Transmission Practice Leader

The Transmission Practice Leader provides strategic and operational leadership for an organization responsible for executing highly complex transmission projects and multi-project programs while delivering superior client satisfaction. This role guides multiple project teams and Project Managers to achieve cohesive, client-centric outcomes; ensures effective coordination among clients, utilities, regulatory agencies, and multidisciplinary stakeholders; balances competing priorities; and drives strong technical, operational, and financial performance. The Practice Leader directs the growth of the practice and its capabilities to address expanding transmission needs driven by accelerated load growth, large-load development, generation interconnections, aging infrastructure, congestion, and evolving reliability and resiliency requirements

Join us as we Rise to the Challenge

At KCI, we’re building an enduring community that provides unparalleled value to our employee-owners. We make our mark designing and delivering our world-class solutions, so we invest deeply in supporting and developing our team. We reward integrity and commitment, and when we do well, you do well. Our employees have the freedom to innovate, unlimited growth, a voice that matters, a lifestyle that works, and skin in the game. Achievements are shared and celebrated. As a team, we are motivated to better ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

THE COMPANY

KCI Technologies, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned engineering, consulting and construction firm serving clients throughout the United States. KCI is recognized as an industry leader, employing cutting-edge technologies, management practices and strategic growth initiatives. Employee ownership fosters an entrepreneurial spirit, encourages technical expertise, and shapes strategic planning.

KCI is currently ranked #56 on Engineering News-Record’s list of the Top 500 design firms in the nation.

KCI BENEFITS INFORMATION

We offer a competitive compensation package, family friendly benefits, a collaborative working environment, and the training, mentoring and resources you need to advance in your career.

We understand that you have choices, and we know that together we will make a great team!

KCI is committed to building a diverse and inclusive staff, and we encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

KCI Technologies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Duties, Responsibilities & Other

The Transmission Practice Leader possesses strong leadership and interpersonal skills, deep organizational and business acumen, and the ability to guide high-stakes projects from inception through delivery. This individual plays a pivotal role in financial management, business and account development, marketing, collaboration, workforce planning, mentoring, and staff development. The Practice Leader recruits, develops, and retains talented professionals while building an engaged, accountable, and high-performing team that consistently delivers high-quality, safe, constructible, and cost-effective transmission solutions in support of client needs and the strategic objectives of the Energy Sector.

Key Technical Skills Required:

• Extensive knowledge of overhead and underground transmission engineering, design, and construction principles for systems ranging from 69 kV through 500 kV.
• Strong understanding of regional and interregional transmission needs, including accelerated load growth, transmission congestion, transfer-capacity limitations, aging infrastructure, resource adequacy, and changing generation locations and technologies.
• Advanced proficiency in transmission engineering and analysis software, including the PLS-CADD software suite, MFAD, LPILE, and related tools, with the ability to establish best practices and train and mentor others.
• Comprehensive knowledge of applicable engineering codes and standards, including NESC, IEC, ASCE, ACI, IEEE, ANSI, and client-specific utility requirements.
• Strong working knowledge of transmission structure and foundation design, geotechnical considerations, constructability, and construction methods.
• Demonstrated ability to independently review and approve engineering calculations, design drawings, specifications, and transmission-line models developed using PLS-CADD and related software.
• Demonstrated proficiency in preparing and reviewing client-specific technical reports, design criteria, studies, specifications, and construction documents for transmission engineering projects.
• Experience conducting or overseeing electric and magnetic field (EMF) studies and related transmission-line analyses.
• Strong knowledge of grid interconnection requirements and the transmission improvements associated with generation interconnections, large-load development, capacity expansion, reliability, and resiliency needs.
• Demonstrated experience developing and coordinating permitting packages and technical documentation for applicable federal, state, and local agencies, including DOT, DEP, FAA, and other authorities having jurisdiction.
• Experience evaluating and implementing transmission expansion and modernization solutions, including new facilities, rebuilds, uprating, reconductoring, advanced conductors, and grid-enhancing technologies, with consideration of system benefits, constructability, permitting, schedule, and lifecycle cost

Leadership and Management:

• Provide leadership and guidance to Project Managers (PMs) and Senior Project Managers (Sr. PMs), and staff within the practice.
• Support the professional growth and development of Sr. PMs, PMs, and staff. Provide technical project and staff oversight.
• Assume responsibility for the business within the practice, focusing on achieving budgeted margins, project health, and effective cash management across collective projects.
• Collaborate closely with other Practice Leaders to share best practices and optimize collective success.
• Hire and manage work routine of all assigned staff and assign job activities as required.
• Track and coordinate practice performance results.
• Provide project and client leads to other practice leaders to grow their practices.
• Serve as project manager on select projects.
• Assume responsibility that all projects within practice follow the quality control procedures outlined in the approved Quality Control Manual for the specific Practice.
• Works within the specific Practice and all internal agents to improve quality and production key performance indicators (KPIs) scores relative to similar internal organizations and establish KCI as a top 25% performer bench marked to its external peers.

