Sr Mgr, Grid Technology Portfolio

Posting End Date:  

Work Place Flexibility: Hybrid 

Legal Entity: Entergy Services, Inc.-ESI (OLD) 

Job Summary/Purpose

The Sr. Mgr., Grid Tech Portfolio leads a diverse team of employees and stakeholders to develop and execute the strategy for the Grid Technology Portfolio to increase efficiency and improve power quality, reliability, and customer experience.  This is achieved, in part, by providing leadership and management, roadmap development, portfolio management execution and operational support for Power Delivery.

The Sr. Mgr., Grid Tech Portfolio position will establish and maintain the road map and overall strategy for operational challenges and solutions, system performance, and life cycle management of Power Delivery applications and technology. This position develops the roadmap with input from the Grid Automation & Control team, Work & Asset Mgmt Tech team, Operating Companies, other portions from the Business, and IT.

The Sr. Mgr., Grid Tech Portfolio leads the development of strategies, processes, and procedures to new power delivery technology solutions. Additionally, this manager will be responsible for communicating strategies, plans, associated progress and issues to leadership within Entergy’s operating companies, to regulatory agencies, and to community leaders within Entergy’s operating company territories.

Job Duties/Responsibilities 

STANDARDS – Define a standardized set of methodologies, tools, techniques and approaches to be leveraged by Grid Technologies to pursue new projects / programs

1. 1. Consider standards for Grid Technologies which span the full lifecycle of projects / programs (inclusive of ideation, sanctioning, business case, regulatory confirmation, project mobilization, project execution, deployment, operationalization, and continual improvement)
   2. Align with Entergy’s existing Capital Project and Information Technology standard methodologies and approaches; identify gaps pursuant to Grid Technology scope
   3. Define comprehensive set of standards which respect existing methods and augment as needed in consideration of evolving cross-functional operating models
   4. Define expectations for governance of new projects / programs

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES – Coordinate efforts to assess emerging technologies and establish perspectives for how, when, and why they may be integrated to Entergy operations

1. 1. Assess, document, and periodically refresh an inventory disruptive forces facing the industry; develop perspectives of implications for Entergy
   2. Assess, document, and periodically refresh an inventory of Entergy’s grid operations challenges; develop and maintain dashboard to qualitatively and quantitatively summarize these challenges
   3. Participate in various industry forums (conferences, user groups, etc.) to contextualize evolving trends and capabilities; advocate for product direction aligned to Entergy’s interests
   4. Survey offerings from incumbent and emergent technology providers; coordinate demos and peer utility knowledge sharing sessions
   5. Develop, socialize, and periodically refresh Entergy’s Grid Technology point of view regarding the relevance and timeliness of technologies; formalize recommendations for pursuit
   6. Develop, socialize, and periodically refresh Entergy’s Grid Technology roadmap of preferred technologies highlighting near-, mid-, and long-term impacts and associated leading indicators where applicable

INTAKE / ASSESSMENT – Coordinate efforts to define, assess, and mobilize key Entergy personnel and contractors allowing for Grid Technology projects to be considered and mobilized as justified

1. 1. INITIATION – Coordinate efforts to review and reconcile new Grid Technology initiatives; determine appropriate next steps
      1. PROACTIVE – Provide forums to review Grid Technology roadmap with interested parties; solicit feedback and incorporate as appropriate
      2. REACTIVE – Provide centralized forum allowing for impacted parties an opportunity to request, solicit, and/or coordinate with Grid Technology on evolving cross-functional capabilities
   2. LIFECYCLE – Coordinate efforts for project lifecycle adherence in alignment with Entergy standards and formal stage gate proceedings inclusive of Initiation, Execution, and Closeout 
   3. SEGMENTATION – Assess proposed projects for size and complexity; align project to appropriate governance framework and outline activities commensurate with segmentation

PORTFOLIO BUSINESS CASE & PRIORITIES – Coordinate efforts identity and define qualitative and quantitative justifications to demonstrate project / program prudency

1. 1. Coordinate efforts to collect comparable project / program BENEFIT estimates via benchmarking studies (leverage publicly available and proprietary sources as possible)
   2. Coordinate efforts with Entergy subject matter experts to align on conceptual benefits categories and estimation methodologies
   3. Collect and compile data to quantitatively estimate ranges of potential benefits and realization timelines  
   4. Compile benefit estimates per project / program / portfolio in a transparent and structured manner allowing for traceability as warranted; align benefit estimation rigour to project size and complexity
   5. Determine if pilot programs would assist in lending credibility to business case estimations; support coordination and mobilization as warranted
   6. Compile comprehensive program justification narrative contextualizing business problems, key project / program elements, and explanation of qualitative and quantitative benefits

PORTFOLIO COST & CONTINGENCY – Coordinate efforts to formally estimate project and portfolio costs; monitor and refresh periodically

1. 1. Coordinate efforts to collect comparable project / program COST estimates via benchmarking studies (leverage publicly available and proprietary sources as possible)
   2. Compile and coordinate vendor solicitation efforts via pertinent RFX (including but not limited to Request for Information, Request for Quote, Request for Proposal, etc) to inform budgetary processes
   3. Coordinate efforts with Entergy subject matter experts to develop preliminary labor and cost estimates
   4. Consider project mobilization, execution, and deployment costs to realize the new capability (inclusive of people, process, technology impacts)
   5. Consider ongoing, steady-state operating model costs for maintain the new capability on an on-going basis
   6. Designate capital, O&M, and rate-impact estimates as warranted; coordinate with Entergy PD Portfolio Management and Finance to confirm treatment where necessary
   7. Compile all cost estimates per project / program / portfolio in a transparent and structured manner allowing for traceability as warranted; align cost estimation rigour to project size and complexity

