Director Operations - PA Operations - State College Service Center

Socket.dev; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company in State College, PA, seeks a Director of Utility Operations to lead 24/7 electric service delivery. You will guide T&D construction/maintenance, partner with engineering and operations, supervise emergency response, and manage budgets while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The role requires 10+ years in utilities, with 5+ in management, strong leadership and analytical skills, and the ability to drive organizational change with union and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; MBA or PE preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive electric utility experience, including 5+ years in management.
• Experience in utility operations, construction, engineering, transmission/distribution, or related functions.
• Strong leadership, financial, and technical acumen.

Responsibilities

• Lead and promote a culture of safety, compliance, inclusion and accountability.
• Manage utility operations, maintenance, construction, and reliability performance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies, budgets, and CAPEX plans.
• Lead, coach, and develop managers, supervisors, and staff.
• Ensure regulatory, environmental, and reliability compliance.
• Collaborate with union leadership and stakeholders to support operational excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement, workforce planning, and process standardization.
• Oversee contractor performance and resource allocation.

Skills

Strategic & analytical decision-making

Leadership & change management

Regulatory & operational compliance

Relationship building & communication

Problem solving & independent judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

MBA or PE preferred

Job description

Director, Utility Operations – FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company

Location: State College, PA

Position Summary

The Director oversees 24/7 electric utility operations for a designated service area, leading distribution line operations. This role is responsible for the safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of electricity while ensuring regulatory compliance and supporting long-term operational sustainability.

Key responsibilities include managing T&D construction and maintenance programs, partnering with engineering and operations teams, overseeing emergency response activities, managing capital and O&M budgets, leading capital project execution, and maintaining relationships with regulators, public officials, customers, and community stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and promote a strong culture of safety, compliance, inclusion, and accountability.
• Manage utility operations, maintenance, construction, and reliability performance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies, budgets, and capital improvement plans.
• Lead, coach, and develop managers, supervisors, and staff.
• Ensure regulatory, environmental, and reliability compliance.
• Collaborate with union leadership and stakeholders to support operational excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement, workforce planning, and process standardization.
• Oversee contractor performance and resource allocation.

Leadership Competencies

• Operational Expertise
• Change Leadership
• Strategic Thinking
• Execution & Accountability
• Communication & Collaboration

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; MBA or PE preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive electric utility experience, including 5+ years in management.
• Experience in utility operations, construction, engineering, transmission/distribution, or related functions.
• Strong leadership, financial, and technical acumen.
• Proven ability to lead large teams, manage labor relations, and drive organizational change.

Preferred Knowledge

• Utility operations, engineering, maintenance, and system planning.
• Regulatory, environmental, and reliability requirements.
• Budgeting, capital planning, and contract management.
• Labor relations and collective bargaining administration.
• Strategic planning, process improvement, and stakeholder engagement.

Key Skills

• Strategic and analytical decision-making
• Leadership and change management
• Regulatory and operational compliance
• Relationship building and communication
• Problem solving and independent judgment