Manager, Emerging Technologies Program Development - Akron, OH

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger. 

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

The manager, Emerging Technologies of Program Development, holds an important role in supporting FE’s energy transition. This position oversees more than $100 million dollars in electrification programs over the next 5 years. Programs in scope include electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) infrastructure, battery energy storage system (BESS), distributed energy resource (DER) integration and other similar programs. 

The position is responsible for systematic development, standardization, optimization, implementation, management, and effectiveness tracking for these programs. The manager drives innovation by solutioning and implementing new technologies and approaches that promote electrification, reliability, resiliency, efficiency, and sustainability across FirstEnergy. This requires a deep understanding of the industry, technical knowledge, experience setting strategic vision, strong leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate with a range of stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

This position is located on site at the FirstEnergy Headquarters in Akron, Ohio.

Responsibilities include:

• Owning and being accountable to successfully implement FE’s programs, providing leadership to a team responsible for systematic development, standardization, optimization, implementation, management, and effective tracking of Programs. 
• Setting a strategic vision that guides the program's development and implementation, setting specific goals and objectives, identifying technical requirements, establishing and communicating a roadmap.  
• Developing strategic implementation plans that align with the organization's overall goals, objectives, and timelines. Analyze current industry trends, evaluate new technologies, and assess potential risks and opportunities to create a strategic plan that maximizes customer benefits. 
• Overseeing program's implementation efforts through evaluating and monitoring progress to ensure timelines are met including key performance indicators and variance reporting against plan; identifying, resolving or escalating issues quickly and decisively; identifying and obtaining approval for scope/schedule/resource changes, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders 
• Ensuring well defined expected benefits for each program and confirming realization of those benefits. 
• Fostering a high degree of collaboration and partnership with strategy and regulatory teams during program design, filing and discovery phases leading up to regulatory approval and delivery.  
• Managing a team of professionals supporting Programs which could include engineering, operations, rates, legal and other professionals reporting directly or indirectly throughout the organization. Providing leadership, mentorship, and guidance to ensure the team is working effectively and efficiently. 
• Identifying technology requirements and partnering to support program's goals which involves researching and evaluating technical capabilities, functionality and creating processes in alignment with program's objectives and budget. Support piloting, operation, and maintenance of assets.
• Coordinate on procurement plans and contract negotiations to ensure the best value for the program investment 
• Researching and analyzing industry trends, developing technologies, and regulatory policies. Instrumental in developing and advocating FE’s position. 
• Ensure strong change management supporting ongoing operation and maintenance of assets. 
• Coordinate engineering and IT system integration support as needed.
• Supporting regulatory program reporting, regulatory proceedings, and rate filings
• Developing and securing approval for budgets with accountability to ensure the program operates within budgetary constraints