Recruitment, Retention, and Professional Development:

• Lead recruiting and retention efforts to attract and retain top talent within the practice.
• Develop and deliver timely annual employee performance appraisals for assigned staff.
• Mentor staff, leading in their training and development.

Financial Management:

• Lead negotiations of contract terms, scopes, and fees with clients/subconsultants.
• Lead project schedule development from inception to completion for projects with Practice.
• Develop monthly progress reports and invoices for projects.
• Prepare monthly staff utilization plans.
• Operate within specified corporate or project budget parameters. Manage project administration in accordance with internal and contract specific requirements and forward to the Regional Director and operations manager.
• Provide monthly cash management (WIP/AR) comments to Finance and the Project Management Office.
• Provide weekly new project budget data and invoicing data to project analysts.

Business Development and Marketing:

• Drive business development initiatives by maximizing opportunities with existing and new clients, gathering valuable insights for business planning purposes, and cross-selling other KCI services where applicable.
• Lead project opportunity evaluation, consultant selection, and the preparation of qualification/experience statements within Practice.
• Lead identification of new business opportunities, coordinating and participating in project presentations to clients and other external groups, developing and organizing proposal teams and promoting KCI’s capabilities among existing and prospective clients within Practice.

Client Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain customer relationships by soliciting performance feedback, identifying client needs, and positioning the firm to be assigned the next project.
• Provide input for the annual business development plan to achieve sales target to the Regional Director.
• Provide and review annual market research in preparation for annual business plan development.
• Provide market trends to the Regional Director and Discipline Director for strategic planning purposes.

Compliance and Reporting:

• Comply with all KCI policies and procedures.
• Ensure practice fulfills Quality Management System compliance requirements.
• Participate and contribute to annual leadership meeting.
• Participate in and contribute to applicable regional office forums.
• Represent KCI in technical/industry and community organizations.

Safety and Project Management:

• Develop project specific safety plans as needed. Ensure compliance with all Federal, state, and local safety rules and regulations.
• Deliver all projects on time, within budget and at a high level of quality while fully meeting the scope.
• Monitor effective use of equipment and personnel.

* Essential Duties and Responsibilities are the basic job functions that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Qualifications

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field (AEC Industry) and minimum of 7 years of related professional experience, or 11 years of equivalent professional experience.
• Progressive professional and increasing project management and organizational management experience.
• Proven experience in project management roles within the technical practice.
• Demonstrated leadership capability to build and lead teams of technical practitioners and/or project managers.
• Strong interpersonal as well as verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage budgets, project margins, and cash flow.
• Experience in business development, with a focus on maximizing client relationships and identifying growth opportunities.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence within the Practice.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions.
• Adaptability and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in relevant software and tools use in the practice area.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards related to the service line.

Education and/or Work Experience Preferred:

• Advanced degree in engineering, business administration, engineering management, or a related field.
• Established relationships with investor-owned utilities, public power entities, cooperatives, transmission developers, and other energy-industry clients across multiple geographic markets
• Demonstrated success developing and executing a transmission practice growth strategy, including entering new markets, expanding service offerings, building backlog, and achieving sustained revenue and profitability goals.
• Experience leading large, complex, or multiyear transmission programs involving multiple projects, offices, disciplines, subconsultants, and utility stakeholders.
• Familiarity with regional and interregional transmission planning, RTO/ISO processes, generation and large-load interconnections, and infrastructure needs associated with accelerated load growth.
• Experience with alternative project-delivery methods, program management, owner’s engineering, engineering-procurement-construction support, or engineer-of-record services.
• Active participation or leadership in relevant professional and industry organizations, such as IEEE, CIGRE, EEI, EPRI, ASCE, or regional utility associations.
• Experience delivering new transmission lines, rebuilds, capacity upgrades, reconductoring, or infrastructure-modernization projects driven by load growth, generation interconnections, congestion, aging assets, and reliability or resiliency needs.

Certificates, licenses, and/or Registrations Required:

• Successful completion of the KCI PM Training and Contract Training for current employees) or ability to complete within six months (for new hires.)

Certificates, licenses, and/or Registrations Preferred:

• Active US Professional Engineer (PE) license in civil, structural, or electrical engineering, with the ability to obtain licensure in additional states as project needs require.

Pre-employment drug screening and background check are conditions of employment. Motor vehicle checks may be required based upon position.