Capacity Planning Practice Area Manager
Role Summary
The Practice Area Manager is a key leader within the distribution-focused business unit. This position oversees a specialized practice area dedicated to capacity planning and related technical studies, and carries partial financial responsibility for the group. Reporting to the broader business-area leadership, the manager provides strategic direction, guides technical execution, and ensures high‑quality delivery of utility‑focused engineering work. The role also involves close collaboration with external stakeholders and industry partners.
Primary Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
- Lead advanced engineering and data‑driven workflow projects from concept through completion, ensuring strong adoption and measurable value for clients.
- Drive the growth of the practice area by shaping technical solutions, preparing estimates and proposals, and cultivating strong client relationships.
- Establish and maintain consistent study methodologies, modeling standards, and approval criteria to ensure high‑quality, repeatable results across all teams and regions.
- Oversee distribution system modeling and simulation efforts-including power flow, fault analysis, protection studies, and dynamic behavior-and provide final approval on technical deliverables.
- Ensure consistency between planning models and operational systems such as DMS, SCADA, OMS, and GIS; work with operational teams on device modeling, protection logic, and control systems.
- Ensure technical work aligns with industry standards, regulatory expectations, and interconnection requirements.
- Represent the organization professionally in customer engagements and industry forums.
Team & Delivery Leadership
- Build, mentor, and lead high-performing teams through goal-setting, coaching, and career development.
- Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within scope, and within budget, with a strong emphasis on quality and customer satisfaction.
- Oversee resource allocation and maintain balanced workloads across teams.
- Promote transparency, accountability, and collaboration across the practice area.
Business Development
- Engage directly in client work while also identifying and securing new project opportunities.
- Increase awareness and adoption of the organization's services within the utility and energy sectors.
- Partner with other internal groups to support cross-functional initiatives.
- Leverage existing relationships-or build new ones-to support business growth.
- Represent the organization at conferences, industry groups, and professional events.
- Stay informed on regulatory and market trends and share key insights internally.
Strategy & Growth
- Develop and execute long-term strategic plans for the practice area, including capability growth and market positioning.
- Support succession planning and identify emerging talent within the team.
- Make decisions that support sustained business growth and align with organizational goals.
- Collaborate with vendors on training, demonstrations, and efficiency‑enhancing tools.
- Remain current on technology advancements and emerging industry practices.
Required Qualifications
Travel
- Willingness to travel to client sites and industry events (typically up to roughly 25%, depending on assignments).
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical discipline required; an advanced degree is preferred.
- More than ten years of experience in the utility sector, including several years in consulting specific to electric distribution systems and leadership of technical teams.
Skills & Technical Systems
- Hands‑on experience with distribution planning modeling software (e.g., CYME, OpenDSS, GridLAB-D, Synergi/ISP, PSS®E, or comparable tools) and the ability to validate model outputs.
- Familiarity with operational systems such as DMS, SCADA, and OMS, and an understanding of how operational data and controls influence planning models.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong understanding of distribution system engineering fundamentals, including unbalanced power flow, single‑phase modeling, transformer behavior, voltage regulation, and protection coordination.
- Experience applying modern AI‑enabled tools to improve engineering workflows.
- Demonstrated success in financial oversight, business growth, and organizational leadership.
- In‑depth knowledge of utility operations and energy market dynamics.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and conflict‑management skills.
FAQs
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