Vice President, Distribution Engineering & Planning

FirstEnergy at a GlanceWe 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 OpportunityThis 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:

Advanced administrative principles and methods, including strategic goal setting, organizational analysis, program development and implementation

Organizational structure, functions, and interrelationships with other organizations and agencies

Federal, state and local laws, regulations affecting the utility industry such as environmental compliance and reliability

Operational and capital expense budgeting

Electric utility design, engineering, system planning, and operations & maintenance practices

Engineering and construction best practices

Contracting management practices, performance standards, and contract modification

Related electric industry organizations, policy-setting boards, and committees

General understanding of rate making and tariffs

Ability to:

Lead by example, facilitate and lead teams through change, promotes the values of trust and integrity

Analyze difficult and complex issues and strategies, reach sound and logical fact-based conclusions and recommendations

Understand, interpret, explain, and apply local, state, and federal policy, law, regulation, and court decisions as they relate to operations

Lead, facilitate, and/or participate in the strategic planning, organization design, implementation, and monitoring of comprehensive programs

Evaluate departmental practices and make sound recommendations for improvements; develop and implement appropriate procedures and controls

Exercise sound expert independent judgment and political acumen within general policy guidelines

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of employees, elected officials, business and community leaders, media representatives, and the public

Read and interpret technically complex documents, drawings, and engineering specifications

Communicate and respond to inquiries or complaints from employees, customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the community

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce DiversityAt FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.SafetySafety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.Position ClassificationExemptFirstEnergy Human Resources Team