Consultant - Transmission & Substation Services - Akron FirstEnergy Headquarters

FirstEnergy Corp; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 111,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy Corp seeks a senior professional to drive EPRI engagement and manage FE's participation in research programs. You will coordinate with subject matter experts, develop proposals, and communicate results to FE leadership.

The role requires leading multi-project portfolios, budgeting, and facilitating industry collaborations while maintaining FE’s safety and operational standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience.
• Demonstrated leadership of research and development programs or portfolios, including planning, budgeting, and delivery accountability.
• Direct experience at an electric utility (transmission, distribution, or operations) or as a trusted utility contractor/consultant with extensive utility engagement.
• Strong utility-facing communication: executive presence, clear writing, and strong project management and facilitation skills.
• Strong analytical skills, critical thinking, data analysis skills and the ability to integrate these skillsets and concepts into effective research and development opportunities for FE.
• Ability to execute technical tasks and creative solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work under deadlines and budget constraints.
• Must be self-directed and not dependent on detailed instruction from others.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience in Power Apps (PowerBi and PowerAutomate) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Facilitating EPRI Engagement across FE with the appropriate subject matter experts.
• Serve as co-administrator of EPRI program (METT).
• Responsible for annual portfolio including program funding and administration, project funding execution, and annual product credit utilization.
• Understanding of other programs at EPRI and how specific program work fits into the FE portfolio.
• Perform complex analysis with minimal direction and supervision.
• Works directly with EPRI staff and engages in supervised interaction with members and industry.
• Conduct technical searches and analyzes information in support of the project team.
• Conduct independent research, with support from technical leads.
• Working directly with relative subject matter experts to optimize the use of industry information and utilizing opportunities to improve FE's methods of operations.
• Assists technical research leads in assessing customer needs, formulating technical approaches, preparing proposals, technical publications/papers, and making presentations with minimal supervision.
• Manage SME list from FE departments for EPRI participation.
• Maintain industry participation schedules, ensuring proper subject matter expert attendance.
• Analyzing available information from industry entities for FE SME applicability.
• Disseminating available industry information to the proper FE SME(s).
• Plan and present at meetings for SMEs, providing FE engagement metrics and key/new group materials presented by team or SMEs.
• Provide periodic updates to senior leadership on EPRI activities.
• Manage FE EPRI SharePoint site.
• Develop key metrics and data use tools for efficiency.
• Maintaining a safe workplace for coworkers and the community based upon a developing knowledge of potential hazards, industry regulations/requirements and company practices.

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

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 Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. All employees who apply for a posted position must notify their supervisors that they have applied. Employees who have not been in their current positions for at least one year or who are in a position with specific requirements beyond one year, must obtain approval from their supervisor before applying.

The Compliance & Industry Engagement group in Transmission & Substation Support is responsible for driving FirstEnergy's (FE) involvement in the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for research and development activities. This role will serve as a dedicated resource to get involved with the latest research on grid modernization, energy storage, transmission, distribution, generation, and end-use technologies. This provides FE an opportunity to be at the forefront of an evolving industry, and to also ensure FE's voice is heard when important industry shaping decisions are made. Individuals in this position will make sure that the identified subject matter experts are properly engaged in EPRI groups and are maximizing participation benefits. These individuals will also be responsible for maximizing usefulness of information gathered from these EPRI activities while also communicating and tracking progress on using gathered information to implement new strategies in FE. EPRI provides thought leadership, industry expertise, and collaborative value to help the electricity sector identify issues, technology gaps, and broader needs that can be addressed through effective research and development programs for the benefit of society. The position will have responsibility of identifying research needs, developing research proposals, managing projects, and communicating research results from EPRI to FE. This position can be sited at any location within FE service territory.

Responsibilities include:

• Facilitating EPRI Engagement across FE with the appropriate subject matter experts.
• Serve as co-administrator of EPRI program (METT).
• Responsible for annual portfolio including program funding and administration, project funding execution, and annual product credit utilization.
• Understanding of other programs at EPRI and how specific program work fits into the FE portfolio.
• Perform complex analysis with minimal direction and supervision.
• Works directly with EPRI staff and engages in supervised interaction with members and industry.
• Conduct technical searches and analyzes information in support of the project team.
• Conduct independent research, with support from technical leads.
• Working directly with relative subject matter experts to optimize the use of industry information and utilizing opportunities to improve FE's methods of operations.
• Assists technical research leads in assessing customer needs, formulating technical approaches, preparing proposals, technical publications/papers, and making presentations with minimal supervision.
• Manage SME list from FE departments for EPRI participation.
• Maintain industry participation schedules, ensuring proper subject matter expert attendance.
• Analyzing available information from industry entities for FE SME applicability.
• Disseminating available industry information to the proper FE SME(s).
• Plan and present at meetings for SMEs, providing FE engagement metrics and key/new group materials presented by team or SMEs.
• Provide periodic updates to senior leadership on EPRI activities.
• Manage FE EPRI SharePoint site.
• Develop key metrics and data use tools for efficiency.
• Maintaining a safe workplace for coworkers and the community based upon a developing knowledge of potential hazards, industry regulations/requirements and company practices.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
• Minimum of 8 (eight) years of experience is required.
• Demonstrated leadership of research and development programs or portfolios, including planning, budgeting, and delivery accountability.
• Direct experience at an electric utility (transmission, distribution, or operations) or as a trusted utility contractor/consultant with extensive utility engagement.
• Strong utility-facing communication: executive presence, clear writing, and strong project management and facilitation skills.
• Strong analytical skills, critical thinking skills, data analysis skills and the ability to integrate these skillsets and concepts into effective research and development opportunities for FE.
• Strong interpersonal skills and develop and maintain relationships across FE, with outside firms and manufacturers that further facilitate the cooperation needed to complete assigned tasks and that will inspire others to achieve, or exceed, goals.
• Ability to execute technical tasks and creative solutions.
• Ability to work with staff to organize, prioritize, and complete milestones and deliverables.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills to clearly define and articulate both objectives and outcomes of research.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and be able to work effectively under the deadlines, unexpected developments, changes in project scope, and budget constraints.
• Must be self-directed and not dependent on detailed instruction from others.
• Proficient in applicable computer software necessary to fulfill job duties including but not limited to Microsoft Office.
• Experience in Power Apps (PowerBi and PowerAutomate) preferred.
• Must possess a safety culture and maintain a safe work environment for co-workers and the public.
• Minimal travel to company locations (may include overnight travel).
• Valid driver's license and have access to reliable transportation.

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.

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.

FirstEnergy takes a market-based approach to pay, which may vary depending on your location.

The estimated pay range for this role is $111,350- $157,200.

The pay range for certain locations, including the state of New Jersey, include a 20% differential to account for an increased cost of living, making the pay range $133,620 - $188,640

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team