Program Manager, Principal

Department Overview 
Electric Operations ensures the delivery of safe and reliable electric service to our customers and is responsible for electric distribution and transmission operations, including planning, engineering, maintenance and construction, asset management, business planning, restoration, and emergency response. 

The VISTA organization supports Electric Operations through strategic program management, operational performance, analytics, and technology-enabled solutions. The team partners across operational and technical organizations to translate business needs and data into actionable insights, improve program performance, and advance innovative solutions. 

Position Summary 
The Principal Program Manager will serve as a senior strategic partner within the VISTA organization, leading complex, cross-functional programs and initiatives that support operational performance, analytics, and technology enablement. 

This role requires a highly analytical, self-directed leader who can independently take ambiguous business challenges, structure the problem, analyze data and financial impacts, develop recommendations, and drive execution across multiple organizations. The successful candidate will manage programs with significant scope and financial responsibility, including program strategy, performance, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and executive reporting. 

The ideal candidate combines strong program leadership and business acumen with technical curiosity and an analytical mindset. Experience leveraging data analytics, artificial intelligence, automation, GIS, or other emerging technologies to solve operational problems and improve decision-making is highly desired. 

The individual must be comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy, influencing across organizational boundaries, communicating with senior leadership, and driving results with limited direction. 

Disclosure: 

PG&E is providing the salary range that can reasonably be expected for this position at the time of the job posting. This salary range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, and geographic location.  

The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to these factors.​ This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.  

Pay Range:  

• Minimum:  $144,00 

• Midpoint:  $194,00 

• Maximum:  $244,00 

Responsibilities 

• Applies depth and breadth of knowledge of Program Management to the most unique and complex problems. Works autonomously. Anticipates issues and develops innovative solutions. Demonstrates program leadership with internal & external stakeholders to support company goals. May design and develop new, complex programs.  

• Recognized subject matter expert who may represent PG&E to external agencies on sensitive or complex issues. Partners with Government Relations or other partner organizations in developing messaging and strategy. May manage major cross-functional projects and initiatives. May lead initiatives that impact utility or industry developments. Manages all aspects of programs that are cross functional, complex, of broad scope and have a significant financial or political impact on the line of business. Leads development of overall strategy to achieve program goals.  

• Partners with leaders to determine most appropriate and effective program performance metrics. Develops content and format for reports and dashboards, utilizing visual management and lean principles. Prepares and presents regular updates to senior management, addressing issues and gaining buy in on solutions. Develops both annual and long-term program work plan forecast and budget.  

• Regularly monitors costs vs. budget, presents status and prepares and proposes solutions to address variances. Partners with Work Planning/Resource Management teams to plan and forecast short- and long-term work to be completed as part of the program. Monitors and ensures closure/completion of projects and/or other program work orders. 

•  Ensures effective work scheduling and resources will be available to meet the work plan. Develops creative solutions to address resource issues. Leads peers and partner organizations to develop and implement new and/ or improved processes or procedures, including leading development of guidance documents, roadmaps, minimum viable products, and expectations. May work with other project or program managers or peers in other departments or regions to reschedule work, re-allocate funds and explore creative solutions to achieve financial and productivity goals. 

• Leads benchmarking efforts/projects in the industry to share information, seek best practices in electric program management. Develops recommendations for PG&E, develops proposals/business case and presents to senior management. Gains buy in and leads implementation.  

• Serves as a strategic partner to VISTA leadership, independently leading high-priority initiatives, developing recommendations, driving cross-functional decisions, and representing the organization with key stakeholders. 

• Leverages data and analytics to identify trends, risks, performance gaps, and opportunities; translates complex information into actionable recommendations and decision support for operational and senior leaders. 

• Partners across business and technical organizations to identify and advance opportunities involving data analytics, artificial intelligence, automation, GIS, and other technology-enabled solutions that improve operational performance and decision-making. 

Qualifications 
Minimum: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.   

• Ten (10) years of related experience or equivalent  

Desired: 

• Demonstrated experience independently leading large, complex, cross-functional programs from strategy through execution. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to use data to identify trends, evaluate alternatives, develop recommendations, and influence business decisions. 

• Advanced financial management and business acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and program performance management. 

• Experience applying data analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, or other emerging technologies to business or operational challenges. 

• Experience with GIS, geospatial data, or location-based analytical tools. 

• Experience developing or using dashboards, performance metrics, analytical models, or other decision-support tools. 

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, establish direction, and drive results with limited oversight. 

• Strong strategic thinking combined with the ability to translate strategy into executable plans and measurable outcomes. 

• Demonstrated ability to influence and lead across organizational boundaries without direct authority. 

• Advanced executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex operational, financial, analytical, or technical information for different audiences. 

• Experience developing business cases and recommendations supported by quantitative and financial analysis. 

• Experience partnering across operational, technical, financial, and business organizations. 

• Knowledge of electric utility operations, processes, regulatory requirements, and key performance drivers. 

• Knowledge of project/program management and process-improvement principles, methods, and techniques.