Manager of System Reliability and Resiliency Planning (Hybrid)

Eversource Energy•Hartford, CT

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The System Reliability and Resiliency Planning Manager provides strategic direction and leadership for continuous System performance, including developing and deploying tools and analytics that support Eversource’s goal of providing exceptional customer service. The Manager will lead a multi-faceted team to optimize distribution reliability investments across the Company’s footprint using historical and predictive analytics. The Manager will also lead assessment of distribution resiliency needs across the system and develop targeted, granular plans and programs to harden the system and reduce customer interruptions, interruption minutes, equipment damage and restoration costs during major and catastrophic storms, as well as during other man-made and natural major events that could disrupt electrical distribution service. The Manager will drive fundamental changes in the way we study and assess distribution reliability and resiliency needs, the way we develop and deploy solutions for resiliency improvement, and how we apply equipment and technology to ensure service continuity during major events. The Manager will lead the team to develop best-in-class analytics and tools to identify system deficiencies, improve system design, efficiently deploy equipment, optimize spending, reduce equipment, operation and customer costs, and develop and report metrics, scorecards and performance incentive mechanisms (PIMs). The Manager takes a leadership role in development of the Company’s Resilience metrics and driving the necessary regulatory changes for adoption in regulatory rate case proceedings. This position is key to Eversource’s system resiliency improvement strategy in all states, to build a dedicated, responsive organization to support the scope of activities needed to meet state and customer expectations for resiliency in the 21st century, including: developing models for existing and future infrastructure; performing simulations and analyses to identify deficiencies in system design and root causes of customer outages and equipment failures; applying industry best practices in developing mitigation measures to resolve perceived resiliency issues; and assessing benefits and costs of mitigation measures and programs. The Manager is expected to take an active role in developing and implementing Circuit Planning procedures and methods, working closely with the Directors and Managers of Distribution System Planning and Integrated Energy Planning to understand and harmonize system expansion needs for capacity, reliability, voltage, DER integration, and electrification needs. The Manager will lead assessment of the impacts of climate change on the system and work with other teams to develop climate mitigation and adaptation plans and strategies. The Manager of System Reliability and Resiliency Planning reports to the Vice President of Distribution System Planning and works closely with the Directors and other Managers in Distribution System Planning, as well as Directors and Managers in Distribution Engineering, Asset Management, Transmission System Planning, Grid Modernization and System Operations across all three states. The position interacts with many departments and processes inside and outside the Engineering organization, including DER Planning, Modeling, GIS and Mapping, Vegetation Management, IT, Rates and Revenue, Regulatory and Policy, Siting and Permitting and others to derive input, consolidate support, and provide key deliverables. The role requires active leadership in ongoing Regulatory proceedings, including rate cases – to drive changes necessary for successful implementation of the reliability and resilience plans and programs to enable the Company to meet and exceed reliability and resiliency goals and the obligation for safe, reliable service to our customers. A key functions of this role is to ensure that the Company meets its Performance-based Regulation (PBR) and service quality (SQ) metrics and objectives to avoid penalties and successfully meet reliability and resilience obligations.

Requirements

BS degree in Electrical Engineering required
Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in Distribution Planning within a utility environment or related business area
Demonstrated supervisory and/or management experience leading technical teams.
Proven track record of delivering complex distribution planning projects on time and within budget.
Possesses excellent knowledge of the electric distribution system and system planning and modeling concepts and requirements.
Must have excellent understanding of distribution reliability and resiliency improvement technologies and solutions.
Must be familiar with systems analysis tools and concepts for reliability (and by extension, resiliency) assessment.
Detailed knowledge of the impacts of various reliability and resiliency measures, equipment, technology, and solutions.
Must understand distribution system operations and storm restoration procedures and their impact on reliability and resiliency.
Must be familiar with distribution protection and control concepts and their impact on reliability and resiliency.
Demonstrated experience with developing distribution system plans and procedures for ensuring capacity, reliability, and power quality for customers.
Knowledge of electric simulation software and power distribution system analysis, including steady-state and dynamic analysis.
Background in system-orientated delivery of solutions to customers.
Knowledge of distribution planning and design criteria, industry codes, and equipment standards applicable to the Eversource distribution system.
Familiarity with federal, state, and local regulatory tariffs and provisions applicable to reliability and resiliency planning.
Knowledge of accounting and engineering economics applicable to develop cost of projects and programs.
Ability and willingness to be a change agent and to initiate and manage change as needed.
Capable of working in a multi-cultural environment and driving team performance.
Possess highly developed communication skills, i.e., ability to write clearly and concisely, make presentations before senior management and external bodies, ability to discuss ideas and be persuasive, and be able to work effectively with all levels within Eversource, governmental agencies and other outside organizations.
Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with internal and external customers.
Ability to provide work under the direction for others, assume authority and be assertive; contributes to the success of the team.
Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret information and be aware of strategic implications in order to propose decisions with respect to the specific area of the position in solving highly complex problems.
Ability to grasp concepts, analyze technical information, determine facts, be sensitive to underlying issues, and make thoughtful recommendations/decisions.
Self-imposes standards of excellence and has the ability to achieve desired results by assuming responsibility and accountability.

