Director Leadership & Employee Development

FirstEnergy; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy in Akron, Ohio, seeks an executive to lead strategy, design, and delivery of leadership and employee development programs across the enterprise. You will craft curricula, governance, metrics, and tools to advance leadership capability and align with business priorities.

You will oversee curricula development, program management, and evaluation while partnering with HR and operations leaders to support talent growth in a regulated energy company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Leadership Development, Education, Business, Psychology, or related field.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in learning and development, leadership development, talent development, training, or organizational development.
• 5 years of leadership experience managing teams, programs, and organizational initiatives.
• Experience designing, developing, and implementing leadership and employee development programs within a complex organization.
• Working knowledge of instructional systems design methodologies, including the ADDIE model and adult learning principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong communication, facilitation, consulting, and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for enterprise leadership and employee development programs across FirstEnergy.
• Lead the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of leadership and employee development curricula and learning experiences.
• Oversee programs supporting aspiring leaders, supervisors, managers, directors, and executive leaders, as well as employee development initiatives and career growth resources.
• Manage and develop a team of learning and development professionals responsible for instructional design, facilitation, program management, and leadership development delivery.
• Establish enterprise standards and governance for leadership and employee development programs, learning design, facilitation quality, and program evaluation.
• Partner with business leaders, Human Resources, and functional stakeholders to assess organizational capability needs and align development strategies to business priorities.
• Drive the use of modern learning methodologies, adult learning principles, instructional design practices, and technology-enabled learning solutions.
• Develop and monitor program goals, metrics, budgets, and effectiveness measures to ensure business impact and continuous improvement.
• Support employee development strategies through development resources, career-pathing initiatives, IDP tools, leadership tools, and enterprise learning experiences.
• Develop and maintain enterprise leadership development resources, tools, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities, including support for leadership off-sites, retreats, and organizational development events.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, leadership accountability, and employee growth across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Instructional design

Stakeholder management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree (HR/OD)

Master’s degree (preferred)

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.

Job Description

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. [FEU].

Location & Schedule

Full‑time, on‑site position in any FirstEnergy location in OH, NJ, PA, WV/MD including: Akron, OH; Holmdel, NJ; Morristown, NJ; Reading, PA; Charleston, WV; Williamsport, MD.

Role Summary

The executive leadership position is responsible for leading the strategy, design and implementation of leadership and employee development programs. These programs build leadership capability, strengthen organizational effectiveness and support talent growth at FirstEnergy. Areas of focus include internally designed leadership development programs for emerging and experienced leaders, employee development resources, career progression initiatives, and enterprise processes that support continuous learning and Individual Development Plans (IDPs).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for enterprise leadership and employee development programs across FirstEnergy.
• Lead the design, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of leadership and employee development curricula and learning experiences.
• Oversee programs supporting aspiring leaders, supervisors, managers, directors, and executive leaders, as well as employee development initiatives and career growth resources.
• Manage and develop a team of learning and development professionals responsible for instructional design, facilitation, program management, and leadership development delivery.
• Establish enterprise standards and governance for leadership and employee development programs, learning design, facilitation quality, and program evaluation.
• Partner with business leaders, Human Resources, and functional stakeholders to assess organizational capability needs and align development strategies to business priorities.
• Drive the use of modern learning methodologies, adult learning principles, instructional design practices, and technology‑enabled learning solutions.
• Develop and monitor program goals, metrics, budgets, and effectiveness measures to ensure business impact and continuous improvement.
• Support employee development strategies through development resources, career‑pathing initiatives, Individual Development Plan (IDP) tools, leadership tools, and enterprise learning experiences.
• Develop and maintain enterprise leadership development resources, tools, workshops, and experiential learning opportunities, including support for leadership off‑sites, retreats, and organizational development events.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, leadership accountability, and employee growth across the organization.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Leadership Development, Education, Business, Psychology, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in learning and development, leadership development, talent development, training, or organizational development.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing teams, programs, and organizational initiatives.
• Experience designing, developing, and implementing leadership and employee development programs within a complex organization.
• Working knowledge of instructional systems design methodologies, including the ADDIE model and adult learning principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong communication, facilitation, consulting, and relationship management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Organizational Development, Leadership Development, Human Resources, Education, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience within the energy, utility, manufacturing, industrial, or other highly regulated industries with a mix of represented and non‑represented employees.
• Working knowledge of the Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) methodology.
• Experience leading enterprise leadership development strategies and large‑scale employee development initiatives.
• Experience managing instructional design, facilitation, and program management teams.
• Experience leveraging learning technologies, digital learning platforms, and modern learning strategies to enhance workforce capability.
• Experience designing and supporting enterprise leadership resources and development experiences, including leadership retreats, workshops, facilitation materials, executive presentations, and leadership engagement events.

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