Transmission Planning Program Manager - Transmission Planning & Protection

About the Opportunity

The Transmission Planning Program Manager leads the development of early-stage transmission projects that support large load interconnections, transmission reliability initiatives (Energize365), PJM RTEP planning, and other strategic programs and initiatives.

This role serves as Transmission Planning’s single point of contact for large-load customers, helping align customer load growth plans, schedules, reliability needs, and business objectives with FirstEnergy’s long-term transmission strategy.

The Program Manager administers the transition of the transmission planning study results into clearly defined conceptual projects by coordinating scope, cost, schedule, risks, key assumptions, and customer expectations so projects can advance into the capital portfolio and execution process.

The position partners closely with Transmission Planning, Economic Development, Customer Accounts, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Transmission Operations, Transmission Engineering, customers, and other stakeholders to ensure conceptual projects are developed with transparency, accuracy, and expectations are aligned.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Transmission Planning’s single point of contact for large-load customers, aligning customer needs, schedules, reliability requirements, and expectations.

• Coordinate technical discussions between customers, Transmission Planning, and internal stakeholders to support timely and informed decision-making.

• Facilitate development of near-term and long-term transmission plans to accommodate load growth, reliability needs, and strategic system development.

• Oversee evaluation of alternative system configurations, phased development options, feasibility, project justification, and recommended solutions.

• Define early-stage project objectives, scope, risks, constraints, conceptual cost ranges, high-level schedules, and resource assumptions.

• Manage and support multi-year Energize365 and other strategic conceptual project portfolios aligned with FirstEnergy transmission priorities.

• Partner with Portfolio Management and the Transmission Capital Portfolio Team to integrate conceptual projects into the 10-year capital portfolio.

• Coordinate with project teams, stakeholder engagement, status updates, executive communications, and conceptual project recommendations.

• Support PJM RTEP submissions, planning assessments, reliability reporting, regulatory filings, rate cases, and compliance with FirstEnergy Standards of Conduct, FERC requirements, and PJM protocols.

• Manage and support strategic initiatives with industry groups and external organizations such as EPRI, NATF, DOE, and vendors.

• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned, standardized reporting, tools, templates, and methodologies. 

Qualifications Include

• Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Finance or equivalent preferred or closely related degree such as Construction Management or Project Management from an ABET accredited institution. Acceptable alternatives for Engineering degrees are: (1) a Professional Engineer’s (PE) License (2) a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Finance or equivalent preferred or closely related degree (non-ABET) plus an advanced degree in an equivalent or closely related degree from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor’s program. In lieu of a degree, a minimum of five years of related experience is required. Related experience on transmission facilities may include project management, maintenance, or construction. 
• A Transmission Planning Program Manager III level will require a minimum of three (3) years of program manager/project management or equivalent experience is required. 
• A Transmission Planning Program Manager IV level will require a minimum of five (5) years of program manager/project management or equivalent experience is required. 
• An employee hired at the Transmission Program Manager V level will be expected to have at least eight (8) years of program manager/project management or equivalent experience and perform all of the above responsibilities with more proficiency in a more independent manner. Further, the Transmission Program Manager V level employee will be considered a Subject Matter Expert.   
• Related experience includes transmission planning, engineering, project management, portfolio management, project controls, and cost estimating.
• Strong project management skills are required with a demonstrated ability to develop, manage, and control multiple conceptual projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated experience in accomplishing responsibilities in a timely manner through maximizing organizational resources, financial decision making and employing logical engineering approaches.
• Demonstrated abilities of effective analytical and reasoning capabilities, refined oral and written communication skills, including ability to effectively structure and confidently present information to peers, TPP management and executive leadership.
• Knowledge of the transmission planning processes, transmission system, reliability standards and regional transmission organizations is preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), OPPM, Primavera is preferred.
• Demonstrate familiarity with PJM, RFC and NERC practices, procedures and requirements in the areas of transmission planning.
• Must adhere to FirstEnergy's Standards of Conduct and FERC compliance obligations.
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, with multiple departments in multiple locations.
• Travel as required to support business needs.

Safety

Safety is a core value at FirstEnergy. Every employee is expected to perform their duties in a manner that promotes the safety of themselves, coworkers, customers, and the public. Project Managers must ensure conceptual project plans incorporate safe construction practices, outage considerations, and operational impacts.