Director Enterprise System Standards

Xcel Energy; Eau Claire (WI); On-site; USD 148,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Program

Long Term Incentive

Medical/Pharmacy Plan

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Pension

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Xcel Energy is seeking a leader to drive the Enterprise System Standards function within Integrated System Planning. You will govern planning-grade standards spanning generation, transmission, distribution, gas, DERs, storage, load, and controls, and lead the Planning Council to align with corporate strategy and regulatory expectations.

You will build a cross-disciplinary team and partner with ISP, Model Innovation, Operations, Regulatory and Finance to ensure durable, technology-agnostic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, economics or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years in the utility industry with 5+ years in leadership in strategy, standards or integrated planning.
• Experience across two or more areas: generation, transmission, distribution, gas.
• Experience with scenario-based planning, futures methodologies, cross-commodity portfolio evaluation.
• Proven ability to design and operate cross-functional governance forums.

Responsibilities

• Direct development, publication and refinement of enterprise System Standards across multiple domains.
• Lead the Planning Council, manage charter, cadence, materials and minutes.
• Oversee System Standards work cycle from signal intake to governance approval and KPI tracking.
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers, analysts, economists and consultants.
• Partner across ISP groups to align standards with objectives and regulatory expectations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Finance & regulatory acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, economics

Advanced degree preferred (Engineering/Business/Public Policy)

Job description

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Position Summary

Leads the Enterprise System Standards function within Integrated System Planning (ISP). Accountable for defining and governing the planning-grade standards that establish what the holistic energy system must be capable of doing across Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Gas, DERs, storage, load, and controls. Ensure System Standards are forward-looking and durable supporting investment decisions, ISP studies, and portfolio development, and to foster a build-it-once design basis across planning cycles. Also serves as the operational lead for the multidisciplinary Planning Council, the executive governance body that approves shared futures, assumptions, scenarios, and preferred portfolios across all commodities. This role stewards the forum through the creation and maintenance of charter, cadence, materials, decision process, and follow-through.

Essential Responsibilities

• Direct the cross-functional and cooperative development, publication, and refinement of enterprise System Standards, including system intent, capability and performance targets, resilience criteria, and the build-it-once design basis. Ensure standards are technology-agnostic where possible, traceable to enterprise strategy and long-term plans, and are consistently described across jurisdictions and planning horizons.
• Conduct the multidisciplinary Planning Council as its operational lead. Own the Council charter, operating cadence, agenda pipeline, decision materials, minutes, and action tracking for the Council members consisting of VP, SVP and EVP executive leaders. Coordinate participation and manage re-convening triggers.
• Accountable for the System Standards work cycle end-to-end: signal intake, translation into planning-grade standards, governance approval, integration into ISP products, KPI tracking, and scheduled refresh.
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers, analysts, economists and consultants. Establish clear RACI with enterprise stakeholder groups and develop bench strength through subordinate leadership.
• Partner across ISP Integrated Planning (North, PSCo, South), Model Innovation, Operations, Regulatory, Finance, and the Operating Companies to align standards with business objectives, regional needs, and regulatory expectations. Benchmark against peer utilities to inform standards development and governance practice.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Economics, or related discipline; advanced degree in Engineering, Business, Public Policy, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years' utility industry experience, including 5+ years of leadership experience in strategy, standards, or integrated planning.
• Demonstrated expertise across two or more of: generation, transmission, distribution, gas.
• Experience with scenario-based planning, futures methodologies, and cross-commodity portfolio evaluation.
• Proven ability to design and operate cross-functional governance forums, including charter, decision rights, cadence, and action management.
• Strong financial and regulatory acumen, including familiarity with rate case and long-term planning deliverables.
• Demonstrated organizational, leadership, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence senior executives and multidisciplinary teams without direct authority.

Preferred Requirements

• Prior experience developing enterprise or system-level standards, planning criteria, or design-basis frameworks.
• Familiarity with peer utility approaches to enterprise standards and how such standards are housed, refreshed, and enforced.
• Continuous improvement experience, including PD Tree, KPIs, and management-of-change processes.
• Previous operations experience with linear or fixed assets.

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at [e-mail].

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $148,400.00 to $210,733.33 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program
• Long Term Incentive
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 09/14/26

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