FirstEnergy – Director Economic Development

• Director of Economic Development
• Akron, OH (Hybrid)
• Filing Deadline: Open until filled

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. [FEU]

This Director position is within the Customer Engagement group, and reports to the VP, Customer Engagement.  It can be located at any FE location.

This position will be classified as a hybrid role.

This position is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the Economic Development Department which exists within the Customer Engagement organization. The Director and team are accountable to achieve bottom line revenue impact targets attributable to the Economic Development program. This senior position leads, promotes, and acts with a high degree of integrity, honesty, and credibility when representing FirstEnergy. The Director will invigorate and focus our company’s efforts on attracting new revenue and investment within our service territory.  This role requires the Director to lead the economic and business development efforts of the company to attract traded sector capital investment into our service territory.

FirstEnergy intends that this position executes a strategic effort currently underway to reestablish this program of work as a premier utility-based economic and business development team.

Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for existing and future business opportunities through customer growth in our territory
• Responsible for evaluating and establishing organizational goals, policies, plans, forecasts, standards, performance objectives and budgets; operating and financial objectives and budgets; managing resources; ensuring the execution of plans as well as updating and adapting, as necessary.
• Evaluating current metrics and make recommendations to leadership on a shared understanding of the financial results of the company’s economic and business development efforts.
• Developing department work plans to generate business leads and capital investment in our service territory in Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
• Serving as a key resource to leadership in Customer Engagement, Operations, External Affairs, Legal and other key organizations.
• Manage and provide timely response to requests for information from companies, site selectors and economic development organizations regarding new and expanding capital investment within the FirstEnergy service territory.
• Provide representation to strategically important economic development boards and supporting the overall economic development efforts for FirstEnergy, including FE employee involvement on economic development organization boards.
• Build trusting, supportive relationships with all FirstEnergy departments operating within the assigned territory and act as a key company representative while working with all customers and constituents to ensure the highest level of customer service and satisfaction.
• Identifying and resolving problems before they become key issues.
• Leading the team to proactively identify and manage relationships with state, regional and local development organizations.
• As a thought leader in the field of economic development, bring new concepts and ideas to FirstEnergy and our economic and business development organizations we support.
• Promoting DEI and growth and opportunity for all within our service territory.
• Actively seeking and sharing knowledge of industry trends, competitors, etc., that affect FirstEnergy.
• Assuming other duties and special assignments as necessary, including assisting in storm duty.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Marketing, or similar discipline required.
  • MBA or advanced degree is preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years relevant work experience with emphasis on demonstrated problem-solving skills and customer service is required.
  • Additionally, direct experience in development and execution of an economic development strategy
• Certified Economic Development Professional preferred.
• Experience and proficiency operating contact relationship management and GIS systems.
• Exceptional relationship management, leadership, and teamwork skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of electric utility operations and business practices preferred
  • Will create and execute sound business plans to support strategic plans.
• Demonstrated ability to function with minimum direction using a broad range of discretion to meet strategic objectives.
• Proficiency in utilizing Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, MS Dynamics) as well as GIS systems.
•  Outstanding public relations skills able to attend meetings and events before and after normal working hours, including weekends is required; Able to work extended hours, particularly during storms, with little notice is required.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification
Exempt

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team

For more information or to apply for his position, visit https://careers.firstenergycorp.com/#en/sites/FirstEnergyCareers/job/101354?mode=location.