POSITION PURPOSE

This position is a key leadership role in Energy Operations that is responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership to the New Services and Electric Distribution Engineering departments. The Electric Distribution Engineering Department oversees the capital improvements of MGE's Distribution System which consists of approximately 835 miles of overhead and 1,330 miles of underground primary electric distribution system. The New Services Department processes approximately 3,000 new electric and gas service requests per year, and another 500 relocation requests. These departments play a critical role in designing safe, reliable, and robust distribution systems that meet the evolving needs of our customers and communities, while embracing innovation and sustainability.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and manage New Services and Electric Distribution Engineering teams. Foster a collaborative, high-performing environment, and ensure each department functions cohesively toward common operational goals.

Electric Construction and Operations

• Provides technical and educational assistance to Electric Construction and Operations, and other Departments within MGE as needed.

Capital Improvement Planning

• Develop and implement a capital improvement plan for electrical system upgrades, expansions, and new customer services, ensuring cost-effectiveness, efficient resource allocation, and timely capital deployment in line with Company objectives and expectations.

Technology Integration

• Manage the integration of smart grid technologies to improve grid reliability, resilience, and efficiency.
• Integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar, wind, and battery storage into the distribution network effectively.
• Support the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) by implementing smart charging infrastructure.

Emergency Response

• Oversee emergency response deployment.  The position may require responding to electrical emergencies and outages outside of normal business hours. Also, employees in these Departments have large resource roles in MGE’s AHRP (All Hazards Response Plan).

Regulatory Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with all applicable codes, regulations, and industry standards (e.g., NESC, NEC, IEEE), where applicable to MGE’s electric distribution system and gas service installations.

COMPETENCIES

Leadership and Direction

• Communicates the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the team; explains the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision, and values; and motivates people to commit to these and to do extraordinary things to achieve business goals.

Process Improvement & Operational Efficiency 

• Identifies, develops, and implements operational best practices and process improvements across all areas of responsibility to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and maintain high-quality service.  Plans and prioritizes work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.

Develops Talent

• Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals. Emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, building new skills, and provides opportunities for career development. Provides coaching, development activities, and stretch assignments.

Strategic Mindset

• Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies. Knows what to prioritize for the greatest strategic impact on the organization. Takes industry and market trends into account in decisions. Explores possibilities that may impact the team or organization in the future.

Decision Quality

• Makes sound, timely decisions while empowering others to do the same. Seeks out a broad range of perspectives to solve problems. Ensures people adopt and adhere to expectations and accept full responsibility for their decisions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business administration, operations management, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in utility operations, with at least five years in a leadership or managerial role overseeing diverse utility operations and/or engineering functions.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

About MGE 

MGE generates and distributes electricity to 163,000 customers in Dane County, Wisconsin, and purchases and distributes natural gas to 176,000 customers in seven south-central and western Wisconsin counties. MGE is a regulated utility subsidiary of the investor-owned public utility holding company MGE Energy, Inc. MGE's roots in the Madison area date back more than 150 years.

An industry leader, MGE was among the first utilities nationwide to commit to net-zero carbon electricity by 2050, consistent with global climate science. Your community energy company is investing in a more sustainable future for the benefit of all our customers, investors, and employees. As your community energy company, we are committed to this area and its people. We take responsibility to: 

• Plan and provide a safe, reliable, and cost-effective energy supply that balances the needs and values of those we serve. 
• Provide information and education to serve our customers and stakeholders and help inform their energy decisions. 
• Preserve and protect our environment while providing affordable, reliable energy.
• Encourage and support economic and business development to keep our economy strong and vibrant. 
• Engage in open and honest dialogue, partnership, and collaboration to best serve our customers and the broader community.

Our Values 

• Safety: Safety is a core value at MGE. The safety of our employees, customers, and communities is our top priority. Our culture initiatives continuously improve our safety performance. MGE has earned numerous safety awards for this safety performance, including the AGA Leading Indicator Safety Award. 
• Reliability: We invest in our people and in our systems to help ensure top-ranked energy reliability that helps to maintain the economic health and vitality of the communities we serve. MGE is a national leader in electric reliability. 
• Sustainability: With a commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, we take a holistic and proactive approach to sustainable practices company-wide.
• Equity: We are committed to equity and inclusion in our service to our customers, in our workplace, and in our broader community, and we value diverse perspectives, ideas, cultures, and backgrounds.

MGE's parent company is MGE Energy, Inc., a public utility holding company. Its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market. For more information, visit mge.com and mgeenergy.com.

JOB LOCATION

The position is hybrid, and office days are in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, where MGE is an active participant in community efforts to preserve the area's extraordinary quality of life. We offer free, on-site parking and are located near biking trails and bus stops. Many employees enjoy the use of our many on-site EV charging stations.

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