Manager Fuel Supply - Electric Generation

NiSource•Merrillville, IN

10d•$133,400 - $200,100

About The Position

Leads the strategy, procurement, transportation, and inventory planning for approximately $300 million and 6 million tons per year of coal supporting the company’s coal-fired electric generation units. The Manager Fuel Supply negotiates coal purchase and rail transportation agreements, forecasts short- and long-term fuel requirements, and coordinates supply and logistics plans that support reliable generation, environmental compliance, targeted inventory levels, and competitive dispatch costs. The role oversees a team responsible for coal procurement, coal handling coordination, rail logistics, contract administration, and related commercial activities involving domestic coal suppliers and major rail carriers. The position also oversees fuel cost planning and reporting, coal logistics and railcar fleet management, supplier and carrier performance, invoice review, and coal combustion byproduct management. It works with generating stations and internal stakeholders to maintain fuel availability, support regulatory compliance, address operational issues, and manage commercial and transportation risks. As a public utility, NiSource may require employees to support emergency response efforts outside normal working hours or typical responsibilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in coal procurement, fuel supply, commodity purchasing, rail transportation, power generation, coal handling, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated experience negotiating high-value coal purchase, commodity, transportation, or comparable commercial agreements, including complex pricing, volume, performance, and risk provisions.
Demonstrated experience forecasting fuel or commodity requirements and developing short- and long-range procurement, inventory, and delivery plans.
Working knowledge of coal markets, coal quality, stockpile and coal handling practices, unit-train operations, railcar fleet management, and Class I rail logistics.
Knowledge of coal-fired power plant operations, combustion, emissions-control requirements, and the operational impacts of fuel quality and delivery performance.
Strong commercial and financial acumen, including the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, model delivered fuel costs, assess risk, and make recommendations to senior leadership.
Knowledge of the regulatory environment and cost-recovery processes applicable to a shareholder-owned regulated electric utility.
Strong analytical, leadership, negotiation, communication, relationship-management, and presentation skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, and ability to analyze complex commercial and operational data.
Valid driver’s license.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require employer sponsorship now or in the future.
Must follow safety requirements, report hazards, and help maintain a safe environment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, supply chain, finance, economics, or a related field preferred; a master’s degree in one of these fields is an additional preference.
At least five years of supervisory or people-leadership experience.
Experience leading coal procurement, fuel supply, or transportation activities for a regulated electric utility or coal-fired generation fleet.
Experience negotiating long-term coal supply and Class I rail transportation agreements with significant commercial value and operational complexity.
Advanced knowledge of domestic coal markets, including coal quality, pricing, sourcing, and transportation considerations.
Experience with fuel-cost modeling, commodity-market analysis, scenario planning, contract valuation, and risk management.
Experience supporting regulatory filings, fuel adjustment clause proceedings, audits, or testimony related to fuel and transportation costs.
Established relationships with coal producers, brokers, rail carriers, and other participants in the coal and electric-generation industries.
Experience with enterprise resource planning, commodity trading and risk management, rail logistics, or fuel-inventory management systems.

Responsibilities

Leads, develops, and manages a team responsible for coal procurement, transportation, logistics, contract administration, inventory management, and related fuel-supply activities.
Develops and executes short- and long-term coal supply strategies for coal-fired generating units, balancing reliability, quality, environmental requirements, market conditions, contract obligations, and delivered cost.
Forecasts coal requirements using generation projections, operating plans, burn rates, outage schedules, inventories, transportation capacity, weather, and market conditions; adjusts procurement and delivery plans as assumptions change.
Leads competitive solicitations and negotiates coal purchase agreements, rail transportation agreements, and related commercial arrangements.
Evaluates spot and term purchasing opportunities, supplier proposals, transportation alternatives, and contract structures; prepares economic and risk analyses and recommendations for executive approval.
Coordinates with dispatch, plant operations, finance, environmental, legal, and other stakeholders to establish monthly, annual, and multiyear fuel plans and maintain appropriate coal inventories.
Oversees coal logistics, including mine-origin scheduling, unit-train movements, railcar availability, delivery performance, unloading constraints, stockpile management, and disruption contingency plans.
Partners with generating stations on coal handling, blending, storage, quality, sampling, unloading, and operational issues affecting safety, emissions compliance, performance, or fuel availability.
Monitors supplier and carrier performance, enforces contracts, resolves commercial disputes and delivery issues, and develops corrective actions to reduce risk.
Manages the railcar fleet, including maintenance, utilization, cycle time, and capacity requirements.
Oversees coal commodity and transportation invoice approval, audits, volume and pricing reconciliations, accruals, and vendor follow-up.
Prepares fuel cost forecasts, budgets, variance analyses, management reports, and quarterly fuel adjustment clause testimony; responds to regulatory and stakeholder data requests.
Manages coal combustion byproducts to support timely removal, regulatory compliance, beneficial-use opportunities, and commercial value.
Maintains relationships with coal producers, brokers, rail carriers, generating stations, and industry participants to monitor market developments and strengthen fuel-supply strategies.
Supports emergency response efforts when required, potentially outside normal hours or typical responsibilities.
Follows safety requirements, reports hazards, and helps maintain a safe environment.