Electric AMI Strategic Principal

Requisition ID # 161730 

Job Category: Project / Program Management 

Job Level: Manager/Principal

Business Unit: Customer & Enterprise Solutions

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland

Department Overview

Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Customer & Enterprise Solutions consists of a diverse portfolio of programs, products, and services including customer experience, contact centers, meter-to-cash, PGE.com, marketing & communications, local customer engagement, as well as the Lean Operating System for PG&E and Customer Technology transformation. Together, we aim to: 

• Deliver excellent customer experiences every day and make it enjoyable to work with PG&E 
• Define/drive enterprise customer strategy, while encouraging a culture of safety and affordability  
• Develop and execute an integrated communications program that effectively presents the utility’s positions to its customers, employees, retirees, shareholders, regulators, legislators, and the media 
• Create a joyful and fulfilling work experience where coworkers feel loved, know, and proud  
• Establish stronger local presence and functional operating capabilities to deliver on our commitments to our customers and communities  

Position Summary

We are looking for an Electric Advanced Meter Infrastructure Strategic Principal to lead PG&E’s strategic assessment, program development, and implementation of the company’s future Electric Advanced Meter Infrastructure (EAMI 2.X) Technology Roadmap.

Nearly 2 decades ago, PG&E was a leading pioneer and amongst the first utilities to roll-out AMI at such a large scale. The deployment included several million electric and gas Smart Meters that laid the foundation for the Company’s automated meter-to-cash processes, load management curtailment, demand response, and customer programs (aka AMI 1.0)  

In this role, the successful candidate will be responsible for the project scoping, project design, and  program management of PG&E’s transition from its legacy Electric Advanced Meter Infrastructure System (EAMI 1.0) to the future EAMI 2.X system. This includes leading the assessment of PG&E’s current EAMI state, recommend, and carry-out to deliver an effective & affordable transition to an EAMI 2.X future state with the goal of leveraging newer AMI and related technologies with next generation functions and features that will facilitate and enable PG&E’s True North Strategy business plan implementation.

You will consolidate and lead the portfolio management and evaluation of AMI related technology, projects, pilots, and use cases with the goal to develop strategic roadmap plans, implement them, and operationalize advanced capabilities and features into utility operations for improving the Company’s safety, environmental, reliability, operational, and customer service performance.

You will collaborate cross-functionally to develop relationships, lead, and engage with key leaders and subject matter experts across PG&E that includes Customer & Enterprise Solutions, Utility Partnership and Innovation, Electric Operations, Information Technology, Sourcing, Law, Regulatory, Finance, Accounting, and support organizations.  

You will also regularly proactively engage in external functions on behalf of PG&E to stay abreast of emerging trends in the industry, new/emerging technologies from key strategic vendors & suppliers, and developments with companies across the country and represent PG&E publicly as an industry expert.

Success in this role will be measured by the successful planning and execution of the AMI 2.X technology roadmap over several years, obtainment of executive support for the roadmap, and benefits templated in the business case and then realized with AMI technologies and data across PG&E and its customers.

Benefits templated and realized can be cross-cutting and potentially include many programs including but not limited to: Customer Programs, Demand Response, Energy Efficiency, Electrification, Gas Decarbonization, Grid Management, Distributed Energy

Resources, Wildfire Mitigation, Utility Operations, and other.

This position requires a strong understanding of Utility Operations and emerging technologies and the ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and engage with a diverse set of internal & external stakeholders and asset owners. A strong applicant will be an organized, strategic, motivated, and a focused consensus builder, who can lead and influence high performing cross functional technical and non-technical project teams in a fast-paced environment.

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to the Director of AMI Infrastructure in Customer Experience. However, will independently lead, collaborate, and influence cross-functional groups in the Company.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location. The position is preferred to be headquartered in the Oakland General Office and the current expectation is to report in person approximately 2 days per week but may vary based on business need.  

PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity. Although we estimate the successful candidate hired into this role will be placed between the entry point and the middle of the range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.

This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.

A reasonable salary range is:

Bay Area Minimum: $140,000.00
Bay Area Maximum: $238,000.00

Job Responsibilities

Lead strategic enterprise alignment with LOBs, Steering Committees, Leaders, and Partners 

• Lead to further develop and refine the business case and enterprise planning & strategies
• Lead cross-functional budget planning, forecasts, and the quantification of benefits
• Lead PMO activities, enterprise collaboration, steering committee governance, and board processes
• Lead RFx process to evaluate/recommend strategies & technologies for lifecycle replacement
• Work with the Grid Edge Innovation, Meter Engineering, IT, Electric, Strategy, and other teams to develop and promote a Company wide roadmap informed by our current state, existing innovation initiatives, and over-time guiding future initiatives
• Manage to ensure CPUC commitments are met; Leads regulatory proceedings and inquiries
• Ensures program is strategically aligned with enterprise roadmaps & future integration plans
• Lead to ensure technology plans are strategically aligned with Enterprise Systems such as SAP, Geographic Information Systems, Customer Care and Billing, and other
• Collaborate with people and groups of diverse experiences and disciplines including but not limited to: IT Dept, Engineers, Strategy, Operations & Maintenance, Sourcing, Supplier Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Accounting, others

