Consultant - Transmission & Substation Services - Akron FirstEnergy Headquarters

First Energy 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.

First Energy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, First Energy 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 First Energy Service Co., a subsidiary of First Energy Corp.

All employees who apply for a posted position must notify their supervisors that they have applied.

Employees who have not been in their current positions for at least one year or who are in a position with specific requirements beyond one year, must obtain approval from their supervisor before applying.

The Compliance & Industry Engagement group in Transmission & Substation Support is responsible for driving First Energy's (FE) involvement in the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for research and development activities. This role will serve as a dedicated resource to get involved with the latest research on grid modernization, energy storage, transmission, distribution, generation, and end-use technologies. This provides FE an opportunity to be at the forefront of an evolving industry, and to also ensure FE's voice is heard when important industry shaping decisions are made.

Individuals in this position will make sure that the identified subject matter experts are properly engaged in EPRI groups and are maximizing participation benefits. These individuals will also be responsible for maximizing usefulness of information gathered from these EPRI activities while also communicating and tracking progress on using gathered information to implement new strategies in FE.

EPRI provides thought leadership, industry expertise, and collaborative value to help the electricity sector identify issues, technology gaps, and broader needs that can be addressed through effective research and development programs for the benefit of society. The position will have responsibility of identifying research needs, developing research proposals, managing projects, and communicating research results from EPRI to FE.

This position can be sited at any location within FE service territory.

Responsibilities include:

* Facilitating EPRI Engagement across FE with the appropriate subject matter experts.

* Serve as co-administrator of EPRI program (METT).

* Responsible for annual portfolio including program funding and administration, project funding execution, and annual product credit utilization.

* Understanding of other programs at EPRI and how specific program work fits into the FE portfolio.

* Perform complex analysis with minimal direction and supervision. Works directly with EPRI staff and engages in supervised interaction with members and industry.

* Conduct technical searches and analyzes information in support of the project team.

* Conduct independent research, with support from technical leads.

* Working directly with relative subject matter experts to optimize the use of industry information and utilizing opportunities to improve FE's methods of operations.

* Assists technical research leads in assessing customer needs, formulating technical approaches, preparing proposals, technical publications/papers, and making presentations with minimal supervision.

* Manage SME list from FE departments for EPRI participation.

* Maintain industry participation schedules, ensuring proper subject matter expert attendance.

* Analyzing available information from industry entities for FE SME applicability

* Disseminating available industry information to the proper FE SME(s)

* Plan and present at meetings for SMEs, providing FE engagement metrics and key/new group materials presented by team or SMEs

* Provide periodic updates to senior leadership on EPRI activities.

* Manage FE EPRI SharePoint site.

* Develop key metrics and data use tools for efficiency.

* Maintaining a safe workplace for coworkers and the community based upon a developing knowledge of potential hazards, industry regulations/requirements and company practices.

Qualifications include:

* Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.

* Minimum of 8 (eight) years of experience is required.

* Demonstrated leadership of research and development programs or portfolios, including planning, budgeting, and delivery accountability.

* Direct experience at an electric utility (transmission, distribution, or operations) or as a trusted utility contractor/consultant with extensive utility engagement.

* Strong utility-facing communication: executive presence, clear writing, and strong project management and facilitation skills.

* Strong analytical skills, critical thinking skills,…