Innovation Specialist I

Duquesne Light Company, headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh, is a leader in providing electric energy and has been in the forefront of the electric energy market, with a history rooted in technological innovation and superior customer service. Today, the company continues its role as a leader in the transmission and distribution of electric energy, providing a secure supply of reliable power to more than half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Duquesne Light Company is committed to creating a culture of inclusion. We value and respect the unique differences and experiences of our employees. We believe that our differences lead to better collaboration, innovation and outcomes. We want you to join our team!

TheInnovation Specialist partners with all business functions to bring new processes, technologies, and ways of working to DLC to benefit our customers and employees. This position will execute innovation initiatives to address critical needs across the organization with a primary focus on leveraging software applications, data analytics and artificial intelligence. The Innovation Specialist will identify solutions and manage project lifecycles including piloting and scaling new opportunities. This position will help design and manage internal processes, including identifying organizational needs and project execution, to maximize the value of innovation. In addition, this role will inform the culture of the Innovation Center, focus area prioritization, governance, and continuous feedback and improvement. The Innovation Specialist will also develop and manage external relationships to help our business grow and our employees stay safe.

Location: Hybrid Downtown Pittsburgh

Responsibilities:

Generate:

• Manage and execute innovation initiatives from inception to successful completion
• Develop a detailed understanding of company safety, system, operational, technical, and business challenges that might be addressed by innovation
• Build and manage relationships with key internal stakeholders to be seen as a true partner for addressing strategic challenges
• Empower, coach, support, and champion individual innovators across all business functions
• Solicit, identify and define specific innovation ideas that address key company challenges
• Support processes to identify innovation ideas that address key company challenges and successful execution of innovation initiatives
• Monitor and refine innovation metrics to drive accountability and measure success
• Support and lead new products and services, from concept development, validation, and go-to-market, to achieve revenue growth through innovation.

Analyze:

• Research innovation opportunities to assess organizational value and develop business cases for prioritized projects
• Conduct market research, technology scouting, qualitative and quantitative analysis to identify and understand solution space and identify potential partners
• Provide thought leadership and valuable insights to business functions on competitive landscape, market trends, insights and themes,
• Drive actionable and accessible analysis in areas of significant ambiguity using available data

Process:

• Manage & prioritize innovation opportunities to maintain a high value project pipeline and backlog.
• Design and structure test plans and pilot programs to cost-effectively validate internal requirements, solution capabilities, use cases applications.
• Inform existing business processes outside innovation based on market insights and learnings from innovation projects and partners
• Manage external vendors and service providers, developing and managing scopes to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery of services Demonstrate excellent project management skills by ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and with strategic impact

Communicate & Engage:

• Support change management initiatives, as appropriate, to foster a culture of acceptance, openness and collaboration
• Communicate scope and objectives of innovation-related work to various internal and external stakeholders including senior management
• Identify and cultivate external relationships and partnerships to understand and bring best practices, leading concepts and ideas to DLC
• Contribute to an inclusive and supportive high-performance environment with an emphasis on excellence, team building, coaching, feedback and employee development

Education/Experience Requirements:

• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree required
  
  
  
  • Educational background in information technology or engineering preferred
  
  
  
  
• Five years' related work experience required
  
  
  
  • Innovation, research, product development, information technology, areas preferred
  • Knowledge of software applications and data analytics in the energy/utilities industry preferred
  • Ideally the applicant will have experience with a high operationally intense industry and some experience with project execution and implementation.
  
  
  
  

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to work, and build alignment with, a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to manage and coordinate cross-functional teams
• Strong communicator with the ability to facilitate meetings, conceive, craft, and deliver presentations to diverse internal and external stakeholders, and manage expectations through both formal and informal communication channels
• Analytical capabilities, including ability to problem solve, identify and develop hypotheses, structure thinking, and find/use/apply data
• Strong project management abilities; able to prioritize continuously and ruthlessly, manage ambiguity and multiple competing projects simultaneously under tight time constraints and budget parameters
• Highly organized, detailed oriented, self-directed, but flexible
• Has working knowledge of potential innovation areas (e.g., image analytics, distributed energy technologies, asset management, robotics, automation and AI, etc.) and approaches (e.g., design thinking, lean startup, etc.)
• Ability to identify opportunities to leverage technology to support and/or provide efficiencies in the business

Must possess a positive attitude and strong values that enhance the Company's core values:

• Energized to shape the future;
• Bold in thinking and exploration of new possibilities;
• Collaborative in approaching all challenges;
• Responsible in commitment to safety, management of assets and finances and interaction with colleagues, business clients and other stakeholders;
• Selfless in serving the community, both on the job and through volunteerism.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Duquesne Light Holdings is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of the employment relationship, without discrimination because of race, age, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity or status as a Vietnam era or special disabled veteran or any other unlawful basis, as defined by applicable law, and fostering a workplace free of unlawful discrimination and retaliation. This policy affects decisions including, but not limited to, hiring, compensation, benefits, terms and conditions of employment, opportunities for promotion, transfer, layoffs, return from a layoff, training and development, and other privileges of employment. An integral part of Duquesne Light Holdings' commitment is to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws concerning equal employment and affirmative action.

Duquesne Light Holdings is committed to offering an inclusive and accessible experience for all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. Our goal is to foster an inclusive and accessible workplace where everyone has the opportunity to be successful.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening, apply for a position, or participate in the interview process, connect with us at HR@duqlight.com and describe the specific accommodation requested for a disability-related limitation.