Transmission Operations Human Performance Specialist

Transmission Specialist (Human Performance Specialist)

All employees who apply for a posted position must notify their supervisors that they have applied.  Employees who have not been in their current positions for at least one year or who are in a position with specific requirements beyond one year, must obtain approval from their supervisor before applying.

IMPORTANT: This position can be based in either the Akron, OH or Fairmont, WV Control Center.  

The selected candidate may be offered a position within the same job family, at a level that is lower than what was posted. This will be determined based upon the results of the interview process, which considers the candidate's skills, work history, experience level, and other relevant qualifications.

The Transmission Specialist (Human Performance) supports Transmission Operations by administering, coordinating, and continuously improving the Human Performance (HP) program across FE East, FE South, FE West, and Outage Coordination. While the formal job title is Transmission Specialist, this role functions as the Human Performance subject matter expert for Transmission Operations, supporting Operational Excellence, error prevention, learning from events, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Technical & Operational Expertise
  • Apply in-depth knowledge of Transmission Operations, control room processes, and Outage Coordination workflows to support Human Performance initiatives.
  • Analyze operational events, switching activities, and audit results to identify Human Performance trends, error precursors, and systemic vulnerabilities.
  • Support compliance with applicable NERC Reliability Standards by ensuring Human Performance activities align with operating procedures, investigations, and corrective action programs.
  • Utilize enterprise systems and tools (e.g., EDCA, Intelex, CATSWeb, SharePoint, Power BI/Excel) to collect, analyze, trend, and report Human Performance data.
  • Support development and refinement of technical job aids, checklists, and human-centered controls to reduce operational risk.
  • Collaborate with Operations, Training, Compliance & Procedures, and Engineering to integrate Human Performance principles into technical processes and work practices.
• Human Performance Program Ownership
  • Maintain and support Transmission Operations Human Performance procedures, policies, and guidance documents.
  • Serve as the Human Performance subject matter expert for Transmission System Operators (TSOs), providing consultation and direction to leadership and staff.
  • When requested, champion continuous improvement initiatives across Transmission Operations and FirstEnergy.
• Training & Coaching
  • Develop, deliver, and support Human Performance training for TSOs and Outage Coordination personnel.
  • Provide annual and periodic Human Performance refresher training as part of cycle training.
  • Serve as a mentor and role model to reinforce effective use of Human Performance tools and principles.

• Event Investigation & Lessons Learned

  • Train and support personnel in incident investigations using approved methodologies (e.g., TapRoot, REASONs checklist).
  • Provide oversight and quality review of investigations and Lessons Learned to ensure consistency, technical accuracy, and effectiveness.
  • Process internal and external Lessons Learned and coordinate subject matter expert reviews and corrective actions.
  • Perform periodic trending and analysis of Human Performance data, including investigations, Problem-Issue-Enhancement requests (PIEs), Good Catches, and audit findings.

  • Compile and present Human Performance metrics, dashboards, and insights to leadership and governance committees.

     

  Qualifications at the Specialist II Level include:

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering, Engineering Technology or equivalent is preferred, along with a minimum of 3 years of related work experience required. In lieu of a degree, 5 years of related experience will be required.
• Relevant experience includes work in system operations, engineering, compliance, training or a related field.
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with employees at all levels of FirstEnergy.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills; Ability to effectively present complex subject matter to all levels of management and to outside stakeholders.
• A working knowledge of electrical engineering, transmission substation equipment, transmission system protection, and transmission system operations is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with EMS / iTOA / Intelex / CATSWeb / EDCA.
• Experience supporting electric transmission or control room operations.
• Strong analytical, communication, and facilitation skills.

Qualifications at the Specialist III level include all the above plus:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering, Engineering Technology or equivalent preferred, along with a minimum of 5 years of related work experience required. In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 7 years of related experience will be required.
• Experience with Human Performance, Operational Excellence, or continuous improvement programs.
• Experience with incident investigations, root cause analysis, or corrective action programs.
• Familiarity with NERC standards and Transmission Operations processes.