Senior Consultant, Portfolio Strategy & Operations

Position Summary

Owns the operating rhythm and strategic planning cadence for a multi‑team IT portfolio. Partners with portfolio leadership to translate strategy into a defensible quarterly plan, runs the meetings that keep delivery teams aligned, and contributes to resourcing and financial planning decisions. The role is the connective tissue between strategy, delivery teams, and leadership—turning leadership intent into structured planning artifacts that delivery teams can execute against.

Leads a variety of key initiatives and special programs on behalf of the business area.

• Consult with leaders on identifying goals to be achieved by the business area.
• Ensure business unit strategies are integrated and aligned to contribute to Xcel Energy’s mandate.
• Facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of the overall business‑area strategy and operational plans using tools such as SWOT analysis.
• Work closely with leaders to monitor progress of plans against business results.
• Own the end‑to‑end quarterly planning lifecycle:
  Strategy Session, Pre‑Planning, Planning event, Read‑Out, and Retro.
• Set agendas, facilitate sessions, coordinate logistics (room reservations, hybrid setup, materials), and drive follow‑through on outcomes.
• Run weekly Delivery & Governance and Delivery Council meetings; proactively surface and escalate blockers.
• Maintain portfolio artifacts: planning decks, org charts, SharePoint site, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure the effective delivery of strategic communications around all business‑area activities.
• Leverage business‑area systems and data to identify, develop and deliver impactful metrics, analytics, andautomatedsolutions.
• Work with leaders to develop, implement and monitor the budget, partnering with Financial Operations toensurealignment.
• May provide direction and training of others.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field OR equivalent education/experience; advanced degree preferred.
• At least seven years of related experience.
• Experience in strategy and in measuring business and operational performance.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to deliver strategic messages from front‑line staff up to senior executives.
• Experience leveraging technology.
• Demonstrated leadership in project management.
• Capability to meet business and financial objectives.

• 5+years in IT portfolio operations, program management, or technology strategy.
• Expert knowledge of Agile/SAFemethodologies with experience leading PI Planning, coaching teams, and driving consistency.
• Mandate to influence, coach andaligncross‑functional teams on PI Planning best practices.
• Experience managing initiatives (Jira), programincrementplanning, and obligation oversight.
• Strong facilitation skills with ITandbusiness stakeholders.
• Knowledge of OM/Cap Ex forecasting and SOWlifecycle.
• Proficiency with SharePoint, Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel‑based planning tools.
• Comfortable driving structure into ambiguous or newly forming work.
• Experience in public‑utility or regulated‑industry IT.
• Familiarity with Agile/Lean portfolio practices (SAFe, One Way, etc.).
• Background supporting AI/digital experience initiatives.
• Swif‑must knowledge deploying governance, financials, and planning atscaleandbrandimperatives.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.