Transmission Planning Manager (SPS)

Xcel Energy•Amarillo, TX

2d•$129,000 - $190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Transmission Planning Manager provides strategic leadership and direction for Xcel Energy’s Transmission Asset Management/Planning group. The role oversees transmission planning analyses, system models and plans, and the development of a comprehensive, risk-assessed, economic transmission plan and capital budget. It ensures plans meet applicable reliability standards, regulatory requirements, business-unit objectives, and corporate objectives, while incorporating regionally focused needs in coordination with the Regional Transmission Planning group. The manager develops and implements transmission planning and asset-management strategies, including a rigorous process for analyzing and prioritizing investments. The position represents the company in regional coordinating councils, joint-planning efforts, transmission planning forums, and regulatory matters. It also leads staff and consultants, coordinates internal and external stakeholders, and supports project development, permitting, regulatory filings, technical testimony, and policy analysis. The role may involve considerable travel. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week, Tuesday through Thursday, although expectations vary by role, team, and business needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
At least 10 years of progressive transmission planning, engineering, or operations experience.
At least four years of demonstrated success in a supervisory or lead role overseeing complex technical projects and relationships.
Comprehensive understanding of federal, regional, and local planning guidelines, policy, and tariff requirements, including FERC, NERC, state utility commissions, and regional reliability organizations such as WECC, MAPP, and SPP.
Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or Master of Business Administration.
Professional Engineer registration.
Previous managerial experience.

Responsibilities

Lead development and coordination of short- and long-term system models and plans to support reliability, efficiency, economic benefit, and compliance with applicable transmission reliability standards and local, state, and federal requirements.
Provide input and required data for a justified and prioritized transmission capital budget, and coordinate with the Regional Transmission Planning group to incorporate regional needs and plans.
Develop, recommend, and implement transmission asset-management and planning strategies in coordination and negotiation with internal functions, neighboring utilities, regional transmission organizations and reliability organizations, regulators, advocacy groups, and public entities.
Develop, implement, and continually improve an asset-management analysis and prioritization scheme for a comprehensive, risk-assessed, and economic transmission plan and capital budget.
Manage the unit’s operating budget, including forecasts and monitoring results, and ensure alignment with business-unit and corporate objectives.
Lead and coordinate Transmission Asset Management participation on project teams developing and permitting approved plans, including constructability and other assessments.
Prepare and sponsor, or direct others in preparing, transmission-planning testimony, regulatory filings, and technical studies supporting corporate strategies.
Provide leadership, direction, and training to personnel on local and regional planning for local and interconnected electric delivery systems.
Direct supporting consultants and coordinate the unit’s activities with internal and external organizations to support corporate and project-team objectives and meet customer needs.
Represent the company in local, regional, and national organizations and transmission-planning forums, including NERC, MAPP, WECC, SPP, EEI, and RTOs.
Stay current on new technologies and industry practices; develop or direct presentations of technical transmission-planning information for public groups and forums.
Provide federal regulatory and transmission policy analysis support as needed.