Manager – Grid Innovation and Infrastructure Solutions

Xcel Energy

. Lead strategic planning and implementation for emerging technologies to support distribution operations, such as battery storage, DER management, and electric vehicles and associated implementation.

Posted 5/15/2026full-timeDenver • Colorado, Minnesota • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorLead💰 $129,000 - $183,200 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead strategic planning and implementation for emerging technologies to support distribution operations, such as battery storage, DER management, and electric vehicles and associated implementation.
Understand financial impacts of decisions or policies and drive the development of operational and regulatory plans to gain approval and regulatory recovery.
Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders.
Responsible for execution of distribution capacity projects.
Works with planning to schedule projects for upcoming years and correspondingly plans for appropriate internal and external resources to carry out the work.
Provides engineering and project management expertise.
Utilizes corporate policies, standards, and best practices on project execution.
Manage contracts and third-party contractors and their performance.
Develop, construct, and operate battery storage systems.
Develop integration and control strategies for battery storage systems.
Analyze and evaluate energy storage value propositions and business cases.
Maintain operations and maintenance best practices for the battery systems.
Provide oversight and performance accountability to contractors and consultants as necessary.
Lead and mentor a team of engineers, project managers, and technology specialists to accomplish the group’s mission.
Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.
Conducts performance reviews, recruiting, and hiring activities.
Provide for ongoing, effective and clear communication of the organizational vision, mission, key objectives and individual roles to employees and leaders.
Communicate with and establish effective working relationships to maximize efficiency, responsiveness and resource allocation.
Manage development of Unit business plan and operating budget.
Monitor results. Ensure alignment with organization and corporate objectives.
Lead and participate in public and regulatory arenas to champion company’s commitment, concerns and position.
Provide support to regulatory for cost & valuation analysis and testimony as may be necessary.
Guide practices and procedures such as interconnection guidelines.
Stay abreast of new technologies and current industry practices.
Represent Company in Regional/National organizations.
Guide research investments through EPRI, NREL and similar entities in order to gain value and insights necessary to inform and guide the company.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field required
Advanced degree preferred
7 years of work experience within the electric delivery industry which includes 3 years of experience leading teams or projects
Experience in electric distribution preferred
Experience with battery energy storage systems, flexible interconnection, Distributed Energy Resources Management Systems (DERMS), or other similar emerging technologies preferred
Ability to drive major initiatives, significant communication and influence skills (written and verbal)
Demonstrated management history of cultivating positive operating cultures
Demonstrated leadership successes
Demonstrated knowledge of management systems, safety manual and labor agreement is essential
Professional Engineer License from a state within the company’s service territory is preferred.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual Incentive Program
Medical/Pharmacy Plan
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
Health Care Reimbursement Account
Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
Transportation Reimbursement Account
Short-term disability (STD)
Long-term disability (LTD)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
Tuition reimbursement
Transit programs
Employee recognition program
Pension
401(k) plan
Paid time off (PTO)
Holidays
Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
Parental Leave

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

battery storage systemsDER managementelectric vehiclesproject managementfinancial analysisintegration strategiesenergy storage value propositionsoperations and maintenance best practicesregulatory planscontract management

Soft Skills

leadershipcommunicationcollaborationmentoringteam managementstrategic planninginfluenceorganizational visionperformance accountabilitycultivating positive cultures

Certifications

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineeringProfessional Engineer Licenseadvanced degree