Portfolio Manage the Development and Implementation of Electric Advanced Meter Infrastructure 2.X

• Assess & document current AMI usage, capabilities and benefits across all LOBs and programs
• Manage and lead the coordinated development and implementation of transitioning towards AMI 2.X capabilities to further enhance safety, environmental, customer service, and operations by recruiting and leveraging support across PG&E
• Provide subject expertise and input to cross prioritization of related projects (AMI, Grid Edge, other)
• Recommend/implement future technology roadmap and optimal asset lifecycle strategies
• Recommend cross-functional multi-year program development & carry-out implementation plans
• Use LEAN playbook to develop, track, and manage the costs, benefits, and waste elimination efforts within current AMI 1.0 portfolio and future AMI 2.X portfolio as if it were a business in and of itself
• Benchmark, track, and report related KPIs and metrics across the enterprise; compare with top performing companies in the industry to measure effectiveness and improvement opportunities

Leader in the Community and Industry

• Regular proactive engagement in external functions to stay abreast of the emerging industry trends
• Regular proactive engagement with strategic vendors and suppliers on shaping the technology roadmaps that serve to meet the needs of PG&E’s customers
• Regularly stay informed to assess regulatory landscape; provides input to key stakeholders and programs for planning and implementation strategies and tactics
• Engage external cities, institutions, labs, strategic partners to collaborate on PG&E plans
• Represent PG&E in conferences and public forums as an industry expert
• Represent AMI and related programs internally with PG&E co-workers

Organizational Assessment, Resource Evaluation, and Planning

• Evaluate current organizational structures and cross-functional roles & responsibilities across PG&E
• Recommend organization structures (direct and/or dotted line) to deliver EAMI 2.X implementation
• Recommend resource staffing needs across the program; both in the near-term and longer-term
• Prepare and develop the overall business case, costs, and benefits for the recommendations
• Present to senior leaders, business partners, finance, other support groups for approvals
• Prepare, recommend, and implement organizational change management plans

Individual Contribution on Developing AMI 2.X Capabilities

• Prepares cross-functional business cases, project authorizations, and board approval documentation
• Leads development, implementation, and management of the LEAN playbook & waste elimination
• Serves as an expert witness; prepares testimony/forecasts for general rate case & regulatory work
• Oversees communication, training, & implementation with field personnel & support as applicable
• Presents management reports, progress to steering committees, business partners, & stakeholders
• Presents updates/recommendations/approval requests to Senior Leaders & PG&E Board Committee
• Prepares and presents presentations in public conferences and industry forums

Background Qualifications

Minimum

• Bachelor’s Degree, or equivalent experience
• Ten (10) years of relevant, job-related experience, and in a regulated environment

Desired

• Master’s degree in job-related discipline
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Project management certified and related training; Demonstrated project management experience
• Demonstrated experience in business cases, cost-benefits analysis, major enterprise projects, project governance, and board approvals
• Demonstrated experience in managing technology strategy and roadmap development programs
• Demonstrated experience in Electric AMI 1.0 and 2.X technologies and related Smart Grid programs
• Knowledge and experience of advanced use cases leveraging newer AMI features and capabilities
• Knowledge and expertise with Enterprise IT Infrastructure planning, development, implementation
• Comprehensive understanding and experience in utility operations and work execution processes
• Demonstrated experience in managing cross-functional disciplines from multiple lines of business
• Ability to manage portfolio of technology projects, pilots, and use cases; adjust to meet deadlines
• Experience in developing and implementing the LEAN playbook and waste elimination efforts
• Experience in technology evaluation and data analytics use cases to improve operations and safety
• Experience in developing and managing multi-year technology development plans and budgets
• Experience in regulatory arena: proceedings, rate cases, advice letters, related procedural processes
• Knowledge & experience with governing safety/environmental/work standards and regulations
• Knowledge & experience in advanced data analytics using various internal or external data sources
• Advanced knowledge of major project and program management concepts, methods, and practices
• Knowledge & experience in developing/implementing KPIs and metrics including but not limited to: safety, environmental, operation efficiencies, customer programs, sourcing, cost savings, and other
• Ability to influence, adjust communications, and present to various levels of employees in company
• Knowledge & experience with developing/implementing organizational change management plans
• Experience in collaborating with people of diverse experiences and disciplines (internal or external)
• Member of reputable professional affiliations such Edison Institute, IEE, AMI, or other boards
• Experience in preparing and presenting presentations in public forums and industry conferences

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