Director Utility Training

FirstEnergy • Akron, OH

7d • Onsite

About The Position

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. [FEU]. This is a full-time, on-site position located in Akron, OH. The executive leadership position is responsible for leading the strategy, design and implementation of operational training and supporting activities across FirstEnergy. This includes training curriculums, staffing strategies, and training needed for employees to safely and effectively fulfill their responsibilities in areas including distribution, transmission, and generation craft lines, customer service and energy delivery process and systems including emergency preparedness. It also includes establishing and monitoring organizational goals, policies, plans, performance objectives and budgets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (Education, Organizational Learning, Safety, Engineering, Business, or related field) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in energy or utility training leadership and/or workforce development (e.g., electric utility, nuclear, power generation), including direct responsibility for craft progression schools and field‑based qualification programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading progression schools and field-based qualification programs for craft roles in energy or Transmission & Distribution (e.g., line, substation, relay/protection, switching, underground, power generation) including curricula, assessments, and instructor standards.
• Extensive experience designing and managing compliance and safety training for electric power work, including OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 requirements, qualification concepts, and audit-ready training documentation.
• Working knowledge of instructional systems design and evaluation, including ADDIE/SAT practices and the use of evaluation instruments to measure training effectiveness and determine qualification for safety-critical tasks.
• Proven experience establishing, improving, or scaling apprenticeship programs (including related instruction and on-the-job training alignment), preferably in a union environment.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, including leading leaders, developing diverse talent, setting performance expectations, and delivering results through a culture of accountability and inclusion.
• Strong program management skills (process design, budgeting, forecasting, and continuous improvement) with the ability to influence across a matrix organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to translate technical work practices into effective learning experiences and clear expectations for multiple audiences.
• Ability to travel as needed and work extended hours to support employees working at multiple locations across FE’s service territory, including support of storm restoration roles.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Adult Education, Instructional Design, Organizational Development, Safety, Engineering, or a related field.
• Professional safety and training credentials (e.g., CSP/ASP, CHST, ATD) and/or demonstrated expertise delivering OSHA-aligned programs.
• Hands-on craft or frontline supervision experience in T&D (line, substation, relay/protection, or underground) is a plus.
• Experience with learning technologies (LMS administration, digital content tools, blended learning, simulation) and using analytics to improve completion, proficiency, and field performance outcomes.
• Experience with Department of Labor registered apprenticeship standards and utility industry training best practices

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Utility Training function, accountable for safety, compliance, quality, and effectiveness of training delivered to Transmission & Distribution (T&D) operations and supporting groups.
• Own and evolve FE’s progression-school strategy (e.g., distribution line worker, transmission line worker, substation, relay/protection, underground, transmission) including curriculum roadmaps, sequencing, prerequisites, and readiness criteria aligned to job task analysis and field performance expectations.
• Establish and enforce a Systematic Approach to Training (SAT)/ADDIE governance model for analyzing work, designing instruction, developing materials, implementing delivery, and evaluating results for T&D training programs.
• Design and deploy standardized evaluation instruments (knowledge/skill assessments, job performance measures, performance checklists, field validations, observation guides) and an outcome measurement strategy (Reaction/Learning/Behavior/Results) to demonstrate training impact and target continuous improvement.
• Lead compliance training strategy and execution for electric power operations, including OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 related to training qualification, refresher criteria, safe work practices and documentation practices, in partnership with Corporate Safety, Operations, and Labor.
• Maintain “leading with safety” culture across all training environments (yards, labs, substations, classrooms, mobile/field training), ensuring training activities, equipment, and simulations meet applicable safety requirements and are risk-assessed prior to delivery.
• Provide enterprise oversight for registered/recognized apprenticeship programs (e.g., distribution line worker, substation electrician) including standards, related instruction, on-the-job training alignment, progression, completion, and continuous partnership with labor unions and joint training committees.
• Build instructor capability through train-the-trainer standards, coaching, classroom/field observation, and technical qualification expectations; ensure consistent delivery across locations and modalities (in-person, blended, e-learning, and simulation).
• Own training records governance for utility training programs (LMS and supporting systems), ensuring accurate completion data, qualifications, and evidence packages that support internal controls and readiness for internal/external audits and regulatory reviews.
• Develop the annual training forecast and multi-year capability plan aligned to Operations workforce plans, capital programs, major work methods changes, and emerging technologies; manage the operating and capital budgets for training assets and facilities.
• Partner with T&D Operations leaders to translate business needs into training solutions, coordinate training impacts for major initiatives, and drive timely change management communications across a matrixed environment.
• Continuously benchmark against utility industry best practices for T&D training (progression schools, field assessment, simulation, and safety training) and apply improvements based on data and stakeholder feedback.
• Support the FirstEnergy storm restoration process with a dedicated storm role, ensuring training readiness for incident response, mutual assistance, and emergency work practices.

Benefits

• competitive pay plus incentive compensation
• company-sponsored pension plan
• 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution
• a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs
• skills development training with tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive