Job Description

Introduction

The Strategy and Planning Specialist will be responsible for leveraging predictive/ analytical modeling, data mining, and research from large scale, complex data sets to create the integrated NiSource enterprise and state damage prevention strategy. The resource will be responsible for preparing strategic work plans, developing solutions and making recommendations to state leaders. The role will involve strong collaboration, as the specialist will be leading and serving as a key resource for each of the states regarding best practice review, overall strategy, implementation approach and effectiveness, and ongoing review of state performance results.

Key Results:

* Damage prevention strategies that result in industry leading performance
* Creation and maintenance of the integrated NiSource and State Damage Prevention plan
* Develop crisp, polished, executive-level presentations that can be used to communicate performance on damage prevention goals and portfolio
* Strong strategic and collaborative relationships with executive leaders and key damage prevention partners internally
* Strong involvement and understanding of high value best practice (internal and external) that are shared with business partners
* Achievement of industry leadership in Damage Prevention and provision of results regularly to GMs and Damage Prevention Field Execution

Sr. Strategy and Planning Specialist

Principle Duties/Essential Responsibilities:

* Creates valuable, transformative business strategies by leveraging predictive/ analytical modeling, data mining, and research from large scale, complex data sets
* Recommends solutions to new and complex problems, develops innovative strategies, and assesses the potential impact of changes and return on investment from key initiatives
* Leverages the data analysts forecasts and reports to increase adoption and utilization of data to make decisions across the company
* Leads insightful business analysis that evaluates the damage prevention industry and regulatory environments for best practices, standards, benchmarks and trends
* Leads strategic analysis in key areas to identify trends, and creation of executive summaries for management
* Develops and produces high value NiSource Plan with state specific needs, to be shared with Gas Operations, Field Execution, Program Management, Standards and Governance, and other key stakeholders for execution.
* Assists in the development of 1, 3, and 5 year plans within identified strategic areas
* Supports NiSource/State strategy to achieve and maintain industry leadership on an established regular basis (at minimum monthly, quarterly)
* Collaboration with business partners in joint planning to develop, analyze and compare alternative courses of action to produce a strategy
* Continuous evaluation of process, data, timeline effectiveness to provide recommendations on increasing effectiveness of results
* Recommends metrics and measures to be formally leveraged in performance management processes for damage prevention
* Builds and leverages strong relationships across NiSource
* Socialization with executive and various levels of operational leadership
* Reliable benchmarking and best practice sharing (internal external)
* Transition/Handoff of larger projects (in scope or duration) to DP Project Management group

Lead Strategy Planning Specialist

Includes Sr. Strategy Planning Specialist duties plus:

Principle Duties/Essential Responsibilities:

* Present information, influence and facilitate discussion with all levels of leadership
* Lead workshops and/or discussions with business partners and leadership to enable decision making and initiate action
* Identify, propose, and lead continuous improvement initiatives supporting DP strategic roadmap
* Serve as a peer coach or mentor to other members of the Strategy and Intelligence team to build strategy and analytics capabilities

Qualifications:

Sr. Strategy and Planning Specialist:

* Minimum of five (5) years of experience in strategy, planning, operations, finance, or related functional area
* Change management skills
* Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines with quality
* Experience with business case development
* Ability to apply critical thinking and analysis (forward thinking) to work product
* Ability to develop effective key performance indicators
* Strong communication (oral written) skills
* Ability to effectively network with internal and external partners
* Strong collaboration skills and ability to promote change

Qualifications:

Lead Strategy Planning Specialist:

* 7 years or more of experience in strategy, planning, operations, finance, or related functional area
* Experience with transformation, change management and/or project management
* Proven ability to facilitate multiple projects/tasks while meeting deadlines with quality
* Experience with business case and key performance indicator development
* Excellent at critical thinking and analysis (forward thinking)
* Ability to conduct workshops, influence decisions and facilitate discussions with the leadership level
* Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
* Ability to effectively network and build strategic partnerships, both internal and external
* Strong leadership skills and ability to influence others

Required General/Transferrable Competencies:

* Building Partnerships
* Strategic Planning
* Facilitating Change
* Initiating Action
* Driving for Results
* Communication
* Adaptability

Education: Bachelors degree in a discipline related to Business Administration, Finance or Accounting, Strategy or other relevant area, or equivalent related experience

Preferred:

* Certification in Change Management and/or Project Management certification
* Six Sigma certification or experience in continuous improvements
* Experience with a BI Software and visualization tool, such as Tableau
* Knowledge of utility operations (i.e. gas, electric, construction, engineering)
* Knowledge of the damage prevention process (i.e. one call and safe digging laws)

Additional Information:

Candidate must be willing to travel both in and out of state. Some overnight travel required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

NiSource is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in each of its companies to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, disability, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any protected group status as defined by law. Each employee is expected to abide by this principle.

By applying, you may be considered for other job opportunities.

How To Apply

For immediate consideration, please apply on-line at careers.nisource.com before April 20th!

Inclusion & Diversity

Value inclusion within your day to day responsibilities by respecting others perspectives/convictions, engaging others opinions, creating a safe environment where people, ideas, and opinions are valued within your Team/Customers and external partners.

Respect and take into consideration diversity within your Team/Customers and external work partners by valuing different world views, challenges, and cultures that represent all walks of life and all backgrounds.

Treat others with respect and consideration. Actively participate in creating and contributing to a positive work environment.