Transmission Planning Manager (SPS)

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy. 

Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

 

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

 

Position Summary

Applies visionary and strategic leadership in directing the Transmission Asset Management/Planning group in performing transmission planning analyses, participating in various transmission vision, strategy development or project teams and forums, interacting with and influencing locally-focused transmission planning-related organizations, utilities and stakeholders, and developing and implementing a rigorous asset management analysis and prioritization scheme in order to produce and implement a comprehensive, risk-assessed and economic transmission plan and capital budget in compliance with all applicable transmission reliability standards, business unit and corporate objectives. Coordinates with Regional Transmission Planning group to incorporate regionally-focused needs and plans into the overall comprehensive and balanced investment plan. Represents the company in various regional coordinating council, joint planning, and associated regulatory groups and matters.

Essential Responsibilities

• Leads and provides vision for the development and coordination of short and long term system models and plans to ensure system reliability, efficiency, economic benefit, and compliance with all applicable transmission reliability standards and local, state and federal requirements. Provides input and required data necessary to develop a justified and prioritized transmission capital budget. Coordinates with Regional Transmission Planning group to incorporate regionally-focused needs and plans into the overall comprehensive and balanced investment plan.
• Develops, recommends, and implements transmission asset management/planning strategies through discussion and negotiations with other internal asset management functions, neighboring utility planning management, RTO/RRO staffs, internal and external regulatory staffs, advocacy groups and other public entities. Develops, implements, and continually improves a rigorous asset management analysis and prioritization scheme in order to develop a comprehensive, risk-assessed and economic transmission plan and capital budget. Manages the development and operation of unit's operating budget including providing updated forecasts and monitoring of results. Ensures alignment with business unit organization and corporate objectives.
• Leads and coordinates TAM participation on project teams to further develop and permit approved plans, including constructability and other assessments. Prepares, sponsors and directs preparation by others of transmission planning and other technical testimony, other regulatory filings and technical studies in support of corporate strategies on behalf on the corporation.
• Provides leadership, direction and training for personnel regarding local and regional planning of the local and interconnected electric delivery system. Directs the work of supporting consultants. Coordinates the activities of the unit with internal and external organizations to support corporate and project team objectives and meet customer needs.
• Represents Company in local/regional/national organizations (e.g. NERC, MAPP, WECC, SPP, EEI, RTO's) and transmission planning forums as necessary. Stays abreast of new technologies and current industry practices. Develops and presents or directs the development and presentation of technical transmission planning information before a variety of public groups and forums as necessary. Provides federal regulatory support and transmission policy analysis support as necessary.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive transmission planning/engineering/operations experience.
• Demonstrated success in a supervisory or lead role overseeing complex technical projects and relationships for a minimum of four years.
• Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of federal/regional/local planning guidelines, policy and tariff requirements including FERC/NERC/State Utility Commissions and Regional Reliability Organizations (WECC/MAPP/SPP).
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Considerable travel may be involved.

Preferred Requirements

• Masters of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering or Masters in Business Administration.
• Professional Engineer registration.
• Previous managerial experience.
  
  

 

Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.

Our Values

Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe

Our Employee Commitments

• Work that makes a difference
• A team you can count of
• Opportunities to grow
• Rewards that help you thrive

 

Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. 

Non-Bargaining

 

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $129,000.00 to $190,000.00 per year

 

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave

 

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation.  You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

 

Deadline to Apply: 11/03/26

 

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Accessibility Statement

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.comand https://jobs.xcelenergy.comaccessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careerssite.