Dir Engineering

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location: This is a hybrid (onsite/remote) position with required onsite workdays on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at our General Meters in Jackson, Michigan. The selected candidate could be within a one-hour commuting radius of Jackson, as the majority of work responsibilities will be performed at this location. The selected candidate must be within a reasonable commuting distance or be willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Director of Engineering is the program leader for planning, validation, coordination, procurement, and execution of execution of complex engineering, operational, and enterprise programs (e.g. Consumers Energy's integrated electric and gas Next Generation Advanced Metering Infrastructure). Works with the senior leaders to develop and implement the company's engineering strategy. Responsible for the development and implementation of engineering processes and best practices for Consumers. Responsible for the budgeting and forecasting of engineering costs for their area, and will liaise with other departments to ensure the smooth running of program.

The Director translates the approved strategy into an integrated execution roadmap and leads delivery across the Company. The Director is responsible for establishing program governance, aligning cross-functional workstreams, managing scope and dependencies, directing execution, supporting technology and vendor decisions and integration, and preparing recommendations for Senior Team and Board.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and monitor systems and procedures for measuring progress and for problem-solving.

• Coordinate the preparation of reports required by senior leadership or regulatory agencies.

• Develop budgets, schedules, and performance standards for engineering programs.

• Evaluate and select vendors for engineering supplies and equipment.

• Negotiate research contracts and agreements with outside contractors.

• Review project proposals and plans to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing project, staffing requirements, and allotment of available resources to various phases of project.

• Oversee all engineering projects from conception to completion, ensuring adherence to budget, schedule, and quality standards.

• Develop the direction of activities for department projects to ensure projects progress on schedule and within prescribed budget.

• Investigate complaints about engineering products or services and take corrective action.

• Monitor program progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure timely completion.

• Other duties as assigned or may be necessary.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with Supply Chain to establish and execute sourcing strategy.
• Serve as the primary program liaison and lead an interdisciplinary matrixed organization consisting of business representatives, contractors, consultants, vendors and system integrators.
• Establish systems for managing risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies, decisions, actions, defects, and changes.
• Coordinate program information for filings, testimony, discovery responses, audits, technical conferences, stakeholder engagement, and other regulatory activities.
• Maintain traceability among objectives, use cases, requirements, architecture, validation methods, acceptance criteria, defects, key performance indicators, benefits, and regulatory evidence.
• Prepare financial analyses, alternatives, sensitivities, and recommendations for executives, Board, procurement, and regulatory decisions.
• Direct and confer with project personnel through an integrated governance and accountability model to outline escalation paths, work plan, stage gates, and to assign duties, responsibilities, and scope of authority

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, negotiation and decision-making skills
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Managing ones own time and the time of others
• Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate and manage programs
• Ability to effective manage a project
• Strong understanding of quality assurance processes and best practices
• Working knowledge of agile development methodology
• Expertise working with multiple engineering disciplines

Addtional Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex, enterprise-level transformation programs in a matrixed organization with strong vendor, consultant, contract, and systems-integrator management capabilities.
• Ability to manage ambiguity through evolving technical, regulatory, commercial, and operational conditions.
• Understanding of advanced metering infrastructure, impacted utility processes and systems, communications networks, and enterprise-system integration.

Education/Experience

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited program with ten (10) or more years of experience with project management in a regulatory environment.
• [OR] Bachelors Degree in Engineering from a non-ABET accredited program plus a Professional Engineering license with ten (10) or more years of experience with project management in a regulatory environment.

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. Were a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY (Different Generations), capable (Different Abilities), Interfaith, People Planet Partners, and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.