Program Manager, T&D System Planning

Position: PROGRAM MANAGER, T&D SYSTEM PLANNING
Location: Hampden

JOB TITLE: T&D SYSTEM PLANNING PROGRAM MANAGER

LOCATION: HAMPDEN

REPORTS TO: MANAGER, ENGINEERING & ASSET MANAGEMENT

POSITION STATUS: EXEMPT, NON-BARGAINING UNIT, FULL TIME

Be a part of the energy that is transforming the power industry of northern and eastern Maine.

Versant Power continues to provide efficient, safe, and reliable delivery of electricity to customers in northern and eastern Maine, while never losing sight of safety, quality, accountability, integrity, and innovation, for over 100 years.

We are committed to our dedicated people, who inspire us every day, to deliver something more powerful than power alone.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Under the general direction of the Manager of Asset Management, this position will manage, lead, and mentor the System Planning Team responsible for the planning of Versant Power's (VP) Transmission and Distribution Integrated System Planning to ensure the safe, reliable and economic operation of the electrical system and ensure financial and regulatory success, at a fair and reasonable price to customers, consistent with the State of Maine's Energy Policy.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead an engaged and capable team that is aligned with overall department and corporate goals and objectives.
• Develop Versant Power's Annual Transmission and Distribution Integrated Plan in alignment with service quality, safety, and financial goals. Provide clarity and transparency across the organization to allow for successful execution of the capital portfolio, ensuring financial performance and regulatory requirements are met.
• Lead the development and update of VP's System Planning Strategy with a focus on establishing the required technical tools, data governance, processes, and analytics to support prudent long-term Asset Management plans. This work will be done in conjunction with Regulatory, DER and Business Strategy groups at VP.
• Ensure that Transmission and Distribution planning processes, guidelines and criteria are developed, updated and sustained.
• Contribute to our 10 Year Capital Expenditure Forecast and Operating Plans
• Develop principles for integrated DER planning which should: (i) Optimize investment decisions by identifying points on the grid where DERs have greatest value through hosting capacity analysis; (ii) Align with other VP planning processes such as 3, 5 and 10 year CAPEX plans; (iii) Ensure safety, reliability and security (physical and cybersecurity); (iv) Create probabilistic forecasting models and planning scenarios (v) Involvement of stakeholders.
• Establish a process for the evaluation of DERs with traditional resources and infrastructure investments, and work with Regulatory/Finance to ensure a structure exists to properly value and source specific services from DERs, necessary for efficient operation of the grid and cost minimization.
• Address areas of reliability concern which could include areas of congestion which could be improved by DERs and NWAs
• Examine opportunities to avoid or defer T&D costs, reduce line losses and accelerate or modify planned T&D improvements to increased penetration of DERs.
• Support the advancement of planning practices, tools, criteria, and standards to enable emerging technologies and support the rapid changes of the electric system (i.e., Distributed Energy Resources, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Electric Vehicles, Heat Pumps etc.)
• Encourage and facilitate collaboration and dialogue with peer utilities and other agencies (i.e. ISO, NMISA, etc.) to provide a common understanding and consistency of application of system planning principles and practices.
• Maintain relationships with ISO and NMISA staff to facilitate timely transmission system development.
• Work with and lead cross functional internal and external teams.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology required.
• A minimum of 15-20 years' experience in a related discipline.
• Experience with conducting T&D System planning, creating short-, medium- and long-term plans that enable state renewable transformation preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a managerial, supervisory and leadership roles.
• Excellent technology skills including…