Manager, Strategic Workforce Planning

natgridProd • Town of Colonie, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

At National Grid, we aim to create an environment where everyone is welcomed for who they are and where our differences are celebrated. We utilize the insights of our employees that come from all different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs to better serve our customers and communities.

National Grid is hiring a Manager, Strategic Workforce Planning. This hybrid role will sit in our Albany, NY location.

Job Purpose
Working with the Director of New York Workforce Development, this role will develop partnerships with the institutions of higher education (IHE) and industry stakeholders to align degree pathways to career opportunities at National Grid.

This role is external facing and works closely with education institutions, energy industry stakeholders, and internally across business units to align strategic workforce needs to recruitment opportunities.

A successful candidate will have an eye for detail and use data and insights from the relevant business units and programs to enable data-informed decision-making and support critical HR processes. They will also be an effective communicator with diverse stakeholders including external groups, internal teams, and senior leadership. The ability to tailor communications based on audience, and act as a representative for National Grid and the People Function when traveling across New York State is critical for this role.

Requirements

• Proven ability to develop workforce development programs and partnerships with higher education, aligned to the needs of employers.
• Previous experience working with career and technical education (CTE), early college high schools, and/or higher education programs or partnerships.
• Understanding of the higher education system in New York State, including public and private institutions, and how to leverage opportunities for training and education aligned career pathways.
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills and self-motivation/initiative required.
• Strong skills in public speaking, stakeholder engagement, relationship building and management.
• The ability to self-start and adapt to evolving business needs, with the mindset of continuous improvement.
• Discipline and attention to detail in managing data, policies and processes.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously, while prioritizing work to meet business needs and stakeholder expectations.
• Demonstrated track record of managing projects from initiation to implementation through data reporting and evaluation which resulted in program improvements that deliver stronger outcomes.
• Competent in MS Office Suite – specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint.
• Ability to travel across New York State up to 30%
• Knowledge and experience in recruitment or curriculum development.
• Knowledge and experience with manipulating data to drive insights.
• Bachelor’s degree in related topic or associate degree with equivalent and relevant experience

Responsibilities

• Work with Director of NY Workforce Development, People Function, Strategic Workforce Planning, NY Electric, NY Gas, and other business units to identify skills and competencies required for critical and hard to fill positions and align workforce development opportunities with higher education programs and degree pathways.
• Manage National Grid scholarship programs, including all associated activities such as vendor contract updates, budgeting, annual program updates, scholarship promotion with community and educational organizations, application review process, scholarship awards and press events, mentoring programming development and career exposure events, scholar engagement and communication, and external partner management and coordination – all in coordination with various business units including but not limited to New England Strategic Workforce Development, External Affairs, NY Electric, NY Gas, and Communications.
• Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with higher education institutions across New York State that have certificate and degree pathways aligned with National Grid’s hiring needs.
• Skills mapping of positions at National Grid to various college certificate and degree pathways.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Recruitment teams on college visits and college career fairs.
• Coordinate with regional Corporate and Community Affairs, Social Impact, NY Electric, and NY Gas teams to ensure visibility in events and programs as necessary, and coordinate volunteer opportunities with higher education programs, specifically those with career connections to National Grid.
• Maintain records of higher education partnerships and engagement across business units – and work collaboratively with stakeholders in all business units on higher education engagements.
• Coordinate and execute cross-functional strategic workforce development meetings and events across business units to spotlight the strategic workforce development efforts across New York, New England and UK jurisdictions.
• Coordinate with the People Recruitment team to ensure partnering college administrators and students have a clear understanding of training and educational pathways that lead to jobs at National Grid; provide insight into skills needs; and, when opportunities arise, provide industry-input into curriculum.
• Support regional energy industry workforce development collaboratives through working groups and events; and represent National Grid’s strategic workforce development priorities with external industry partners and training and education stakeholders.
• Provide energy industry and utility career exposure opportunities for students in partnering institutions in educational and career aligned ways.
• Use internal and external data to evaluate program effectiveness and inform future program design and decision making.
• Work with funded partners to ensure quarterly and annual reports are completed, and program outcomes are communicated both internally and externally.
• Quarterly and annual reporting and storytelling of program outcomes and successes, for internal and external audiences.
• Support and implement key projects to deliver Strategic Workforce Development and business priorities.
• Education stakeholder engagement throughout New York State, traveling as needed, up to 30% of the time.

Benefits

• National Grid utilizes an assessment that evaluates the job qualifications/characteristics using AI or statistically based scoring. For more information, please view NYC Local Law 144.
• This position has a career path which provides for advancement opportunities within and across bands as you develop and evolve in the position; gaining experience, expertise and acquiring and applying technical skills. Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.
• National Grid is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of protected class. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. National Grid maintains affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.
• Our employment practices are designed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and with respect throughout the hiring process and during employment. National Grid complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and we encourage a culture of respect for all.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree