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 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]
This position is on-site and can be located in the Akron, Greensburg, Reading or Fairmont office.
The Director of Transmission and Substation Services is responsible for leading a diverse team entrusted with providing a broad range of engineering services and technical support across the FirstEnergy footprint ensuring a safe, reliable, and resilient system.
Key areas of departmental responsibility include:
•Leading human performance improvement initiatives in relation to system reliability.
•Providing testing and commissioning services for new or rebuilt substation equipment and transmission lines.
•Supporting planned maintenance activities as well as emergent outages, events, inoperable equipment, and failures.
•Development and ownership of transmission and substation practices and methods.
•Delivering technical support in the areas of asset health, failure analysis, and relay protection misoperations.
•Ensuring compliance to applicable NERC and State regulations pertaining to the maintenance of transmission line and substation assets.
•Initiation and sponsorship of condition-based projects for transmission lines and substation equipment.
•Managing transmission line inspection and maintenance programs.
•Maintaining transmission line emergency restoration response plans and corresponding material stocking philosophies.
Oversight and coordination of transmission related industry engagement activities.
This position will provide leadership consistent with our core values and is charged with ensuring actions and goals align with the organization’s strategic direction.
Requirements include:
•Lead with safety by controlling exposure for team and contracted support staff through personal behaviors, knowledge of safety management systems, and sponsorship of safety improvement initiatives.
•Foster a diverse and inclusive team environment where all employees are encouraged to speak up, maintain a questioning attitude, and provide input on ways to improve work practices.
•Establish and develop substantive working relationships with peers, staff and contractor partners creating an environment and implementing changes where needed to enhance FirstEnergy’s culture of safety, compliance, inclusion, accountability, and innovation.
•Develop and monitor the performance of assigned staff, establishing performance requirements and personal development targets, monitor performance and provide executive direction for performance improvement and development.
•Ensure the appropriate controls and resources are in place to build natural compliance with established regulatory requirements in maintenance, commissioning, and facility ratings.
•Engage with Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), North American Transmission Forum (NATF), PJM, ReliabilityFirst (RF), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and State Regulatory Agencies as necessary. Through industry engagement identify continuous improvement opportunities and share best practices to achieve regulatory and reliability excellence.
•Ensure appropriate staffing levels and provide cross training to ensure uninterrupted services.
•Develop, implement, and monitor work plans to achieve organizational mission, goals and performance measures.
•Direct capital improvement programs and O&M efficiency initiatives.
•Continuously review, implement, and modify internal policies, procedures, and processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and standardization.
•Conduct occasional field visits to verify presence of safety and human performance controls, observe work methods, and provide targeted feedback.
Qualifications include:
•Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering (BSEE, BSCE, BSME) from an ABET accredited institution is required. Acceptable alternatives are: (1) a Professional Engineer’s (PE) License (2) a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering or technical field of study (non-ABET) plus an advanced degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical from a University with an ABET accredited undergrad program.
•PE License required or ability and commitment to acquire within an agreed upon time frame.
•Previous Manager level experience required.
•Ten (10) years’ of progressively responsible experience in the electric utility industry, to include at least five (5) years of management experience in any one or combination of the following areas: Transmission, Utility Operations, Construction or Design Services.
•Experience with electrical engineering fundamentals, substation and line equipment, protection systems, major equipment, design and construction, reliability performance monitoring, and portfolio processes preferred.
•Accomplished and approachable leader, with a demonstrated track record of ethical behavior, safe operations excellence, and inclusive people leadership.
•Ability to manage the departmental budget, staffing plan and execute strategic priorities.
•A highly driven, self-motivated, and enthusiastic leader capable of communicating, motivating, and driving the workforce toward positive change and process improvement.
•Possess strong communication skills capable of representing company strategy to all levels of internal and external stakeholders.
•Strong safety focus and driver of continuous improvement.
•Keeps a tactical, strategic focus while leading and prioritizing department initiatives.
•Comfortable with making independent and critical decisions.
•Ability to lead, facilitate and/or participate in strategic planning and organizational design.
Demonstrates effective leadership skills in the delegation of task while maintaining disciplined processes and close follow-up.
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