Distribution Lighting Design, Lead

Lead Distribution Lighting Designer overseeing and coordinating contract lighting design execution, serving as the primary owner of external designer work. Ensures designs are accurate, build-ready, compliant with standards, and delivered on schedule to minimize field rework and support reliable construction outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary owner of lighting design work performed by external contract designers.
• Clearly define scope, assumptions, and deliverables for contracted lighting design packages.
• Coordinate with sourcing, project delivery, and work management to align contract design output with construction needs.
• Review and approve lighting design packages produced by contractors to ensure compliance with approved standards and customer requirements.
• Act as a quality gate prior to design release, reducing RFIs, change orders, and field rework.
• Incorporate field feedback and as-built learnings into contractor guidance and future work packages.
• Monitor contractor performance against cycle time, quality, and backlog targets.
• Balance work allocation across contract design firms to meet demand and delivery commitments.
• Escalate capacity constraints, quality issues, or schedule risks to the Design Oversight Manager.
• Provide day-to-day technical clarification to contract designers within established standards, as well as approving technical design (depending on approval thresholds).
• Serve as first point of escalation for contractor questions and minor design corrections.
• Partner with the Chief Engineer and Design Manager to resolve standards interpretation or exception requests.
• Approve lighting projects before release for construction execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant work experience.
• 2-3 years of experience in the utility industry or relevant work experience.

Skills

• Demonstrated exceptional leadership ability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; team player.
• Experience in managing/executing capital and/or O&M projects.
• Thorough understanding of procedures, programs, and standards.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multi-projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of utility electric system design and operations.
• Knowledge of budgets, financial procedures, and property accounting.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate and express self well in groups and one-on-one conversations.
• The ability to communicate technical subject matters to less technical stakeholders.
• The ability to influence others with or without direct authority.
• Strong problem-solving capability, including critical thinking and questioning attitude.
• Understanding of Change Management and Configuration Management principles and the ability to apply those principles to technology implementation.
• Skills necessary to manage projects on schedule, within scope, and within financial targets and report progress.
• Strong conflict resolution skills.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in analytical tools including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project.
• General understanding of distribution operations’ processes and systems.
• Knowledge and experience of Entergy Contractor management requirements and processes desirable.
• Knowledge of Entergy’s Safety Standards and Safe Work Practices desirable.
• Working knowledge of Entergy safe work rules associated with the installation and maintenance of lighting products.
• Ability to perform quality engagement with internal and external field personnel.

Other Attributes

• Functional Knowledge: Working knowledge of Entergy safe work rules for lighting product installation and maintenance.
• Business Expertise: Ability to manage budgets associated with lighting maintenance and repair.
• Problem Solving: Applies understanding of team relations to improve efficiency of own sub-function/business unit.
• Impact: Guided by functional strategy, impacts results of part of a function, division, or region or facilitates work done by other functions.
• Interpersonal Skills: Negotiates and influences opinions within the business unit and external organizations; exercises sensitivity to the audience.

Working Conditions

• As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects employees to be available to work additional hours, alternate locations, and perform additional duties during storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations.
• Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.
• This position is designated as a Safety Sensitive position and is subject to mandatory pre-employment and random drug testing.
• Travel percentage: 25% to 50%.

Primary location: Arkansas - Little Rock.