Job Information
UNS Energy Corporation Principal, Emerging Technology and Innovations in Tucson, Arizona
Principal, Emerging Technology and Innovations
Company Tucson Electric Power
Location Tucson, AZ
Requisition ID 5437
About Us
UNS Energy Corporation (http://www.uns.com) , headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, is a subsidiary ofFortis Inc. (https://www.fortisinc.com) , the largest investor-owned electric and gas distribution utility in Canada. Our public utility subsidiaries, Tucson Electric Power Company, UNS Electric, Inc. and UNS Gas, Inc., power our economy by providing electric and gas service to nearly 700,000 customers in Arizona.
We embrace a spirit of giving, dedicated to improving quality of life in the communities we have served for generations, and in TEP’s case, since the 1890s. We’re building a cleaner, greener grid, with more wind and solar power than ever before, while maintaining safe, reliable, and affordable service.
Your Employer of Choice
Our culture is rooted inshared core values (https://www.tep.com/careers/#values) that define how we work and who we are. Our team of innovative professionals bring their authentic selves to work each day to power our vision and make a difference. Be Part of Our Story.
We create opportunities for employees to thrive through:
Continual growth: In an industry changing faster than ever before, our commitment to professional growth and leadership development means we never stop challenging ourselves to explore new possibilities.
Active Engagement: We support a collaborative environment, with peer-to-peer learning and employee-driven groups that foster an inclusive culture.
Total compensation: UNS Energy Corporation also offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that includes a 401k plan with a generous company match, a company-sponsored pension plan, affordable individual and family health insurance plans, tuition assistance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance and much more.
Hear from some of our employees,here (https://youtu.be/hpknvJPLuoc) andhere (https://youtu.be/7BECywu-Re4) .
Job Description - Principal, Emerging Technology and Innovations
Do you have a knack for taking new and innovative ideas and converting them into financially viable business cases? If so, this job might be the one for you!
What you will do:
Share in travel and relationship development with the Innovations Team Manager.
Research and monitor new technology.
Quickly digest and synthesize new concepts, data, and ideas to create plausible solutions for approval.
Network internally and externally to push innovative ideas forward.
Act as project manager for solutions and innovations.
What you bring:
Experience as an engineer, project manager, or similar role.
Ability to take an idea from concept to implementation.
Financial acumen to determine financial viability of ideas.
Ability and comfort in working a room and networking with vendors and partners.
Desire to travel when needed.
*Full job description
Position Description
The Emerging Technology & Innovation (ET&I) Principal utilizes novel technologies and/or innovative ideas to develop and shape new products, services, and processes within UNS to support our customers’ needs, help our business grow, optimize our cost structure, and open up new opportunities for UNS. They support and implement the company's targeted ET&I goals. They help manage and guide an end-to-end process for innovation, starting from identifying and defining issues that might be addressed by innovation; soliciting, capturing, and defining ideas; managing the development of innovation projects; creating successful business cases; acting as project manager for large projects; and then turning over the execution of the project to the business area. They will do so by appropriately leading and leveraging the Future Think process/committee.
In addition to defining and managing the “lifecycle” for innovation projects, the ET&I Principal will also continue to refine our approach to innovation including evaluating our innovation focus areas, governance, approaches for continuous feedback and improvement, and developing and managing internal relationships to support innovation company wide.
Assisting the manager with establishing a strong external network of innovator thinkers, vendors, and partners committed to facilitating the implementation of new technology within the industry.
The Principal takes ownership of understanding new customer experience best practices of peer utilities. In an effort to support innovation company wide, the Principal will utilize the external network to present topics for discussion on a regular cadence (lunch & learns / technology days).
This position will thrive through living the mission and demonstrating the UNS values. By relying on strong leadership principles and business acumen do the right thing. Cross-company collaboration and a willingness to assist by sharing knowledge creates an environment that fosters achieving operational excellence. Continuous learning is embraced. Active engagement is achieved through showing respect and listening to all team members, being open to sharing opinions, and understanding that our differences make us stronger.
Position-Related Responsibilities
Contribute to the development of UNS innovation utilizing a methodology of effectively and efficiently drive the successful completion of innovation initiatives,
Develop and manage a process to solicit, identify and define specific innovation ideas that address key company challenges.
Direct and provide applied research, and complex analyses, to screen innovation opportunities and develop business cases for identified opportunities.
Provide thought leadership across business functions by leading and executing market research, technology scouting, identifying, and understanding competitive landscapes, market trends, insights, and themes, finding potential collaborators or partners, and providing generally valuable and unique insights to the business.
Apply analytical skills and logic to areas of significant ambiguity using data (when/where available and often self-sourced) to generate actionable analysis easily understood by others without the same background or expertise.
Prioritize innovation opportunities continually and ruthlessly.
Identify key hypotheses to be tested in a pilot program, design test plans to address identified hypotheses as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, execute leveraging the ACC approved DSM sand box.
Within the Fortis Innovation model, challenge and improve existing business processes based on market insights and learnings from innovation projects and partners for the benefit of our customers.
Demonstrate excellent project management skills by assuming project manager role, as appropriate, and ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and with strategic impact.
Lead and support the organization through change management to foster a culture of solution-based thinking, acceptance, openness, and collaboration.
Communicate - written, oral, and presentation - scope and objectives of innovation-related work to various internal and external stakeholders including senior management.
Support the effort, as appropriate, to identify and cultivate external relationships and partnerships to understand and bring best practices, leading concepts, and ideas to UNS.
Empower, coach, support, and champion individual innovators across all business functions.
Develop and monitor innovation OKRs & KPIs to drive accountability and measure success.
Travel required.
Flexibility to work outside traditional business hours.
This position may provide services to affiliates of the Company subject to the UNS Energy Code of Conduct and the related Policies and Procedures
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Knowledge in one or more key areas related to innovation, product development, product management, project management, or business case development.
Must have the ability to build and maintain strong relationships across all company departments.
Must have the ability to understand customer trends and related energy needs.
Must have the ability to understand complex regulatory and policy issues.
Must be willing to advocate for change across the organization.
Must be able to think critically to identify innovative opportunities that support business initiatives and are in line with industry trends.
Must be an agile thinker and be able to adapt quickly to change and ambiguity.
Must identify opportunities to leverage technology to support and/or provide efficiencies in the business.
Must be able to manage multiple projects and respond to competing priorities.
Must have strong mathematical and financial analytical skills.
Must be a creative and innovative thinker with good business acumen.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Must have experience developing business plans and business proposals.
Must be able to present to senior leadership and enjoy public speaking.
Must have the skills to successfully advocate, persuade, and negotiate for your recommendations.
Must be able to work independently, as well as collaborate in a team environment.
(Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.)
Minimum Qualification
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, operations, information technology or related field.
5+ years of work experience related to the duties and responsibilities of this position is required.
Related experience including working in innovation, research, product development or project management.
Demonstrated ability to work, and build alignment with, a range of external stakeholders and internally across different functional teams.
Analytical capabilities, including the ability to problem solve, identify and develop hypothesis, structure thinking, and find, use and apply data.
Excellent interpersonal, written, oral and communication skills with the ability to conceive, craft, and deliver presentations to diverse audiences.
Advanced degree in related field of study
Current professional certifications related to this position.
Knowledge of the energy/utility industry.
Working knowledge of potential innovative areas (e.g., distributed energy technologies, wearable devices, robotics, automation and AI, etc.) and approaches (E.g., design thinking, leanstartup, etc.) preferred.
Pay Rate: $121,000 - $175,000+ depending on experience
All job offers are contingent on successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check.
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