Job Description

As an NRG employee, we encourage you to take charge of your career and development journey. We invite you to explore exciting opportunities across our businesses. You’ll find that our dynamic work environment provides variety and challenge. Your growth is key to our ongoing success—take the lead in shaping your career development, goals and future!

The Generation AI Director will define the digital transformation strategy for Plant Operations and lead AI integration across the generation fleet to improve energy efficiency, productivity, enhance unit reliability, and support sustainable operations. The role partners with Plant Managers, Plant Operators, Maintenance, Planning, Engineering, Supply Chain, and IT to deliver AI‑enabled solutions that increase workforce productivity and maximize returns on capital investments. The Director also oversees targeted training to build AI literacy and technical capability and establishes key performance indicators to assess fleet performance and quantify the impact AI‑driven improvements.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Develop and execute an AI strategy aligned with organizational goals for power generation.
  • Identify opportunities for AI-driven optimization in energy production and unit reliability.
  • Define and execute a multi-year AI roadmap for power generation assets.
• Digital Transformation:
  • Lead initiatives to integrate AI into operational workflows and predictive maintenance.
  • Champion AI adoption across the organization, fostering a culture of innovation.
  • Drive automation and advanced analytics to improve reporting, decision-making and reduce downtime.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Partner with Plant Managers, Plant Operators, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and IT to develop and successfully implement AI solutions.
  • Communicate AI benefits and progress to executive leadership and operational teams.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement:
  • Research emerging AI technologies and assess applicability to power generation.
  • Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement through AI adoption.
• Governance & Compliance:
  • Ensure AI solutions comply with regulatory standards and cybersecurity requirements.
  • Establish data governance frameworks for AI-driven processes.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Reduction in unplanned outages through predictive maintenance.
• Improvement in energy production efficiency and cost savings.
• Successful implementation of AI projects within budget and timeline.
• Employee adoption and engagement with AI-driven tools.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment reporting 4 days a week into the Houston Office.
• Travel outside of hybrid work environment will be common, however, weekend travel is not common.

• Willingness to work outside normal business hours as necessary especially during critical issue resolution and to achieve project milestones.

Minimum Requirements

• Five to ten years’ relevant, heavy industry or conventional power plant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science or related quantitative field.

• 10+ years of experience in power generation, energy operations,or industrial AI applications.

• Ability to manage cross-functional teams and large-scale projects.
• Proven track record of leading digital transformation initiatives.

• Strong knowledge of AI/Machine Learning technologies, predictive analytics, and IoT integration.

• Excellent leadership, communication, strategic planning, and stakeholder management skills.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience with cloud-based AI platforms and big data analytics.
• Customer Centric with the ability to gain employee support at all levels, including other departments, outside of Plant Operations.
• Experience in effectively managing change to ensure these transitions happen smoothly, with minimal disruption and strong employee buy‑in.

Physical Requirements

Demand

Frequency

Required travel to plant sites to perform duties and responsibilities.

25-30%

Required to follow and use all appropriate personal protective equipment if working in a plant environment.

Constantly

Please Note: Salary offered will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s education and/or experience and consistent with the job location’s market pay rate.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf)

Official description on file with Talent.