Supervisor Workforce Development - Reading PA

FirstEnergy • Reading, PA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisor, Operations Skills Training, is responsible for leading the planning, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of high-quality technical training for FirstEnergy’s physical workforce across the company. This position provides direct leadership to instructors and training staff who support field-based skilled craft disciplines, including line, substation, transmission, relay, network, and other operational training programs. The role ensures training is delivered safely, consistently, and with the rigor necessary to build employee capability, support operational readiness, meet compliance obligations, and reinforce high-performance expectations across Enterprise Learning.

Requirements

• In lieu of a Bachelor or Associate degree, a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED, along with ten years of related experience, including, technical supervisory and training experience, and working experience in distribution lines, transmission lines, substation, relay, and ducted network craft disciplines is required
• Demonstrated leadership ability with a record of setting clear expectations, holding employees accountable, developing talent, resolving barriers, and leading teams through change.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to keep direct reports, peer leaders, Operations partners, and senior leadership informed of issues affecting training programs, schedules, performance, and employee development.
• Ability to coordinate the proper use, care, availability, and readiness of training equipment, vehicles, tools, technology, hardware, audio-visual resources, training yards, and facilities needed to support safe and effective instruction.
• Experience evaluating emerging technologies, instructional methods, data tools, and technical resources that can improve training delivery, learner engagement, assessment quality, and operational performance.
• Commitment to continuous professional development through training seminars, industry benchmarking, professional resources, and ongoing learning related to adult education, technical instruction, safety, workforce development, and utility operations.
• Sound leadership and decision-making skills for guiding the design, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of training programs that require consistent standards, measurable outcomes, and high levels of trainee performance.
• Demonstrated ability to ensure training materials, lesson plans, assessments, practical evaluations, field exercises, and documentation meet department quality standards, technical accuracy expectations, safety requirements, and business needs.
• Effective verbal communication skills to impart information and convey ideas clearly and persuasively
• Leadership and decision-making abilities that demonstrate commitment to customer service, workforce readiness, safety, operational excellence, and responsible use of company resources.
• Understands how strategies and decisions affect employees, the organization, and customers
• Ability to accept and promote change
• Ability to oversee the implementation of changes for direct reports
• Ability to foster an environment that recognizes success and positively promotes improvement Human relations skills to: Serve as a role model for direct reports; Exercise flexibility in working with people at all levels through written and verbal communication that provides clear and concise instructions
• Ability to support budget planning, monitor spending, evaluate cost-effective training solutions, manage travel and resource decisions, and communicate financial considerations in a clear and responsible manner.
• Ability to motivate and lead by example
• Sound judgment to evaluate employee performance, identify strengths and development needs, communicate expectations clearly, address performance gaps promptly, and recognize high-quality results.
• Ability to lead in a high-performance environment by establishing rigorous standards, measuring results, following through on commitments, and promoting a culture of preparation, accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to travel overnight when necessary
• Possession of a valid driver's license and/or CDL, as necessary

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education, Personnel Administration, English, Communications, or a similar discipline with six years of related experience or an Associate degree with training experience with eight years of related experience, including training and technical supervisory experience, is highly preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the new apprenticeship program by ensuring all associated safety expectations, training requirements, instructor assignments, schedules, resources, and program activities are planned, communicated, and executed in alignment with Enterprise Learning standards, operational needs, and company safety practices.
• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports by conducting meaningful performance evaluations, regular check-ins, observation feedback, and development planning that promote accountability, technical excellence, and high-performance work behaviors.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, selection, onboarding, and retention efforts for instructors and training personnel, ensuring candidates meet the technical, instructional, safety, and leadership expectations required to support enterprise-wide training needs.
• Establish clear priorities, develop effective schedules, manage workload across instructors and locations, and adjust plans as needed to meet changing operational priorities, staffing constraints, emergency response needs, and business requirements.
• Ensure instructor qualifications, certifications, technical proficiency, and required instructional competencies are obtained, maintained, documented, and aligned with program requirements and company expectations.
• Communicate, reinforce, and model department policies, Enterprise Learning standards, safety expectations, learning governance requirements, and professional conduct expectations for all training activities.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts that strengthen training rigor, increase consistency across the company, improve trainee readiness, and add measurable value to Operations and Enterprise Learning.
• Coordinate the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of effective training materials, practical exercises, assessments, evaluations, and programs that support field-realistic skill development and operational performance.
• Manage budget considerations when planning instructor development, training delivery, travel, equipment, materials, contract support, and training center activities; promote responsible stewardship of company resources while maintaining training quality and safety.
• Through direct observation, performance data, student evaluations, and business feedback, ensure training programs and instructors meet established expectations for: Clear, effective, and engaging classroom, field, lab, and hands-on instruction; Accurate application of company policies, work methods, technical standards, and program requirements; Strict adherence to safety practices, procedures, hazard recognition, and safe work behaviors; A professional learning environment that promotes accountability, preparation, participation, respect, and successful skill demonstration.
• Communicate with leadership, business partners, and Operations supervision regarding instructor observations, trainee performance, program effectiveness, safety concerns, and opportunities to improve training quality and workforce readiness.
• Administer training section activities by: Partnering with Operations, Enterprise Learning leadership, Human Resources, Labor Relations, Safety, and other departments to identify training needs, evaluate business impacts, and recommend practical solutions; Analyzing training requests to determine scope, audience, learning objectives, resource needs, costs, scheduling impacts, and alignment with Enterprise Learning governance expectations; Communicating budget limits, project timelines, training standards, delivery expectations, and workload priorities to direct reports; Developing and maintaining workload schedules, annual training plans, training center calendars, instructor assignments, and contingency plans to support company-wide operational training demand; Ensuring accurate and timely submission of attendance, completion, evaluation, qualification, observation, budget, and month-end reporting information in approved systems.
• Keep the manager informed of training requests, schedule risks, staffing needs, budget considerations, management discussions, meeting outcomes, program performance, and emerging issues that may affect delivery commitments or operational readiness.
• Identify future training opportunities, emerging workforce needs, technology enhancements, field performance gaps, and process improvements that strengthen the capability of the physical workforce and support long-term business objectives.
• Participate in the exit interview process and use feedback, trends, and lessons learned to support employee retention, improve leadership practices, and strengthen the overall training organization.
• Assist in work of a higher classification and perform other duties as assigned, including support for enterprise initiatives, storm response training needs, special projects, and cross-functional workforce development efforts.

Benefits

• competitive pay plus incentive compensation
• a 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: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED