Senior Manager, System Planning

ATCO•Edmonton, AB

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for building a high-performance planning team and leading the overall system planning of ATCO’s transmission and distribution systems to drive system growth, enable customer development, and tackle new challenges brought by technology advancement and industry evolvement. In this role, the candidate will provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, and governance across system planning functions, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, regulatory requirements, and evolving industry trends.

Requirements

Proven leadership abilities with proficiency in the development and mentoring of managerial/supervisory employees.
Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.
Professional Engineering (P.Eng.) designation with APEGA.
Minimum ten (10) years of experience in a role where strong leadership, technical skills, and business acumen were required and demonstrated; utility experience in planning is preferred.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, conflict management skills as well as sound decision making abilities.
Solid understanding of power system planning and operation, electricity industry structure, regulatory framework, and the project processes in Alberta.
Familiarity with planning criteria and standards.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, oral and presentation) with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels within the organization and to influence external audiences.
Strategic thinker with the ability to see the big picture and make decisions accordingly.

Nice To Haves

utility experience in planning is preferred

Responsibilities

Build trust through safety leadership, actively promote a safe work culture and provide visible leadership to ensure compliance with the corporate policies and best practices related to Health, Safety and Environment.
Lead and develop a high-performing team of transmission and distribution planning professionals, continuously improving planning competency and bench strength of the team.
Lead the development and prioritization of planning team’s workplan to support department and organization business plan. Implements effective organizational designs to successfully support team’s deliverables.
Plan and manage group workloads, assessing group resource requirements and developing succession plans for key positions within the group.
Take the overall responsibility of system planning for ATCO’s transmission and distribution systems to ensure proactive and strategic development to enable load growth, meet evolving grid and customer needs, and adapt to changes in technology and global industry trends.
Lead the identification and development of system projects in ATCO’s areas to alleviate system constraints and drive long-term growth. Effectively engage AESO to advance system and customer connection projects from conceptual to execution phase.
Lead the front-end project development team to ensure expeditious AESO approval of system projects.
Ensure timely, high-quality completion of various transmission and distribution planning studies to support system development, customer connections, and safe and reliable operation.
Oversee the demand forecast of ATCO’s system and actively engage AESO on long-term outlook and long-term plan development.
Provide technical insight and direction to corporate strategic initiatives, support regulatory processes and represent ATCO on planning and reliability related AESO, AUC and government initiatives.
Provide overall accountability for planning standards, processes, tools, and models across the planning function to ensure accuracy, efficiency, consistency and continuous improvement. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Build strong relationships externally with AESO, utility peers and other stakeholders and internally with fellow managers to promote collaboration, cross-training and radical candor to achieve overall success.
Develop and manage financial budgets for the team. Monitor O&M and ES&G spending to ensure targets are met and timely identification of trends or issues.