Director, Strategy & Innovation

Lincoln Electric System (LES), based in the state capital city of Lincoln, is the second largest retail electric utility in Nebraska and the 23rd largest public power utility in the United States. LES provides electric services to the cities and towns of Lincoln, Prairie Home, Waverly, Walton, Cheney, and Emerald. LES serves over 153,000 customers of which approximately 88% are residential and 12 % are commercial and industrial. LES is a municipal utility, owned by the city of Lincoln, Nebraska, with a service area that covers approximately 200 square miles. LES employs approximately 566 people (approximately 27 % of which are represented by two unions with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and serves over 153, 000 customers. LES operates under the governance of the LES Administrative Board, appointed by the Mayor of Lincoln, and confirmed by the Lincoln City Council, and reflects the utility's deep involvement in the community it serves. Each Board member is a community leader that offers a valuable perspective on diverse issues confronting LES to reflect the utility's nearly 60-year legacy of deep commitment to reliability, affordability, and sustainability under local control.

More information can be found at: Your Public Power Partner | Lincoln Electric System

Job Title: Director, Strategy & Innovation

Posting Dates: 10/22/2025 - 11/12/2025

Competitive compensation and benefits package offered, designed to attract and retain top talent.

LES is looking for a talented leader – an energetic and driven professional – to join our team in the newly formed role of Director – Strategy & Innovation. This key leader will have primary responsibility for overseeing the execution of LES’s newly created Strategic Plan and will oversee the gathering and presentation of performance metrics and indicators that track progress towards the utility’s strategic objectives. This role will help lead the shaping, advancing, and execution of LES’s long term strategic direction. Also, this role will guide efforts to ensure that LES stays abreast of and can capture and implement relevant new solutions and concepts to maintain a culture of practical, smart, and timely innovation.

The role is suited to a key strategic leader, who understands utility operations and can navigate the space between emerging technology and innovative solutions, and their practical application in the operating environment of an electric utility. Additionally, this position requires a leader who can drive execution of strategic initiatives by directing program management, data stewardship, accountability tools, internal and external stakeholder engagement and communication, and organizational change management efforts. This leader will guide a high-level technical team to produce the next generation of exceptional results LES customers have come to expect. This position will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will oversee teams performing functions and work in the areas of Enterprise Risk Management, Project Management, emergency preparedness, innovation and strategic technology transfer.

JOB SUMMARY

Responsible for shaping, advancing, and executing LES’s long term strategic direction. This position will oversee the gathering and presentation of performance metrics and indicators that track progress towards the utility’s strategic objectives. In addition, this role will guide efforts to ensure that LES stays abreast of and can capture and implement relevant new solutions and concepts to maintain a culture of practical, smart, and timely innovation. This role will also provide leadership for developing high quality project management and change management functions and ensure effective management of enterprise risk. Consistent and reliable attendance is an essential function of this position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND CORE COMPETENCIES

- Directs the implementation and progress tracking of the LES Strategic Plan, as well as the established cadence for interim refreshes and periodic full plan updates.

- Directs ongoing development and execution of the Enterprise Risk Management program and ensures that strategies are identified and efforts undertaken to mitigate enterprise risks.

- Ensures an industry-class Emergency Management function within the utility that enables LES to prepare for and respond to existing and emerging disruptive events and threats.

- Directs the enterprise Project Management Office (PMO) and ensure consistent, disciplined, and effective use of leading best practice project management techniques, tools, and process controls across the utility’s functions.

- Establishes and directs an effective Organization Change Management (OCM) practice and central function for the organization and ensures ability to provide direct change management support to key enterprise-wide change efforts, while developing OCM capability throughout LES.

- Directs the organization’s innovation practice by driving efforts for evaluation of innovative concepts, solutions, and technologies, as well as efforts to research strategy and innovation practice within and outside the utility and energy industry to identify and recommend relevant adoption and operational applications for LES.

- Ensures coordinated effort to applying emerging and innovative solutions, processes, and technologies to advance LES progress towards strategic objectives, and in so doing enables the organization to mitigate its key enterprise risks.

- Coordinates reporting to Executive Leadership Team and Administrative Board on progress and performance in completing strategic plan objectives.

- Supports leadership across the utility in translating strategic objectives and goals to divisional and departmental objectives and individual goal plans.

- Consults on development of long-term grid architecture strategy and supports internal operating departments in identification, piloting, and scaling of selected solutions.

- Consults on the utility’s long term technology strategy to ensure connectivity and support of the strategic objectives and innovative opportunities for the organization.

- Participates in industry forums and events to gain insights on innovation practice across the utility industry and beyond and demonstrates leadership in nurturing and growing the LES culture of practical innovation by helping to foster creativity, curiosity, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.

Adaptability - Maintains a positive attitude in the face of change; appropriately adjusts behavior and activities to changing conditions.

Communication - Expresses ideas and information in a clear and concise manner whether verbally, written, or other means; tailors message to fit the interests and needs of the audience; delivers information in a manner that is interesting and compelling.

Initiative - Takes action on his/her own without being prompted; handles problems independently; able to resolve issues without relying on extensive help from others; does more than is expected or asked.

Conflict Resolution - Builds consensus across individuals with different viewpoints; helps people find common goals and interests; finds mutually agreeable solutions to problems; addresses conflicts so they do not escalate into more major problems.

Project Management - Establishes project goals, milestones, and procedures, defines roles and responsibilities, acquires project resources, coordinates projects throughout company, monitors project progress, and manages multiple projects.

Strategic Thinking - Aligns day to day activities around broader organizational goals and objectives; prioritizes resources based on the strategic objectives of the organization; recognizes and rewards people based on how their actions support the broader needs of the company.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

- Demonstrated experience developing, overseeing, and supporting execution of enterprise strategic plans with ability to lead ongoing evaluation and periodic refresh of strategic plans.

- Demonstrated experience with utility operations for and the functional interactions of the elements of a vertically integrated electric utility (generation, transmission, distribution), as well supporting functions and systems (IT/OT, facilities, fleet, supply chain, finance/accounting, HR).

- Strong working knowledge of Project Management process and concepts. Demonstrated experience managing project budgets.

- Working knowledge of Organizational Change Management (OCM) techniques and frameworks. Demonstrated experience supporting large scale change within an organization.

- Demonstrated experience with Electric Utility emerging solutions, including smart grid/automation, plant automation, geospatial technology, customer service tools, and analytics tools.

- Proficient knowledge of utility technology applications, as well as overall technology and data architecture. Working knowledge of key technology functions including cybersecurity and operational technology.

- Knowledge of emerging utility and public infrastructure issues, and social, economic, and political impacts.

- Strong written and verbal communications skills, with experience creating and delivering public presentations to a variety of stakeholders.

- Effective working knowledge of federal, state, and municipal policy structures and regulatory provisions related to electric utility operations. Experience with regulatory process, policy development, and compliance.

- Fundamental understanding of economics and financial analysis.

REQUIRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or related field. Advanced degree in relevant field, preferred, and

- At least 8 years of experience in or related to utility operations and execution of utility and/or public infrastructure projects. Direct field/plant operations experience, preferred, and.

- At least 5 years of management experience, with progressively responsible leadership assignments, and demonstrated ability of leading high-performing teams in large organizations, or.

- An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

LES BENEFITS - Click the link below to explore the outstanding benefits available to LES employees!

LES Benefits Overview

- LES is interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.

- LES is unable to sponsor employment-based immigrant or non-immigrant visas.

- This is not a remote position and requires residency within a reasonable commuting distance to LES in Lincoln, Nebraska.

EEO Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans