervisors, employees, and others individually or in a team environment.
   " Perform work safely and effectively. Understand and follow oral and written instructions, including warning signs, equipment use, and other policies.
   " Work during normal operating hours to organize and complete work within given deadlines. Work overtime and weekends as required.
   " May work at various different locations and conditions may vary.
   
   If you are interested in working for an organization where honesty, integrity and quality are among the core principles then click apply today!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find substation superintendents for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any substation superintendents they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level substation superintendents with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your substation superintendent job on Zippia to find and recruit substation superintendent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting substation superintendents requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new substation superintendent

   Once you've found the substation superintendent candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new substation superintendent. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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