Dir Engineering

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Director of Engineering is the program leader for planning, validation, coordination, procurement, and execution of execution of complex engineering, operational, and enterprise programs (e.g. Consumers Energy’s integrated electric and gas Next Generation Advanced Metering Infrastructure). Works with the senior leaders to develop and implement the company’s engineering strategy. Responsible for the development and implementation of engineering processes and best practices for Consumers. Responsible for the budgeting and forecasting of engineering costs for their area, and will liaise with other departments to ensure the smooth running of program.

The Director translates the approved strategy into an integrated execution roadmap and leads delivery across the Company. The Director is responsible for establishing program governance, aligning cross-functional workstreams, managing scope and dependencies, directing execution, supporting technology and vendor decisions and integration, and preparing recommendations for Senior Team and Board.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and monitor systems and procedures for measuring progress and for problem-solving.

• Coordinate the preparation of reports required by senior leadership or regulatory agencies.
• Develop budgets, schedules, and performance standards for engineering programs.
• Evaluate and select vendors for engineering supplies and equipment.
• Negotiate research contracts and agreements with outside contractors.
• Review project proposals and plans to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing project, staffing requirements, and allotment of available resources to various phases of project.
• Oversee all engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring adherence to budget, schedule, and quality standards.
• Develop the direction of activities for department projects to ensure projects progress on schedule and within prescribed budget.
• Investigate complaints about engineering products or services and take corrective action.
• Monitor program progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure timely completion.
• Other duties as assigned or may be necessary.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with Supply Chain to establish and execute sourcing strategy.
• Serve as the primary program liaison and lead an interdisciplinary matrixed organization consisting of business representatives, contractors, consultants, vendors and system integrators.
• Establish systems for managing risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies, decisions, actions, defects, and changes.
• Coordinate program information for filings, testimony, discovery responses, audits, technical conferences, stakeholder engagement, and other regulatory activities.
• Maintain traceability among objectives, use cases, requirements, architecture, validation methods, acceptance criteria, defects, key performance indicators, benefits, and regulatory evidence.
• Prepare financial analyses, alternatives, sensitivities, and recommendations for executives, Board, procurement, and regulatory decisions.
• Direct and confer with project personnel through an integrated governance and accountability model to outline escalation paths, work plan, stage gates, and to assign duties, responsibilities, and scope of authority

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, negotiation and decision-making skills
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Managing one's own time and the time of others
• Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate and manage programs
• Ability to effective manage a project
• Strong understanding of quality assurance processes and best practices
• Working knowledge of agile development methodology
• Expertise working with multiple engineering disciplines

Addtional Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex, enterprise-level transformation programs in a matrixed organization with strong vendor, consultant, contract, and systems-integrator management capabilities.
• Ability to manage ambiguity through evolving technical, regulatory, commercial, and operational conditions.
• Understanding of advanced metering infrastructure, impacted utility processes and systems, communications networks, and enterprise-system integration.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited program with ten (10) or more years of experience with project management in a regulatory environment.
  • [OR] Bachelors Degree in Engineering from a non-ABET accredited program plus a Professional Engineering license with ten (10) or more years of experience with project management in a regulatory environment.