Nice To Haves

MS degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical field preferred.
Direct experience with distribution automation and smart technologies is preferred.
Experience working with regulatory agencies and navigating regulatory requirements in the utility sector is preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads the team to develop analytics and tools to identify system deficiencies, improve system design, reduce customer impacts, and costs.
Leads development of new resiliency and reliability planning methods and the application of equipment, new technologies and innovative solutions including, but not limited to smart control and communication devices, aerial and spacer cables, upgraded poles, crossarms and hardware, enhanced tree trimming and vegetation management, targeted undergrounding, battery storage and other DER application, and other improvement measures.
Leads the transition to analysis-based system resiliency planning using historical data, system models and predictive analytics to quantify costs and benefits of resiliency measures and justify prudent application.
Leads development of new data driven resiliency metrics adopting industry best practices and drives necessary regulatory changes to ensure successful implementation in applicable regulatory proceedings.
Leads development of strategic and tactical measures to meet PBR requirements and service quality objectives to avoid penalties.
Leads development and deployment of tools and analytics to improve storm response and reduce storm costs.
Leads climate vulnerability assessment studies and development of climate adaptation and mitigation plans and strategies.
Works with Corporate Performance Management to develop and report service quality metrics.
Leads the team and development of the System Resiliency Program, processes and tools will require dynamic leadership to ensure the chosen framework reflects industry best practices.
Oversees, coordinates and facilitates all benchmarking within Eversource’s operating companies and to and from external organizations.
Supports the analysis and tracking of distribution and substation equipment failure reports, performance of additional investigation and testing as necessary, and implementation of necessary corrective measures.
Engages directly with vendors, partners, and government entities to develop new methods, obtain novel equipment and technology, initiate and support studies, to enable the transition to a more resilient system.
Works closely and across multiple departments to ensure resiliency plans and programs are vetted, socialized, and accepted, and that any external communication with respect to resiliency represents the Company’s position accurately.
Works with Rates and Revenue personnel to develop bill impact estimates for resiliency programs.
Works with Modeling Team to incorporate resiliency improvements in multi-year distribution (Synergi) models maintained by System Planning.
Works with Grid Mod, IT, and vendors to identify tools and processes to improve resiliency planning and analysis and procure training as needed for Resiliency Planning engineers.
Provides regulatory testimony, expert testimony and rate case support for all jurisdictions as needed.
Develops RFPs and procures services and technology as needed for resiliency planning needs.
Serves during emergency restoration efforts.
Manages other engineers, contractors or consultants or groups of engineers and their projects.
Develops and manages plans and schedules consistent with the overall business plans and/or project specific plans.
Presents, directs and/or prepares corporate testimony and written responses for rate cases and other local, state or federal regulatory proceedings.
Integrates cross functional groups or teams to initiate and implement projects.
Works closely with internal and external stakeholders to address needs with appropriate solutions.
Formulates Eversource technical positions and recommends company policies and standards on various issues within realm of expertise.
Interfaces with federal, state and local organizations external to Eversource on behalf of or as a representative of Eversource.
Serves on various Eversource internal committees and task forces to provide information and recommendations to Eversource senior management.
Represents Eversource with respect to assigned area of responsibilities on various industry and professional society committees and working groups.
Prepares for Eversource senior management such written material as letters and reports in support of technical or policy positions on various aspects of distribution and DER planning.
Authorizes contract work relating to the distribution forecasting and modeling.
Represents Vice President – Distribution System Planning as appropriate.
Provides technical guidance and training for less experienced personnel.