Lighting Specialist

Important Application Submission Information

In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Thursday, October 8, 2026 More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives.

Build an exciting, rewarding career with us - help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

The locations for this position are Gastonia, Hickory, or Shelby, North Carolina. This person must reside within the service territory of the region they serve.

Job Summary:

This position is responsible and accountable for direct oversight and execution of lighting construction and maintenance activities. Ensures the adherence to safe work practices, construction standards, work methods and procedures. Position serves as single point of contact for all lighting construction crew utilization with a focus on improving overall job costs, quality and timeliness through work planning, job execution, inspection process, audits, crew productivity, site and dependency management, job design review, required material, time and equipment management. Support customer satisfaction efforts by collaboration with local company and contractor management, peers and peer organizations to meet customer commitment dates.

Responsibilities:

Responsible and accountable for managing job readiness, maximizing crew productivity and adherence to the work plan

• Ensure the safe and efficient utilization of construction resources to meet the work plan. This positions works to ensure customer needs are met while working with internal partners.
• Accountable/Responsible for the contractor crews managing and executing an assigned 2 week work schedule as detailed in the work flow process.
• Accountable/responsible for job readiness checks working with appropriate contractor field leadership and crews.
• Document any anomalies in the work plan, and then actively managing this block of work while communicating with Resource Management to correct or resolve issues impacting the work plan.
• Monitor progress of work orders assigned to resources under the control of this position.
• Perform crew safety, productivity and quality assessments, job reviews and provide Work Orders field statuses...etc.
• Work with appropriate organization(s) to support process improvement (Zone Operations, R&PM, Engineering, Contractor Management, Supply chain...etc).
• The Construction Specialist will also partner at times with the CM Specialist and Contractor Specialists within their geographic area of responsibility as contractor resource support is needed for emergent work (i.e., restoration, post storm sweeps, etc.). The Lighting Construction Specialist will be the primary contact for any lighting contractor resource request(s) for local support to a CM Operations Center.

Adjusts, assigns and executes contractor construction, maintenance and restoration activities

• Provide feedback to the Scheduler, or appropriate parties, on rescheduling reasons; including, any work plan adherence variations, or emerging issues that will result in carry-over work or unfinished tasks in a timely manner.
• Monitor and report on the construction crew work status.
• Monitor daily crew complements.
• Arranges any equipment and material needs.
• Adjust estimated man-hours as appropriate to complete work requests.
• Ensures construction crews have appropriate job specific information for each work request or order. Secures the pertinent job information (work requests, work orders, drawings, and material list).
• Monitor and adjust scheduled work and resources as needed to meet organizational expectations.
• Keep Scheduler abreast of construction resource reassignments for emergent work that impacts the scheduled work plan while working in tandem with the CM specialist on work plan updates.
• Attend weekly and monthly communication meetings in addition to daily communications with Scheduler and CM Specialist as needed.
• Manage and adjust dependency opportunities to ensure the crew has no roadblocks to starting the job when they arrive on site.
• Provides support and oversight for Switching and tagging requirements
• Reduce/eliminate re-work and contract warranty claims.
• Direct and coordinate lighting construction resources supporting zone operations for restoration activities during minor and mid-level events.
• Serve in leadership positions supporting zone operations during after hours storm response.
• Lead and direct native and off system contractors supporting zone operations during storm restoration.
• Provide initial safety direction and orientation for off system contractors during major events.

Monitors crew productivity, process and standards adherence, and work request status

• Accountable/responsible to notify the Lighting Designer when construction crews have completed work in the field on Lighting Construction or Upgrade projects.
• Meet regularly with contractor management to evaluate and report on their safety and work performance, as well as other notable field observations.
• Inspect, monitor and audit contractor safety and work quality.
• Ensure notification and timely documentation of Preliminary Incident Report (PIR) process including follow up.
• Ensure that all aspects of contractors incorporate safe work practices by working with the contractor to address safety audit findings.
• Complete field inspections as required for continual improvement efforts regarding safety, work and process efficiencies, and quality of documentation.
• Promote Safety and Human Performance (HP) fundamentals and execute action plans to ensure documented improvements and recommendations are completed in a timely manner.
• Manage adjustments to unit contract work in relation to time and equipment (T&E) add ons utilizing approved T&E process.
• Effectively manage all T&E work to validate charging for personnel, equipment and work listed on contractor time sheets.
• Ensure all work is completed safely, on schedule, and in accordance with approved specifications.

Builds relationships and communicates with customers, builders, developers, electricians, and other area utilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with both internal partners and external customers, including but not limited to, the following positions: Schedulers, CM Specialist, CM Supervisors, Planners, Engineers, CM Contractor Specialists, Builders, Developers, Electricians, other utilities, and governmental interfaces.
• Partner with the Scheduler and Manager of Lighting Construction to ensure effective execution of the work plan from the 4 week horizon throughout completion.
• The Contractor Specialist and Scheduler will work as a unified team to deliver a safe work plan whereby the crews can complete the tasks as intended.
• Promotes coordination with other entities to meet internal requirements and external requests.
• Resolve disputes between external parties and Duke Energy Co.

Resolves contractor related customer issues and supports claims resolution

• Conducts and assists in the investigation and resolution of elevated complaints/claims associated with contractors and their performance.
• Resolve practical issues, interpret instructions, and perform tasks to resolve problems as they pertain to contractor related issues.

Basic/Required Qualifications:

• High School/GED
• 3 years minimum of related work experience

Desired Qualifications:

• Possesses strong Distribution C&M experience (6 years)
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Distribution Safe Work Practices
• Possesses in-depth knowledge of Distribution design and quality standards
• Possesses an exceptional personal safety record
• Demonstrated effective leadership skills
• Possesses excellent Distribution C&M experience (8 years)
• Demonstrated effective communication skills (oral and written)
• Demonstrated ability to be self-directed
• Possesses satisfactory work availability, during and after work hours
• Demonstrated effective influencing skills
• Demonstrated good interpersonal skills
• Possesses experience in multiple roles in Distribution
• Demonstrated excellent knowledge of Distribution design and quality standards
• Demonstrated good computer skills - knowledge of Distribution computer systems, Outlook and Microsoft Office products
• Demonstrated ability to achieve team results through others
• Demonstrated experience in effectively handling of contract performance issues

Working Conditions:

• Field Mobility Classification - Work location is highly mobile, working at various facilities or field locations with occasional onsite meetings after the onboarding period. Employee must live within a reasonable commute to the posted reporting location, not greater than 50 miles one way.

Specific Requirements

• Valid drivers' license

Travel Requirements

15-25% Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)No Represented/Union PositionNo Visa Sponsored PositionNo. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.
Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.

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