Distribution Program Manager

FirstEnergy Corp; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Company-sponsored pension plan

401(k) savings plan with matching

Medical, prescription, dental, vision,

Life insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

FirstEnergy Corp in Akron, OH is seeking a Distribution Program Manager II-IV to lead the development, execution, and oversight of Distribution capital programs across regulatory boundaries. This role coordinates with Regulatory, Engineering, IT, Legal, Strategy to ensure delivery on scope, cost and schedule while aligning with enterprise strategy.

Reporting location is flexible within the New Jersey footprint with preferred HQ Morristown; travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related discipline.
• Experience in utility distribution programs or similar large capital projects is preferred.
• Strong communication and leadership skills across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program management, including planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting.
• Define program scope, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and resource plans with cross-functional teams.
• Manage program execution to deliver within scope, cost, and schedule while achieving business outcomes.
• Monitor program performance; identify risks, resolve issues, and manage escalations.
• Lead cross-functional stakeholders (Regulatory, Engineering, IT, Legal, Strategy) and external partners to ensure alignment.
• Support regulatory filings, discovery responses, and reporting to commissions and stakeholders.
• Track and validate realization of program benefits and business outcomes.
• Develop and deliver leadership updates, communication plans, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with safety, operational, and corporate standards.
• Support development of long-term strategy, technology standards, and integration of engineering and IT systems.
• Manage vendor engagement and support issue resolution as needed.
• Develop presentations and communications for leadership and external partners.
• Demonstrate a commitment to safety, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to travel, including overnight, as required.

Skills

Program management

Regulatory environments

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication with senior leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related discipline

Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Business, Project Management, or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of 3,780 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. SC00Distribution Program Manager II-IV.

The Program Manager leads the development, execution, and oversight of Distribution capital programs in the New Jersey operating companies. This role drives program delivery within approved scope, cost, and schedule while ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and enterprise strategy.

Programs in scope include distribution line projects, substation rebuilds and other similar programs. The preferred reporting location is the FirstEnergy Headquarters in Morristown, NJ. The role can be located at any FirstEnergy location in the New Jersey footprint.

Responsibilities

• Leading end-to-end program management, including planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting.
• Defining program scope, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and resource plans in coordination with cross-functional teams.
• Managing program execution to deliver within approved scope, cost, and schedule while achieving expected business outcomes.
• Monitoring program performance; identify risks, resolve issues, and manage escalations.
• Leading cross-functional stakeholders (Regulatory, Engineering, IT, Legal, Strategy) and external partners to ensure alignment and delivery.
• Supporting regulatory filings, discovery responses, and reporting to commissions and stakeholders.
• Tracking and validating realization of program benefits and business outcomes.
• Developing and delivering leadership updates, communication plans, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Ensuring compliance with safety, operational, and corporate standards.
• Supporting development of long-term strategy, technology standards, and integration of engineering and IT systems.
• Managing vendor engagement and support issue resolution as needed.
• Developing presentations and communications for leadership, internal stakeholders, and external partners.
• Demonstrating a commitment to safety, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to travel, including overnight, as required.

An employee hired at the Distribution Program Manager II level will be expected to perform all the above responsibilities with more proficiency, and in a more independent manner. Further, the Distribution Program Manager IV level employee will be assigned additional responsibilities related to those above.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related discipline and minimum 5 years related utility distribution experience is required.
• In lieu of a degree, High School Diploma / GED and minimum 7 years related utility distribution experience are required.
• 5 years of project management experience or the equivalent is required.
• Strong project management skills with an ability to develop, manage, and control multiple tasks.
• Experience with regulatory environments and/or utility programs preferred.
• Able to manage budgets, schedules, risks, and performance metrics.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with senior leadership and external stakeholders.
• Able to work across multiple departments and geographic locations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and general business systems.
• Works collaboratively and possess a willingness to work in a team environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related discipline and minimum 7-10 years related utility distribution experience is required.
• Associate degree in Engineering Technology, Business, Project Management, or related discipline and minimum 8+ years of related utility distribution experience are required.
• In lieu of a degree, High School Diploma / GED and minimum 13 years related distribution experience are required.
• Minimum 6 years of project management experience or the equivalent is required.
• Greater proficiency in program leadership, stakeholder management, and independent decision-making.
• Experience supporting regulatory filings, reporting, and utility program execution.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred qualifications Master's degree
• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• Strong analytical ability to observe, investigate and interpret a given situation for proactive risk identification and development of creative operational solutions seeing past today's challenges to implement new innovative approaches

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

• 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
• skills development training with tuition reimbursement

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.

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