Vice President, Distribution Engineering & Planning

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 FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp [SCOO].

This is a hybrid position (3 or more days on-site).  While it is preferred the selected candidate reside and work in Akron, the position may be located from any one of our major offices within the FirstEnergy footprint (Akron OH, Greensburg PA, Reading PA, Fairmont WV, Williamsport MD, Holmdel NJ).

Summary:

The VP, Distribution Engineering & Planning is a key collaborator with Operations, driving innovation and fostering a culture of performance excellence while ensuring the successful execution of deliverables in support of the organization’s goals.  This executive leadership position is responsible for setting strategic direction for the Distribution Engineering & Planning organization, including design, comprehensive and integrated planning & protection, reliability, engineering standards & specifications, asset /program management, joint use, and mapping & records.  

This position will provide direction and leadership from the following perspectives:

• Establish and develop substantive working relationships and create an environment and implement changes where needed to enhance FirstEnergy’s culture of safety, compliance, inclusion, accountability, and innovation.
• Foster a high-performing safety culture where employees own, promote, and reinforce safe behaviors and feel empowered to speak up.
• Initiate and monitor implementation of appropriate safety and environmental safeguards in accordance with applicable regulations and professional practice to ensure that employee, community, and environmental hazards and impacts of activities are eliminated or reduced to acceptable risk levels.
• Champion, identify, and ensure implementation of innovative programs and effective technology solutions.
• Lead the organization to establish standardization and sharing of best practices across the operations footprint to improve efficiencies.
• Lead engineering in preparing and performing to capital and O&M budgets that allow for reliability, resilience, and innovation both short-term and long-term.
• Develop and implement strategic plans and budgets that promote achieving the business / strategic plans and initiatives of the company.  Consider staffing levels, work sourcing strategies, and engineering deliverables.
• Set the strategic direction and lead the organization to ensure activities support regulatory compliance.
• Advise on issues and updates regarding rate design, tariffs, system operations, and legal & regulatory standards.
• Provide guidance in handling difficult or complex problems and in resolving escalated complaints or disputes.
• Build cross-department relationships centered on executing company strategy.
• In collaboration with External Affairs, maintain relationships with governmental agencies and represent the company with commissions, associations, agencies, boards, and business & community groups.
• Enable a culture of performance excellence while continuously evaluating the engineering and planning organization.  Establish performance requirements / metrics and personal development targets for teams.

Qualifications:

• Accomplished and approachable leader, with a demonstrated track record of safe operations excellence and people leadership
• Strong technical acumen, astute business and commercial sensibilities, combined with the ability to inspire and lead a large team through industry shifts in operational requirements 
• Fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in the electric utility industry, to include at least ten (10) years of management experience 
• An undergraduate degree in Engineering from an accredited university is required. PE or MBA is also preferred
• Prior leadership responsibility for systems that touch the retail customer is required
• Strategic vision and continuous improvement mindset
• Excellent project management skills

Specific knowledge and experience requirements include: 

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