Manager, Operational Excellence

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Welcome to the intersection of energy and home services. At NRG, we’re all about propelling the next generation of leaders forward. We are driven by our passion to create a smarter, cleaner and more connected future. We deliver innovative solutions that make our customers’ lives easier—helping them power, protect, and intelligently manage their homes and businesses. To do this, we need creative and talented people to join our company.

We offer a dynamic work environment and a unified and inclusive culture. NRG fosters a strong sense of belonging that leads to better collaboration and business performance. Our company programs are designed to help employees develop the skills they need for success now and in the future. In everything we do, we aim to champion our employees and bring value to our customers, investors and society.

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Position Summary:

The role of the Operational Excellence Program Manager is to lead the execution of Operational Excellence programs including establishing/refining roles & responsibilities, implement standardized agile and other methodologies project processes, managing the program leads through matrix reporting, establish and utilize tools, metrics, communication, escalation/decision-making and risk management plans, and ensure collaboration and alignment with organizational goals across the enterprise. Role will report to the Operational Excellence leader(s) with accountability to the Finance Leadership Team consisting of Senior Finance leaders.

Essential Responsibilities:

•              Program Operations & Governance

• Own the operating rhythm: run and maintain the cadence for Program Governance and Program Teams
• Maintain the program playbook: standards for meetings, artifacts, templates, and decisions
• Curate, align and oversee structure of the central dashboard/repository (status, milestones, RAID, decisions, benefits)
• Manage overall program utilizing agile methodology including sprint planning, backlog management, and coordination with leads
• Manage cost for the program including ensuring compliance with purchasing and reporting financial processes
• Manage schedules for the program ensuring alignment of outcomes and capabilities

• Communication Plan (Owner)

• Execute and maintain the Communication Plan: audience identification, segmentation, message purpose, channels, and cadence
• Provide talking points and program level materials for the Sponsors, Champions, and Leads to utilize with stakeholders
• Publish executive summaries and circulate pre-reads before decision forums
• Ensure consistency and standardization of communication templates and artifacts

• Risk Management for Program utilizing RAID Tool (Risk, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies)/Risk Log Management (Owner)

• Own the RAID log: intake, triage, routing, and tracking across decision tiers
• Facilitate resolution by convening the right stakeholders and tracking outcomes to closure
• Analyze RAID patterns and surface trending risks and capacity constraints

• Decision Facilitation utilizing RAPID Tool – Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input, Decide & Escalations

• Facilitate RAPID (Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input, Decide): clarify roles for each decision, collect inputs, and drive to timely decisions
• Run escalations: ensure leaders are looped in when needed, with clear pre-reads and options; log decisions and rationale
• Monitor decision-making at all tiers

• Responsibility Definition utilizing RACI Tool (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) Maintenance (Owner)

• Maintain the RACI across all program roles
• Publish updates as workstreams evolve; resolve overlaps and gaps in accountability
• Ensure compliance with program and project audit requirements

• Reporting Cadence & Benefits Tracking

• Build the reporting pack: dashboards for milestones, costs, schedules, KPIs, benefits realization, and program health
• Maintain the benefits register and coordinate validation with Finance Rep.
• Coordinate quarterly portfolio views for prioritization and capacity

• Stakeholder & Team Onboarding

• Onboard sponsors, champions, and team members: Walk Around Deck, roles & responsibilities, operating rhythm, tooling access, and “how we work”
• Run enablement sessions on program governance, artifacts, and expectations
• Track stakeholder engagement and readiness

• Interaction Quality & Ways of Working

• Ensure healthy interactions between roles: clarify decision rights, meeting purpose, and expected inputs/outputs
• Reduce meeting redundancy and shift status reporting to the central dashboard

• Change Management & Communications (in partnership with Change Plan)

• Integrate change into delivery: impact assessments, readiness plans, and role-based training timelines
• Run feedback loops and incorporate learnings into program operations
• Connect program outcomes to Finance priorities and celebrate wins

• Tools

• Ensure Teams/SharePoint/Reporting Platforms structures are intuitive; manage access and versioning

Required Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field
• Preferred: Equivalent experience in enterprise transformation
• Relevant certifications (nice to have, not mandatory):
• Program/portfolio: PgMP, or similar
• Governance/PM: PMP or PMI‑ACP (hybrid/agile literacy)
• Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt)
• 5+ years leading complex, multi‑workstream programs 
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) awareness: Proficiency with Microsoft 365 + Power Platform AI features (e.g., Copilot in Excel/Power BI/Teams)
• Familiarity with Agile Methodology:  Concepts will be used in Framework and Approach of Program
• Proven governance leadership: establishing and running program operating rhythms 
• Hands‑on artifact ownership: Communication Plans, RAID logs, RACIs, benefits registers, executive reporting packs; demonstrated ability to keep these current, accurate, and decision‑ready
• Leadership facilitation: experience orchestrating RAPID or similar decision frameworks; driving escalations to timely outcomes with pre‑reads and clear recommendations.
• Benefits realization: track record linking initiatives to measurable outcomes (cycle‑time reduction, accuracy/quality improvements, cost/efficiency gains) and coordinating validation with Finance Rep
• Change management exposure: integrating change planning (stakeholder mapping, readiness pulses, enablement, comms) into program operations
• Executive presence & clarity: communicates complex topics simply, frames decisions crisply, and earns trust with data
• Operational discipline: meticulous with cadence and artifacts; “closes loops” and keeps the Program Owner and Executive Sponsors current
• Execution Focused: moves decisions forward; escalates early with options; avoids analysis paralysis
• Influence without authority: aligns diverse stakeholders; navigates competing priorities; holds teams accountable through governance and matrix organization
• Adaptability & resilience: steady under pressure; adjusts operating rhythms to finance calendar constraints (close, audit, board cycles)
• Integrity & discretion: handles sensitive information appropriately; sets the tone for controls and compliance
• Communication Skills: Advanced skill level with PowerPoint, Excel, Word and other office tools. Adaptable communication skills with communication to all levels of project members and executive management

Working Conditions:

• Segmentation:  Hybrid (working four days in office) if a local business office is available within a reasonable distance; Remote only if an office is not an option
• Traveling to all major offices, including some regional locations, for team or stakeholder meetings, facilitation of training, or workout sessions as needed
• Work is both sedentary (desk work at a computer) and active (facilitation in person or virtual)
• Travel will be required based on business or project needs, typically for up to 3 weeks per quarter      

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/Vet/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

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/Vet/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Official description on file with Talent.