RISK MANAGEMENT – Coordinate efforts to identify, document, and mitigate risks for the Grid Technology program

1. 1. Evaluate risks for projects which are both implicit to the scope of the project as well as those linked to conceptual design philosophies
   2. Evaluate risks and implications which Entergy could choose to accept if proposed projects / programs are NOT pursued or are delayed
   3. Develop a comprehensive and balanced risk management approach aligned with Entergy best practices including, but not limited to, evaluation and mitigation of the following risk dimensions:
   4. 1. 1. VENDOR / CONTRACTOR – consideration of prior delivery in Entergy environment, peer utility feedback, product roadmap maturity / suitability, backlog, durability, and resource constraints
         2. BUDGET – consider historic performance, contingency estimates, and implications to Entergy financial position
         3. SCHEDULE – consider external milestones and inter-project dependencies
         4. OPERATIONAL - identify cross-functional and inter-departmental dependencies which could pose challenges to successful project / program adoption
         5. REGULATORY – consider regulatory sensitivities and priorities which could delay or otherwise impact project / program progress
         6. REPUTATIONAL – consider implications from press, community, customer, and investors associated with pursuit of given projects
         7. SECURITY – consider cyber-security, physical-security, and regulatory mandates applicable to technologies and potential Entergy reputational implication
   5. Socialize risks with leadership and consider approaches to mitigate risks; infuse mitigations to project definitions

REGULATORY – Support efforts to engage with regulatory entities across jurisdictions as warranted

1. 1. Coordinate with Entergy’s Legal and Regulatory Affairs groups to understand regulatory needs and asks
   2. Participate in regulatory meetings where necessary
   3. Support efforts to compile reports, proposals, and testimony related to Grid Technology projects / programs
   4. Support efforts to analyze data as requested by regulatory parties; compile documentation and supporting materials pursuant to regulatory discovery requests
   5. Coordinate efforts to survey opportunities for grant applications and external funding avenues; coordinate with other Entergy teams to pursue

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT – Support efforts to identify and engage with relevant stakeholders who have an interest or are impacted by proposed projects / programs

1. 1. INTERNAL – Coordinate efforts to engage with Entergy personnel impacted by the new projects / programs
      1. Perform stakeholder analysis to identify stakeholders who may have an interest in new projects / programs; perform and document preliminary impact analysis
      2. Engage and communicate with stakeholder as necessary to consider their perspectives, challenges, requirements, desirements, preferences, and priorities
      3. Include relevant stakeholders through above activities (emerging tech roadmap, intake, benefits estimation, cost estimation, risk management, regulatory) as warranted
      4. Coordinate with Human Resources, project sponsors, and other executive leadership to consider potential organizational design, role definition, and staffing level changes
      5. Consider potential training impacts
   2. EXTERNAL – As necessary, engage and support external stakeholders who may have an interest in emerging capabilities
      1. Identify potential stakeholders inclusive of customers, customer advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations, non-profit advocacy groups, academia, media, suppliers
      2. Assess potential impacts to these stakeholders resulting from Grid Technology projects / programs
      3. Develop engagement strategies which are right sized to the scope of the project and comparable to impact expected for the group
      4. Mobilize efforts to commence stakeholder engagement

REPORTING – Coordinate efforts to summarize opportunities, pursuits, progress, and accomplishments for diverse parties

1. 1. Identify interested parties including regulatory bodies and leadership per project / program
   2. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and qualitative dimensions of interest to varying entities
   3. Assess progress and compile documentation as necessary in accordance with Entergy’s Capital Project Delivery Standard
   4. Develop methods, tools, techniques to compile data and insights for demonstrating progress 
   5. Coordinate efforts to understand root causes, challenges, roadblocks, and be prepared to address adhoc questions / concerns

Minimum Requirements

Minimum education required of the position

Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred (Engineering or related field) or equivalent work experience.

Minimum experience required of the position

10 years’ experience in utility business operations, project management and engineering, and technology. Work experience as business or team lead on strategic engineering projects. Experience with both existing and new distribution and transmission operating principles, systems, and equipment required.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required of the position

• Must exemplify strong safety and leadership practices
• Demonstrated exceptional leadership ability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; team player.
• Thorough understanding of grid automation and advanced metering procedures, programs, and standards.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to lead and manage multi-projects and workgroups simultaneously.
• Knowledge of Entergy electric system design and operations.
• Knowledge in establishing processes and procedures that meet regulatory and standards requirements.
• Ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse work group
• Strong ability to apply broad industry and commercial awareness to drive financial and operational performance.

Any certificates, licenses, etc. required for the position

PE certification desired but not required.

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Primary Location: Louisiana-New Orleans Louisiana : New Orleans || Arkansas : Little Rock || Louisiana : Baton Rouge || Mississippi : Jackson || Texas : The Woodlands 
Job Function: Professional
FLSA Status: Professional 
Relocation Option: Level I
Union description/code: NON BARGAINING UNIT 
Number of Openings: 1
Req ID: 114417
Travel Percentage:25% to 50%

An Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please click here to view the EEI page, or see statements below.

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Additional Responsibilities: As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Entergy Pay Transparency Policy Statement: The Entergy System of Companies (the Company) will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company’s legal duty to furnish information.  41 CFR 60-1.35(c). Equal Opportunity and Pay Transparency.

Pay Transparency Notice:

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (dol.gov)

The non-confidential portions of the affirmative action program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans shall be available for inspection upon request by any employee or applicant for employment.  Please contact HRCompliance@entergy.com to schedule a time to review the affirmative action plan during regular office hours.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Please note: Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition to employment in this position. Entergy will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.