Sr Exec Dir Natural Gas Plant Delivery

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7. 

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location: This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to One Energy Plaza located in Jackson, MI. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify). 

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Senior Executive Director, Thermal Generation is responsible for providing executive leadership, strategic direction, and comprehensive oversight for the development and delivery of new natural gas generation facilities. This role leads projects from planning and development through execution, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness, ensuring alignment with company goals, business plan objectives, reliability requirements, and long-term generation strategy.

This leader will establish the project delivery strategy, governance framework, project controls, risk mitigation approach, and cross-functional operating model necessary to deliver safe, cost-effective, and reliable generation assets. The role requires extensive experience leading large-scale utility, power generation, construction, or infrastructure projects involving significant capital investment, siting and interconnection activities, fuel supply planning, complex contract negotiations, regulatory oversight, and enterprise-wide impact. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Legal, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Environmental, Community Affairs, Governmental Affairs, and other key stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and disciplined project execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and accountability for the successful delivery of new natural gas generation facilities, from siting and development through operational readiness.
• Establish project strategy, stakeholder engagement plans, governance structures, organizational frameworks, and execution plans aligned with corporate objectives and long-term generation requirements.
• Direct all aspects of project development, including siting, interconnection, fuel supply, community and stakeholder engagement, labor and procurement strategies, contract negotiations, funding approvals, cost estimating, and project planning.
• Lead cross-functional alignment among internal business partners, executive leadership, regulatory agencies, contractors, and external stakeholders.
• Oversee project financial performance, capital investment stewardship, schedule performance, risk management, commercial strategy, and achievement of key business objectives.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing organization focused on safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and execution excellence.
• Serve as the executive decision-maker and escalation point for strategic issues that could affect project success.
• Perform other duties as assigned or as required.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of large-scale capital project delivery, including project management, construction management, governance, project controls, and risk management.
• Strong knowledge of utility operations, power generation assets, engineering principles, regulatory requirements, commercial strategy, and financial management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, high-risk, and high-visibility initiatives with significant enterprise impact.
• Proven leadership capability in developing high-performing teams and influencing cross-functional and matrixed organizations.
• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, decision-making, and business acumen skills.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, stakeholder management, and organizational leadership skills.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Project Management, or a related field, and twelve (12) or more years of experience leading major project execution, large-scale capital projects, utility infrastructure projects, power generation development, construction management initiatives, or similarly complex, business-critical programs;
• Demonstrated experience leading organizations or teams with a large span of control, managing high-visibility and high-risk projects, navigating complex stakeholder environments, and overseeing initiatives with significant financial, operational, regulatory, and safety implications.
  • [OR] Associate degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Project Management, or a related field, and fourteen (14) or more years of relevant technical experience.
  • [OR] High school diploma or equivalent, and sixteen (16) or more years of relevant technical experience.

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY (Different Generations), capable (Different Abilities), Interfaith, People Planet Partners, and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.