Director, Project Planning

Berkshire Hathaway Energy

$120K — $150K *
Energy & Utilities
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline; or 14 years of relevant work experience without a degree.
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in project development, planning, or capital program management.
  • Extensive knowledge of electric transmission and distribution systems, utility capital planning, and project development practices.
  • Proven leadership in strategic planning and financial acumen across business units.
  • Strong communication, analytical, decision-making, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and oversee front end project planning and readiness.
  • Lead front end planning of Transmission and Distribution projects with established standards for execution.
  • Direct early cost forecasting, risk planning, and schedule management.
  • Oversee permitting strategies and critical issues analysis before execution.
  • Provide portfolio level planning oversight for project prioritization and resource alignment.
  • Develop procurement strategies for contractors and manage contract processes prior to execution.
  • Build and manage the project planning team, ensuring effective coaching and career development.

Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
  • Paid time off and holidays for work-life balance.
  • Professional development opportunities and resources.
  • Employee assistance program for mental health and wellness.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Basic Purpose
Provides strategic leadership for the development and front end planning of Transmission and Distribution (T&D) projects. This position is responsible for advancing projects from concept through readiness for execution, ensuring alignment with system planning needs, regulatory requirements, business objectives, and long range capital plans. Leads cross functional teams to develop scope, cost, schedule, and risk plans to support timely and efficient delivery of T&D infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Develops and oversees front end project planning and readiness
Provides leadership and oversight for front end planning of Transmission and Distribution projects, establishing and enforcing standards for project charters, execution plans, division of responsibilities (DOR), and governance for overall project-readiness prior to execution.

Directs early cost, schedule, forecasting, and risk planning
Directs project planning controls during the front end phase, including development of credible cost estimates, budgets, forecasts, resource loaded and risk adjusted schedules, and formal risk registers to ensure projects enter execution with durable baselines and reliable forecasts.

Directs permitting and critical issues analysis and planning
Oversees early permitting strategies, critical-issues analysis, and coordination to mitigate regulatory, entitlement, and schedule risks before execution begins. Drives engineering planning activities required for permitting to meet execution and schedule requirements.

Provides portfolio level planning and oversight
Provides planning oversight across the T&D project portfolio, supporting project prioritization, sequencing, and resource alignment prior to execution.

Develops procurement and contracting strategies
Develops and directs early procurement strategies for contractors (OE, EPC etc.) and long lead equipment and materials. Implements contracting strategies, including development and standardization of technical and engineering specifications and project scoping in coordination with engineering and supply chain, to support cost and schedule performance.

Oversees engineering and technical planning readiness
Oversight of engineering planning activities to ensure technical readiness, constructability, system coordination, and alignment with execution strategies and procurement plans.

Builds, develops, and manages the project planning team
Builds, develops, and manages a project planning team, including assigning work, setting priorities, coaching team members, conducting performance reviews, supporting career development, and coordinating with internal human resource functions to ensure organizational effectiveness.

Ensures all compliance aspects of position are known and followed; understands and complies with all policies, codes and regulations applicable to position and company.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Essential Education, Skills, and Environment
Education and Work Experience
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline from an accredited school, and 10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in project development, planning, or capital program management.

Candidates that do not possess a bachelor's degree must have a minimum of 14 years of related work experience.

Specialized Knowledge and Skills
Demonstrated knowledge of:
• Electric transmission and distribution systems, utility capital planning, and project development practices.
• Strong leadership, strategic planning, and financial acumen.
• Proven ability to lead cross functional teams and influence outcomes across multiple business units.
• Excellent communication, analytical, decision making, and interpersonal skills.
• Utility business and industry practices.
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations
• Public Utility Commission regulations
• Federal Permitting regulations

Demonstrated skills such as:
• Strategic planning
• Ability to develop effective relationships.
• Excellent negotiation, critical thinking, project management, communication, decision making, presentation, human relations, and organization skills.

Equipment and Applications
PCs, word processing, spreadsheet and database software.

Work Environment and Physical Demands
General office environment. No special physical demands required.

Note: Immigration Sponsorship
At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but is NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For more information regarding work visas, please visit www.uscis.gov.

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