Training Manager – Protection & Controls

Position Overview

Reports To: Director, Protection & Controls
Location: Hybrid – Remote with 30% travel (U.S.-based role)
Position Level: Peer to the Business Unit Manager and the Operations Manager

About Shermco

Shermco is a leader in electrical power system services, specializing in substation protection, commissioning, testing, and maintenance for utilities, industrial facilities, and large power users. Our Protection & Controls (P&C) division ensures the reliability and safety of power systems through comprehensive substation services, including relay protection, SCADA, automation, and control schemes.

Backed by Gryphon Investors, Shermco is positioned for continued expansion, providing innovative solutions for the power industry.

Job Summary

The Training Manager – Protection & Controls (P&C) is responsible for leading, implementing, and enforcing the P&C Technician Training Program across the Shermco P&C organization. This role ensures that training standards are met, technical proficiency is achieved, and safety practices are adhered to. The Training Manager will actively travel weekly to job sites to assess training effectiveness, mentor field personnel, and enforce compliance with company and industry standards.

This is a field-immersed leadership role, requiring deep technical expertise in relay testing, SCADA, transmission & distribution protection, and fault analysis. The ideal candidate must have a minimum of 5 years as a P&C Lead Commissioning Engineer and be able to demonstrate evidence of vetted status with multiple utilities, proving their ability to work independently in complex high-voltage environments.

The Training Manager will be an apostle of the lessons learned in Shermco P&C and the broader industry. The selected Training Manager will develop and execute an intensive, persistent, and constant amount of technical lessons learned content on approximately a weekly basis. The Training Manager will then seek every reasonable avenue to transmit these lessons learned throughout the P&C organization once the lessons learned are formalized and documented.

Training Program Oversight & Development

• Develop, then lead a rigorous, comprehensive, and structured P&C Technician Training Program.
• Develop and refine training content to align with industry advancements, utility requirements, and safety regulations.
• Be the technical judge in the new hire onboarding, mentorship programs, and competency evaluations.
• Ensure training covers relay testing, SCADA operations, system protection, fault analysis, and compliance requirements.
• Implement hands-on training using real-world simulations, test equipment, and software applications (Aspen, DFR, RTUs, etc.).

Field Audits & Compliance Enforcement

• Travel weekly to active job sites, substations, and field locations to assess realworld application of training principles.
• Conduct on-site audits to ensure technicians are adhering to best practices in relay testing, switching, fault analysis, and SCADA operations.
• Provide immediate corrective action and coaching if deficiencies are found in field execution.
• Work closely with Project Managers, Operations Managers, and Utility Partners to ensure training consistency across multiple territories.

Technician Evaluation & Certification

• Develop a structured competency evaluation framework for each training phase (6-month intervals).
• Conduct practical and theoretical exams to validate technician proficiency.
• Establish a mentor and sign-off process, ensuring senior technicians and lead engineers verify field competency before job site deployment.
• Track and document technician progress, providing individualized coaching where necessary.

Utility Standards & Safety Compliance

• In conjunction with Shermco’s OSHA staff, ensure all technicians follow NERC, OSHA, NFPA 70E, IEEE, and multiple utility safety and compliance regulations.
• Enforce company-specific safety protocols, job hazard analysis, and Tailgate Conferences at every job site.
• Ensure technical training refreshers to ensure continuous improvement.
• Work with utilities to align training content with their operational standards and relay protection philosophies.

Cross-Department Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with Project Managers, the Operations Manager, and the Business Unit Manager to align training with job expectations.
• Report on training effectiveness, technician competency levels, and field compliance trends.
• Serve as the primary liaison between field technicians and corporate leadership for training needs and resource allocation.
• Participate in campus recruiting efforts to identify and attract top talent into the P&C Technician program.

Experience:

• Minimum 5+ years as a Lead Commissioning Engineer, with a strong track record in substation commissioning, relay testing, and SCADA integration.
• Utility Vetted Status: Must demonstrate successful completion of vetting processes with multiple utilities.
• Technical Expertise: Hands-on experience with automated relay testing, protection scheme design, SCADA programming, and fault analysis.
• Field Leadership: Proven ability to mentor and develop technicians, conduct evaluations, and enforce technical standards.
• Experience mentoring entry-level engineers and supporting their development into Professional Engineers (PEs) is highly desirable.

Industry Certifications (Preferred):

• Preferred: NICET Certification or equivalent technical certification.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License highly desirable: A PE is beneficial, particularly for mentoring and signing off on experience requirements for entry-level engineers pursuing licensure.
• Other Certifications: OSHA 30, NFPA 70E, or other electrical safety certifications.

Travel:

• Willingness to travel >30% weekly to various job sites for audits, evaluations, and training enforcement.

Strong Communication & Leadership:

• Ability to train, coach, and provide real-time feedback in high-stakes environments.

Why Join Shermco?

• Lead a transformative training program that ensures P&C technicians meet the highest technical and safety standards.
• Hands-on field involvement with real-world impact on training effectiveness and operational excellence.
• Competitive salary, full benefits, and career growth in a leadership role that shapes the future of the organization.
• Collaborative work environment with access to cutting-edge technology and industry-leading expertise.