Utility Joint Apprenticeship Program Manager

Utility Joint Apprenticeship Program Manager

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and / or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24 / 7.

Location

This is a hybrid position with required onsite days, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to the Marshall Service Center located in Marshall, MI. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Utility Joint Apprenticeship Program Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for apprenticeship programs across Electric Distribution, Gas Operations, and Generation Utilities. This role ensures safe, compliant, and efficient utility operations while fostering apprentice development, supporting emergency response, and driving continuous improvement. The manager collaborates across departments and utility sectors to promote a culture of safety, inclusion, and technical excellence. Responsible for site inspection and resource planning to ensure projects, plans, and departmental milestones are achieved within approved budgets. Accountable for work plan adherence and adjustments to work plan (resources, equipment, materials, etc.), associated coordination with internal stakeholders / partner and external customer requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Inspect job sites to monitor progress and ensure satisfactory completion. Plan assignments and prepare requisitions for supplies, equipment, and materials. Supervise special projects as needed. Responsible for apprentice utility worker development : Support training and mentorship of apprentices and technicians in electric, gas, and generation disciplines, fostering workforce readiness and technical excellence. Lead daily and weekly operating reviews. Maintain accurate records of work performed, materials used, and crew hours. Prepare and maintain reports on job status and completed work; ensure compliance with safety protocols and company policies. Drives operational excellence by leveraging lean tools and visual management to support departmental goals. Identifies and implements cost-saving and automation opportunities while tracking metrics and financials to ensure continuous improvement; recommends changes to systems and facility operations. Responsible for oversight of system construction and maintenance and retirement of utility infrastructure and systems ensuring safe and reliable distribution across all utility sectors. Direct outage and emergency response efforts for outages, leaks, and operational disruptions, utilizing outage and emergency management systems and coordinating restoration activities. Manage equipment and facility operations installation and troubleshooting of utility equipment such as transformers, meters, regulators, and generation assets across renewable, hydro, and fossil platforms. Ensure operational compliance with regulatory standards including federal, state and local requirements while promoting a culture of safety and continuous improvement. Partner with engineering, operations, support teams, and lead cross-functional collaboration to deliver integrated utility services and maintain high standards of reliability and performance Influence standard practice across departments (Design, Scheduling, Fleet, Supply Chain, etc.). Manage and resolve escalated complaints and respond to requests for information. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Leadership in multi-utility environments Technical proficiency in electric, gas and / or generation systems Conflict resolution and union negotiation Diversity, equity, and inclusion advocacy Safety compliance and emergency response coordination Familiarity with lean tools and visual management to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Experience

2 - 4 years in Completion of a 4-year apprenticeship program (electric / gas) with 8000 hours of OJT. Electric requires a valid Journeyman Electrician Card and completion of a certified 4-year electric line apprenticeship (8,000 hours of OJT) with at least 2 years as a Journeyman Lineworker. Gas utility oversight does not require certification but strongly prefers experience in gas operations and workforce training. Proficient in utility storm restoration and supporting computer systems and technologies, such as outage management and operational systems; supervisor or operations experience in utility operations.

Certifications

Required Certifications / Licensures : (Commercial Driver's License)

Physical Demands

This role is regulated under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This regulation applies to positions in which employees are required to maintain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Employees in this role will be subject to random drug testing in accordance with the regulations set forth by the FMCSA.

Why Should You Join Our Team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose : world class performance delivering hometown service.

What We Offer :

Competitive compensation packages Medical, Dental and Vision 401k with company match Paid parental leave Up to 13 paid Holidays Paid time off Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion :

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture : Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership. All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.