ISP Electric Distribution Planning Manager

Exciting Job Opportunity At Xcel Energy

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you're looking for.

Position Summary

Leads a team responsible for long range, cross commodity planning of the natural gas and electric distribution systems within Integrated System Planning (ISP). Leads the tactical execution and delivery of forward looking, integrated system plans that extend beyond the near-term operational horizon and support jurisdictional and corporate business objectives, including the Company's Net Zero vision. The manager coordinates technical inputs across ISP functions, the operating Company, Regulatory, Electric and Gas Operations, and other planning groups to ensure consistent assumptions, aligned methodologies, and synchronized regulatory filings. The role synthesizes complex analytical work to deliver clear planning insights and recommendations that support internal decision making and long-range investment strategies. The Manager fosters a collaborative, high performance team environment grounded in analytical rigor and cross functional partnership.

Essential Responsibilities

• Long Range Gas & Electric Distribution Planning Manage key workstreams that support long?range planning for the gas and electric distribution systems. Contribute analyses that identify future system needs, risks, and opportunities, and ensure planning inputs align with broader ISP frameworks.
• Integrated Solutions Analysis Oversee analytical activities evaluating integrated gaselectric solutions, including impacts from load growth, customer behavior, reinforcement needs, and gas?supply considerations. Develop comparative assessments of infrastructure and non?infrastructure alternatives in collaboration with partner teams.
• Advance Grid of the Future & Cross Commodity Strategy Provide analytical and stakeholder support for Grid of the Future initiatives by evaluating electrification trends, DER impacts, gas system evolution, clean fuels, and emerging technologies. Translate findings into actionable planning insights for leadership.
• Strategic Planning Scenarios & Jurisdictional Plans Lead the development of planning scenarios aligned with enterprise ISP frameworks. Supports the jurisdiction by adapting analyses to jurisdiction?specific regulatory requirements while ensuring consistency with enterprise planning assumptions.
• Long Range Growth Analysis Manage and inform long?range growth assessments related to customer demand, electrification, large customer requests, and regional development. Identify early infrastructure needs and propose proactive planning approaches.
• Non-Traditional Solutions Strategy Serve as a champion for the evaluation and facilitation of non?traditional solutions, including non?wires and non?pipeline alternatives, targeted demand areas, and DER?enabled solutions. Conduct market and technical analyses and support related procurement or solicitations.
• Forecast Integration & Regulatory Synchronization Ensure forecasting inputs, planning assumptions, and methodologies are consistent across gas planning, electric distribution planning, resource planning, transmission, and finance (where practicable). Support development of synchronized regulatory filings and planning narratives.
• Coordinate with ISP jurisdictional counterparts - Facilitate alignment of planning approaches, methodologies, and assumptions across jurisdictions. Support shared learning and consistency in long?range distribution planning.
• Organizational Effectiveness & Leadership Lead and support a high?performing team, fostering analytical rigor, cross?functional collaboration, and a culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Math/Finance, or related field.
• 5-7 years of experience in electric distribution system planning, gas system planning or non-traditional solution development or planning.
• Demonstrated success in a supervisory or lead role overseeing complex technical projects and relationships.
• Strong relationship building abilities and partnership skills, including the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization and achieve results with a largely virtual and distributed team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize data and develop recommendations for senior leaders.
• Strong problem-solving ability: both business and technical.

Preferred Requirements

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Math/Finance, or related field.
• Experience providing expert witness testimony in a regulated utility.
• Experience with planning methods in gas and electric distribution areas.
• Demonstrated success creating the practical from the conceptual.
• Experience developing long-term plans and strategy based in engineering analysis, such as multi-value planning activities.
• Experience with optimization methods.

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you're ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.