Head of Field Ops

Company Summary Statement As one of the largest investor‑owned utility companies in the United States, PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) is committed to creating long‑term, sustainable value for our 3.5 million customers, shareowners and the communities we serve. Our high‑performing regulated utilities—PPL Electric Utilities, Louisville Gas and Electric, Kentucky Utilities and Rhode Island Energy—provide an outstanding experience for our customers, consistently ranking among the best utilities in the nation. PPL’s companies are also addressing challenges head‑on by investing in new infrastructure and technology that is creating a smarter, more reliable and resilient energy grid. We are committed to advancing a cleaner energy future and achieving net‑zero carbon emissions by 2050 while maintaining reliability and affordability. PPL is a positive force in the cities and towns where we do business, supporting programs that empower future generations and build strong, diverse communities today. Overview Please note this role is hybrid—working in‑office three days a week at one of our local offices in Allentown, PA; Louisville, KY; or Providence, RI. PPL’s Data and AI Office is seeking a Head of Field and Grid Ops AI to be an integral part of the OnePPL Digital Transformation. The Head of Field and Grid Ops AI is a key role within PPL and is responsible for defining and leading enterprise initiatives around field and grid operations analytics and AI. Successful candidates have excellent communication and networking skills, a customer‑centric mindset, a digital and AI‑first approach, execution focus, and expertise in digital transformations leveraging AI and automation. The role will liaise with other department heads to ensure PPL better serves customers and internal employees using analytics and AI. It will work with the various data and technology groups and partner with the Gas and Electric Transmission and Distribution business stakeholders across the organization to steer the company toward becoming a digital company. The role reports to the VP, Data and AI. Responsibilities Collaborate with senior leadership and customer business, data and technology stakeholders to define and lead a comprehensive AI and analytics strategy for field and grid operations, identifying ways to improve digital field‑work experiences and drive operational efficiencies. Evaluate existing IT systems, processes and tools to identify pain points and areas for improvement in field work and grid operations—think digital first. Leverage GenAI and other emerging technologies to create a digital field worker experience with automation and mobile capabilities. Use data science, machine learning and data visualization techniques to support storm management, field work allocations, vegetation management, predictive asset maintenance and more. Oversee the design, development and deployment of AI‑powered solutions, including recommendation systems and predictive analytics tools. Recruit, mentor and develop a high‑performing team of data and AI professionals skilled in customer transformation programs and technology integration. Evaluate and recommend new technologies and approaches to enhance field and grid operations and drive business value. Champion responsible AI principles by ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability in all AI‑driven processes. Ensure the field and grid analytics and AI team works collaboratively with all other business and technology functions, consistently delivering great end‑to‑end experiences for field workers and grid operators. Partner with technology and business teams to assist in training and user adoption of data and AI tools. Encourage problem‑solving, strategic thinking and customer orientation among the team. Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence by identifying and implementing process improvements where appropriate. May be assigned an Electric Utilities emergency and storm role—a special assignment that may require after‑hours work outside the normal schedule. Qualifications Over 15 years of experience in data science and advanced analytics, including substantial time in leadership positions. Demonstrated experience in senior leadership roles such as Director of Data Science, VP of Data Science or Chief Data Scientist. Solid understanding and experience in deploying GenAI, data science and machine learning models. Collaboration experience with Field Operations and Grid Operations business teams to identify opportunities for AI‑driven enhancements. Experience with cloud‑based AI and analytics platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake). Create and manage a strategic roadmap for AI/GenAI initiatives, overseeing the full lifecycle from model development to deployment, optimization and continuous improvement. Deep understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning, data mining and big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark); proficiency in Python and R. Ability to resolve complex issues independently and to escalateto management as needed. Excellent organizational, multitasking and problem‑solving skills. Effectively communicate complex information to internal and external contacts at all organizational levels. Experience establishing metrics/key performance indicators to measure business impact. Regularly share the business value and impact of AI initiatives with senior leadership through Monthly Business Reviews and other forums. Ability to align IT transformation initiatives with overall business strategy. Initiative and passion for finding solutions to ambiguous problems and ability to work in difficult situations across organizational boundaries. Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey results to audiences at all levels. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related discipline. Preferred Qualifications Utilities industry experience, especially within Electric and Gas Transmission and Distribution. Seniority level Executive Employment type Full‑time Job function Management and Manufacturing Industries Utilities #J-18808-Ljbffr