Director, Capital Projects Development – Thermal

Jobtailor; Colorado; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy in Colorado seeks a seasoned leader to drive strategic planning and development across generation, transmission, and distribution assets. You will oversee a 5-year capital portfolio, coordinate cross-functional teams, and shape project strategies balancing risk, reliability, and financial impact.

The role requires 10+ years in energy project management with strong leadership, regulatory understanding, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, construction management or project management from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 10 years' combined experience in project management, engineering, construction, operations and/or maintenance for energy assets.
• Demonstrated knowledge of gas, electric distribution, transmission and/or energy supply business area functions.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in leadership positions, including strategy development and implementation.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements and their business and operational implications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning and development for generation, transmission, electric distribution and/or gas systems.
• Plan and develop the 5-year portfolio of major capital projects and programs.
• Execute development strategies balancing risk, system reliability, resource adequacy, financial investment, customer cost and project executability.
• Aggregate, prioritize and optimize proposed capital projects across operating and corporate organizations.
• Lead cross-functional teams in preliminary design and project development.
• Develop project scopes, business cases, alternatives assessments, technology due diligence, cost estimates, schedules, preliminary engineering designs, permitting and procurement strategies.
• Provide assurance for technical specifications, best practices and continuous improvement across the capital project portfolio.
• Ensure effective project handover to Operations and establish feedback loops for continuous improvement.
• Prepare technical analysis, supporting documentation and testimony for public utility commission and permit filings.
• Obtain financial/tax incentives, grants and regulatory approvals.
• Participate in public meetings and forums and represent Xcel Energy in stakeholder meetings.
• Advance projects and programs to the Investment Review Council, Finance Council and board of directors.
• Build partnerships with Operations, Operating Companies and Corporate organizations.
• Maintain relationships with jurisdictional, business-unit and corporate peers and external stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic planning

Leadership experience

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership

Regulatory compliance

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Construction Management

Project Management

Tools

Cost estimation

Preliminary engineering design

Technology due diligence

Risk management

Capital project optimization

Permitting strategies

Technical analysis

Business case development

Continuous improvement

Job description

• Lead strategic planning and development for generation, transmission, electric distribution and/or gas systems


• Plan and develop the 5-year portfolio of major capital projects and programs


• Execute development strategies balancing risk, system reliability, resource adequacy, financial investment, customer cost and project executability


• Aggregate, prioritize and optimize proposed capital projects across operating and corporate organizations


• Lead cross-functional teams in preliminary design and project development


• Develop project scopes, business cases, alternatives assessments, technology due diligence, cost estimates, schedules, preliminary engineering designs, permitting and procurement strategies


• Provide assurance for technical specifications, best practices and continuous improvement across the capital project portfolio


• Ensure effective project handover to Operations and establish feedback loops for continuous improvement


• Prepare technical analysis, supporting documentation and testimony for public utility commission and permit filings


• Obtain financial/tax incentives, grants and regulatory approvals


• Participate in public meetings and forums and represent Xcel Energy in stakeholder meetings


• Advance projects and programs to the Investment Review Council, Finance Council and board of directors


• Build partnerships with Operations, Operating Companies and Corporate organizations


• Maintain relationships with jurisdictional, business-unit and corporate peers and external stakeholders

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, construction management or project management from an accredited college or university


• Minimum of 10 years' combined experience in project management, engineering, construction, operations and/or maintenance for energy assets


• Demonstrated knowledge of gas, electric distribution, transmission and/or energy supply business area functions


• Minimum of 5 years' experience in leadership positions, including strategy development and implementation


• Strong financial acumen


• Understanding of regulatory requirements and their business and operational implications


• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in strategic planning and development for energy systems, with a strong focus on project management, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and optimize capital project portfolios while ensuring financial viability and operational efficiency.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Project Management


• Strategic Planning


• Regulatory Compliance


• Financial Acumen


• Leadership Experience

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Project Development


• Cost Estimation


• Preliminary Engineering Design


• Technology Due Diligence


• Risk Management


• Capital Project Optimization


• Permitting Strategies


• Technical Analysis


• Business Case Development


• Continuous Improvement

Soft Skills

• Strong Communication Skills


• Stakeholder Engagement


• Team Leadership

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering


• Construction Management


• Project Management

Industry Keywords

• Energy Assets


• Gas Distribution


• Electric Transmission


• Public Utility Commission


• Financial Incentives


• Operational Implications