Director, Engineering Services

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 an on-site position. While it is preferred the selected candidate work in Fairlawn, consideration will be given to other locations in the Cleveland/Akron area.
Summary:
This executive leadership position is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the Distribution Design and Reliability groups within the Utility Operations Engineering Services organization. This includes establishing and monitoring organizational goals, policies, plans, forecasts, standards, performance objectives, and budgets; establishing operating and financial objectives and budgets; and managing resources.
Engineering Services provides engineering support for the distribution function, is responsible for meeting all customer requests regarding new service or reliability, provides asset management of the plant, performs planning and protection responsibilities, and portfolio and program management activities. Additionally, this position has responsibility over distribution records maintenance such as GIS mapping and Joint Use.
This position will provide direction and leadership from the following perspectives:
Distribution Engineering:
- Being accountable for the performance and results of engineering services team, providing leadership and direction to fellow team members.
- Maintaining a high level of safety commitment throughout day-to-day functions.
- Driving continuous improvement across the business unit and FirstEnergy.
- Overseeing complex engineering analysis and problem solving in relation to distribution design and construction, reliability, and distribution planning activities.
- Creating an environment of accountability and a sense of urgency for meeting agreed-upon expectations and deadlines with internal and external stakeholders.
- Engaging employees to establish and achieve scheduled milestones and appropriate benchmarking measures for safety, reliability, customer service, financial performance, and compliance.
- Analyzing complex issues and developing actionable recommendations; ensuring that decisions impacting the organization are based on data and sound engineering reasoning.
- Understanding and scheduling work according to established processes and procedures.
- Leading efforts that increase productivity and goal accomplishment across business unit.
- Identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving problems on projects and/or processes before they become major issues.
- Continually seeking opportunities to increase customer satisfaction and broaden/deepen relationships anticipating customers' needs and proposing alternative solutions when necessary.
- Actively seeking and sharing own knowledge of industry trends, competitors, etc. that affect the business unit and/or FirstEnergy Corp.
- Supporting the FirstEnergy storm process.
Financial and Fiscal Management:
- Championing capital portfolio development and process.
- Reviewing and analyzing budget performance monthly to identify, explain, and report variances.
- Making sound financial and business decisions.
Communications:
- Encouraging open, honest, direct, and ongoing conversation across utility operations groups and corporate support groups.
- Championing an environment within the business unit where self-development is encouraged
- When needed, lending expertise to an internal team(s) and/or task force.
- Supporting the views and policies of the company and providing strategic direction to customers and employees.
- Fostering communications between work groups through timely and open dialogue.
- Providing timely and open discussion to staff on organization initiatives and updates.
- Planning and facilitating staff meetings.
Performance Management:
- Developing the skills and knowledge of staff
- Supporting and coaching employees on corporate and regional goals and driving achievement through performance and safety.
- Ensuring appropriate staffing levels are maintained to meet section goals and updates staffing plan as changing operating environment dictates.
- Providing consistent and clear direction through effective communication of company and section goals.
- Involving staff in development of section specific goals.
- Encouraging employees to think creatively and develop innovative ways to meet and exceed goals.
- Effectively delegating responsibility.
- Preparing short- and long-range plans for team development by establishing training plans for changing business environment.
- Preparing succession plans and identifying promotional paths for employees.
- Working with employees in identifying professional goals and objectives while integrating them into development plans.
- Providing regular and routine feedback on performance, recognizing employee accomplishments, and providing coaching for improvement and/or corrective actions.
- Conducting regular check-in conversations with team members to provide timely and relevant feedback on performance.
- Thoroughly understanding and administering human resource policies and regulations fairly and equitably for all employees.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline required, with at least 10 years of related work experience; advanced degree is a plus. Related work experience includes engineering design, reliability, system planning, substation construction and maintenance, right of way acquisition, asset management, new business, joint use, etc.
- Professional engineering (PE) certification preferred.
- Demonstrated management/leadership experience required.
- Strong analytical skills demonstrated through progressive assignments and projects.
- Thorough understanding of electrical utility transmission and distribution system design, system planning, operational requirements, safety, and customer requirements.
- Familiarity with regulatory landscape.
- Knowledge of information systems such as Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Word.
- Highly driven, self-motivated, and enthusiastic leader capable of communicating, motivating, and driving team toward positive change and improvement.
- Experience in process/project development, planning/analysis, and performance reporting.
- Exceptional relationship management, leadership, teamwork, and managerial skills.
- Superior customer relations skills and strong written/oral communication skills to make clear, accurate and concise written and/or verbal reports.
- Ability to adapt communication skills to all audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and the ability to lead others in achieving goals for the benefit of the business unit and FirstEnergy.
- Ability to make accurate decisions.
- Demonstrated sound judgment
- Demonstrated ability to both develop and execute an agreed upon strategy for driving a creative and entrepreneurial approach to analyzing situations and developing solutions improvement in an organization.
Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity
At 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.
Safety
Safety 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 Classification
Exempt
FirstEnergy Human Resources Team