Job Description

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

This is a full-time, on-site position located at any FirstEnergy location in Ohio.

The Manager, Safety Operations, leads the deployment and continuous improvement of Safety & Human Performance across FirstEnergy and assigned business units. This role directs a high-performing team that provides timely, consistent, and proactive field feedback; partners closely with business unit leadership to improve outcomes at the worker interface; and is jointly accountable with operational leadership for performance against stated safety and human performance objectives. The Manager ensures compliance and successful execution of Safety & Human Performance policies and programs, including contractor and public safety initiatives.

The Manager, Safety Operations provides direction and leadership from the following perspectives:

• Lead and shape the Safety & Human Performance strategy within FirstEnergy and assigned business units by fostering a culture of ownership, learning, empowerment, and accountability at all levels.
• Ensure all Safety & Human Performance policies, programs, training, and strategies are successfully implemented across business units—covering employee, contractor, and public safety initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership and coaching to direct reports, business unit leadership, and frontline teams to build organizational safety capability and drive consistent execution of the Safety Management System (SMS).
• Oversee consistent application and verification of SMS controls across business units; escalate systemic gaps and ensure sustainable closure.
• Partner with business unit leadership and frontline teams to lead and support incident investigations, ensuring consistent protocols, identification of systemic contributors, and timely, sustainable corrective actions.
• Leverage data analytics, dashboards, and field intelligence to identify systemic risks, prioritize resources, and translate trends into executive-level recommendations that influence planning and decision-making.
• Establish and develop substantive working relationships with peers, team members, business unit leadership, and union leadership to enhance a culture of safety, compliance, inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement, and consistent application of the SMS.
• Deliver results through standardized metrics and dashboards, including a robust assessment/audit process to demonstrate compliance with laws, regulations, and internal requirements.
• Establish clear accountabilities for team members with objectives that align to FE and departmental strategy; ensure clarity of priorities and remove barriers to execution.
• Initiate and monitor implementation of appropriate safeguards in accordance with applicable regulations and professional practice to ensure that employee, community, and environmental risks are eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels.
• Plan, organize, control, integrate, and evaluate the work of the Safety & Human Performance team, ensuring effective coordination with Operations, Workforce Development/Training, Fleet, and Contractor Management.
• Provide financial oversight and meet financial commitments for the departmental budget.
• Manage performance and development across the team by setting clear goals, providing continuous coaching and feedback, ensuring accountability, and building a high-performing, inclusive safety culture.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field of study required (safety-related field preferred); or equivalent demonstrated leadership experience in safety, operations, or related utility environments may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant utility field experience is required. Relevant experience includes transmission/distribution operations, field leadership, safety oversight, or comparable operational environments.
• Prior leadership experience in utility or field operations is required.
• Accomplished and approachable leader with a demonstrated track record of safe operations excellence and people leadership.
• Experience administering company safety rules, applicable programs, and work practices.
• Strategic vision and a continuous improvement mindset.
• In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local safety regulations and compliance requirements; safety-related professional certifications (e.g., ASP, GSP, CSP, CUSP) are preferred but not required.

Specific knowledge and experience requirements include:

• Effective oral and written communication skills across diverse audiences (craft through executive).
• Experience working with budgets and aligning expenditures to strategic priorities.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; ability to operate effectively in fast-paced environments and under storm/emergency conditions.
• Demonstrated execution of operational initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Operations, Workforce Development/Training, and contractors.

Behavioral Attributes:

• Lead by example, guiding teams through change while modeling trust, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
• Analyze complex issues and strategies, reaching sound, fact-based conclusions and recommendations.
• Interpret and apply local, state, and federal policies, laws, and regulations as they relate to safety and operations; communicate implications to stakeholders.
• Evaluate departmental practices, make recommendations for improvements, and implement appropriate procedures and controls.
• Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within general policy guidelines, especially in ambiguous or high-risk situations.
• Communicate and respond to inquiries or complaints from employees, customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the community in a professional, timely manner.
• Collaborate with Workforce Development (skills training) to address methods and training needed to improve worker safety.
• This position requires statewide travel including some overnights (approximately 25% of the time).
• Must be available to work assigned storm duty, which could include evenings, holidays, and overnight travel.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

Position Classification

Exempt

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team