Director Nuclear Engineering Fleet Operations - Welch, MN

Northern States Power Co - MN; United States; Hybrid; USD 171,000 - 242,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Program

Long Term Incentive

Medical Plan

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Retirement Plans

PTO

Job summary

Xcel Energy is seeking a senior-level leader to guide the Nuclear Operate, Maintain and Support organization. This role reports to management and directs managers and their teams, setting vision, priorities, and budget adherence across the department.

The ideal candidate brings extensive nuclear experience, strong safety culture, and demonstrated ability to lead through complex regulatory environments, with a history of developing talent and delivering results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or engineering preferred.
• 15+ years in design, construction, maintenance, or operation of power plants with 10+ years in nuclear power.
• 8+ years of management experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, strategic oversight for the nuclear area.
• Ensure rigor of process and assess risk for decision making.

Skills

Nuclear leadership

Budget management

Safety leadership

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Talent development

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a technical discipline

Job description

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy. Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

Position Summary

Responsible for strategic direction for all aspects of the assigned area in the Operate, Maintain and Support organization through the managers and their direct reports. This includes setting a vision, priorities, monitoring performance, providing oversight of processes and budget adherence.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, strategic oversight and direction for assigned nuclear functional area.
• Assurance to rigor of process and effectiveness in evaluating risk significance for proper decision making is a key accountability.
• Development of subordinates through effective oversight and coaching on talent management, human performance assessments, coaching and accountability and performance management.
• Demonstrate leadership in the area of safety. This requires observing and enforcing safety rules and practices, encouraging safe work behaviors, and promptly correcting conditions and unsafe behaviors, which may lead to accidents.
• Oversee the development and management of O&M and capital budget for department.
• Provide direction for the development of the nuclear training budget, staffing plan, and excellence plan.
• Provide area input for plant outages.
• Assure adequacy of resources and logistics for safe and efficient outage implementation.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with INPO, NRC & other external organizations, regulatory, and internal stakeholders.
• Perform Emergency Response Organization (ERO) duties based on site-specific assignments.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a technical discipline preferred.
• Fifteen years of experience in design, construction, maintenance or operation of power plants or similar facilities, of which 10 years must be in the nuclear power field.
• Eight years of management experience.
• A current or past Senior Reactor Operator License, Reactor Operator License or Certification is desired.
• Must meet ANSI (American National Standard) N18.1-1971 for certain positions.

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $170,700.00 to $242,366.66 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.

All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

Deadline to Apply: 10/29/26

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At Xcel Energy, we’re more than an energy company. We’re reinventing how we power communities. Redefining how we care for customers. Reaffirming our commitment to the planet. We’re committed to leading with equity and inclusion. You’re not waiting for change – you’re creating it. You’re driven to protect the environment, support your community, and seek innovation. You want a career that grows with you and an employer who values you. You are reliable, trustworthy and bring integrity to everything you do. We are leading the way in clean energy. We’re using technology and innovation in every facet of our company. We’re providing safe, stable jobs with robust benefits. We keep our customers at the center of all we do. We’re committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Together, we can provide carbon-free electricity by 2050. Together, we can take care of the environment and our communities. Together, we can create a place where everyone belongs. Together we’re building a better tomorrow.