Mgr Program Management- Commercial Development

Job Summary

The Manager, Program Management – Commercial Development is responsible for leading a team that manages strategic programs and projects supporting utility infrastructure development for large-load commercial customers, with a primary focus on data centers, hyperscale campuses, advanced manufacturing, clean energy projects, and other high-growth economic development opportunities. This role serves as a key link between customer development activities and utility system planning, ensuring commercial opportunities are successfully evaluated, planned, and delivered while maintaining reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term system objectives.

Essential Functions

• Lead the day-to-day program management function supporting commercial development initiatives for large-load customers, including data centers, hyperscale developments, advanced manufacturing facilities, clean energy hubs, and other high-energy-demand projects.
• Oversee the planning, execution, governance, and delivery of programs and projects related to utility infrastructure expansion, customer interconnections, and electric and gas system development.
• Partner with economic development, account management, engineering, system planning, regulatory, and construction teams to evaluate and advance customer growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure projects align with utility objectives, customer requirements, permitting considerations, and system capabilities.
• Guide project teams through the entire project lifecycle, including feasibility analysis, load forecasting, system impact assessments, permitting, engineering design, construction, energization, and project closeout.
• Monitor and report program performance, key milestones, KPIs, and portfolio health to leadership teams, ensuring accountability and transparency.
• Support portfolio management efforts to prioritize commercial opportunities and balance near-term customer needs with long-term utility system planning strategies.
• Identify and implement best practices that improve program governance, project execution, stakeholder communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Develop executive-level presentations, business cases, and strategic communications for senior leadership, executive committees, and board-level stakeholders.
• Prepare materials and updates for regulatory agencies, community stakeholders, and leadership teams as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, Energy Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience supporting utility infrastructure projects, commercial development, large-load customer programs, data center development, energy delivery, or electric/gas system planning.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional programs involving utility infrastructure, customer interconnections, transmission/distribution upgrades, or large-scale capital projects.
• Experience working with or supporting data center, hyperscale, advanced manufacturing, or other energy-intensive customer developments.
• Strong understanding of electric and/or gas utility operations, system planning, regulatory environments, and customer development processes.
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen and a systems-level perspective.
• Technical understanding of utility infrastructure planning, capacity assessments, and project development processes.
• Demonstrated change leadership, organizational agility, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong experience developing and delivering presentations and business recommendations to Senior Executive Leadership and Board-level audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), Project Management, Energy Management, or a related field.
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent program/project management certification.
• Experience supporting utility service to hyperscale data centers, cloud service providers, industrial load growth, or large economic development projects.
• Knowledge of transmission and distribution planning, interconnection processes, load forecasting, and utility infrastructure investment planning.
• Experience working across utility commercial development, economic development, customer solutions, or strategic growth organizations.