Director, Continuous Improvement

First Energy 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.

First Energy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, First Energy 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 First Energy Service Company, a subsidiary of First Energy Corp.

First Energy takes a market-based approach to pay, which may vary depending on your location. In addition, your actual base salary will depend on various factors such as your skills, qualifications, and experience. The estimated pay range for this role is $147,050 - $173,000. The pay range for certain locations, including the state of New Jersey, includes a 20% differential to account for an increased cost of living, making the pay ranges $176,460 - $207,600.

First Energy is dedicated to safety, reliability, and operational excellence. We are seeking a dynamic and results-oriented leader to drive enterprise-wide transformation and continuous improvement.

The Director, Continuous Improvement reports to the VP, Continuous Improvement and can be located at our First Energy Headquarters in Akron, OH. Travel to various work locations across the territory will be required on an as-needed basis. The Continuous Improvement (CI) Director is a strategic leader responsible for helping the business achieve their annual operational and financial targets by steering initiatives that will optimize processes, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs.

This role involves analyzing current operations, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing solutions by leveraging automation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. This position is also responsible for developing and maintaining metrics to track progress and ensure sustainable change. The Director will work across various departments to foster a culture of innovation and efficiency within the organization.

• Develop and execute continuous improvement strategies aligned with the organization's goals.
• Establish and maintain healthy relationships with business unit leaders, gaining an understanding of their operational and financial targets and pain points in achieving those targets.
• Steer cross-functional teams that will identify and analyze improvement opportunities and then conduct root cause analysis to develop targeted solutions.
• Oversee data analysis to assess current and future processes and measure performance.
• Direct improvement projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget.
• Support the team by helping identify and overcome technical and organizational obstacles to leading change management.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment, successful implementation, and sustainability of improvements.
• Monitor and report on the progress of improvement projects, highlighting achievements and areas for further development.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the impact of improvement initiatives.
• Function as a change agent, promoting a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Provide strategic oversight of workshops and training sessions on continuous improvement methodologies.
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to teams on improvement tools and techniques.
• Mentor and lead CI team members to grow their technical and analytical skills in areas surrounding root cause analysis, automation, custom applications, and artificial intelligence.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, engineering, or a related field required.
• A minimum of 10 years’ related work experience is required. Related work experience includes continuous improvement, process optimization,…