Executive Director of Strategy & Projects

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location

This is a hybrid position (remote/onsite) with minimum required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to the Parnall Office located in Jackson, MI. The candidate must be within a commutable distance to the location or willing to relocate (relocation package is available to those who qualify).

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Executive Director of Strategy and Projects is responsible for developing and executing CMS Energy's strategy, as well as leading the strategic management and project teams. This role includes understanding and monitoring the strategic implications of changes in the company's business environment, providing internal strategic consulting to the senior executive team on high-priority assignments, and performing on-demand M&A analytics and due diligence. The Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Projects will benchmark market performance and industry intelligence and develop strategic initiatives to optimize performance and achieve strong P&L results by working directly with business leaders and stakeholders. This position is also responsible for overseeing the regulated strategic projects and innovation team to research, source, and create new customer offerings. Additionally, the Executive Director supports existing business unit growth strategies (CE, Enterprises, and ES Services) and creates new avenues for company growth. The role includes responsibility for regulatory outcomes specific to an assigned business unit, including rate case testimony, audit and discovery questions, and cross-examination.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Build relationships with utility industry strategy peers, and top industry analysts. Understand the strategic implications from the business environment scanning process and recommend CMS Energy strategy adjustments.
• Effectively lead the regulatory process for the regulated gas utility including relationship with Michigan Public Service Commission, Rates and Regulatory, Legal, Engineering and Operations.
• Effectively lead strategic projects and initiatives that have significant financial exposure including credit market expertise, future decarbonization technologies, agreement terms and conditions negotiations and township zoning and permitting development.
• Effectively lead a team through strong engagement, coaching, mentorship and collaboration.
• Effectively lead the Corporate Strategy and Strategic Projects teams including researching, sourcing, evaluating and executing new innovative regulated income sources. Manage overall project portfolio, ultimate approval/quality control, client satisfaction and team development.
• Stay abreast of the company's business environment via an analytically rigorous "signpost" and scenario analysis process.
• Manage CMS Energy's strategic planning process by enabling effective decision-making pertaining to company's long-term strategy including recommending changes to strategy, when applicable. Mobilize strategies across business units and partner with senior executive team to provide guidance for Financial Planning Process.
• Strategic consultation on high-priority assignments based on profitability and board directives at the direction of the senior executive team. Manage teams that partner with subject matter experts throughout the company to develop rich analytical insights and recommendations. Partner with senior executive team to arrive at clear and actionable strategy decisions.
• Perform other duties as assigned or as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience advising and guiding in a C-level executive environment.
• High degree of business acumen.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Driven to make a difference and comfortable with a high degree of organizational influence.
• Highly self-directed.
• Excellent diplomacy, negotiation, and organizational navigation skills.
• Ability to provide solutions and identify actions in highly complex and ambiguous environments.
• Solution-oriented and results-driven.
• Exceptional communication skills (written, oral, presentations, interpersonal).
• Astute strategist.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, supply chain or related field with a minimum of twelve (12) years of increasing levels of experience in leadership, business experience and/or executive level consulting.
• (OR) Associate's degree in business, finance, supply chain or related field with a minimum of fourteen (14) years of increasing levels of experience in leadership, business experience and/or executive level consulting.
• (OR) High school diploma with a minimum of sixteen (16) years of increasing levels of experience in leadership, business experience and/or executive level consulting.

#LI-JH1

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.