Senior Construction Planner

Job Purpose

The Senior Construction Planner provides advanced technical expertise and leadership in coordinating customer-driven construction projects, from pre-design through energizing. Serving as a key liaison between customers, developers, internal engineering and operations teams, and joint installation partners, this role handles complex and high-impact projects, ensures project readiness, resolves design-to-construction challenges, and leads multi-party scheduling and coordination. The Senior Construction Planner also mentors Construction Planners, supports process improvement initiatives, and helps shape consistent, high-quality customer and project execution experiences.

Core Responsibilities

Note: This is not an all-inclusive listing

- Manage and guide complex or sensitive projects requiring advanced judgment, technical understanding, and stakeholder coordination.

- Serve as the senior point of contact for customers and developers, resolving escalated issues and ensuring alignment on project expectations, schedules, and requirements.

- Lead detailed site readiness assessments including trench paths, grading, obstacles, multi-utility coordination needs, and compliance with construction standards.

- Facilitate multi-party readiness and coordination meetings; ensure accurate documentation, issue resolution, and integration with Engineering, Operations, Meter Shops, Energy Operations Administration, and joint installation companies (ATT, Charter, TDS, etc.).

- Provide advanced cross-functional coordination with internal engineers and external partners to address design gaps, construction constraints, and sequencing challenges.

- Work closely with Project Managers to review project risks, identify schedule impacts, and recommend strategies to maintain efficiency from inquiry through build completion.

- Lead customer and developer discussions during pre-design, confirming electric and gas service requirements, loads, meter needs, and timeline assumptions.

- Provide expert-level guidance on MGE standards, construction requirements, timelines, and information found in the Electrical Contractors Handbook and Gas Service Handbook.

- Oversee and confirm energizing schedules in collaboration with applicants, Meter Shops, Operations, and Energy Operations Administration.

- Mentor and support Construction Planners through technical guidance, coaching, and work review.

- Identify and recommend process improvements related to scheduling, customer engagement, pre-design activities, and joint-trench coordination.

- Serve as an internal subject matter expert for interpreting construction plans, specifications, codes, and standards.

Behavioral Competencies

Note: These are in addition to MGE’s core competencies

- Customer Focus – Anticipates needs and effectively manages complex or sensitive customer situations.

- Plans & Aligns – Creates and adjusts plans for high-impact construction projects with significant dependencies.

- Technical Savvy – Applies deep technical understanding of utility construction, energy delivery systems, and codes.

Skills

- Advanced understanding of electric, gas, and DER distribution systems and utility construction methods.

- High-level proficiency in interpreting and explaining engineering drawings, construction plans, codes, and standards.

- Strong ability to coordinate and sequence work across multiple utilities, contractors, and internal departments.

- Skilled at assessing site readiness and identifying technical constraints or risks.

- Excellent customer communication and facilitation skills for complex, multi-party coordination.

- Strong documentation, organizational, and scheduling capabilities.

- Ability to provide coaching, guidance, and technical leadership to others.

Education

- Associate’s degree in engineering, construction management, or related field required.

- Bachelor’s degree preferred.

- Valid driver’s license required for travel to customer sites.

Experience

- Minimum 5 years of experience in utility construction, engineering, or a closely related technical field.

- Demonstrated experience managing complex or multi-utility construction projects.

- Experience collaborating with customers, developers, and multi-disciplinary teams.

- Experience mentoring or guiding junior technical staff is preferred.