New Business Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: New Business Design Manager

Company: Xcel Energy

Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Operations Management / Engineering Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-03T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversees and directs design activities for gas and electric distribution systems, ensuring alignment with customer expectations and Xcel Energy's standards.

• Manages and develops a team of highly skilled technical designers, fostering continuous learning and professional growth within the operations and engineering functions.

• Drives cost-effective and innovative design solutions, optimizing resource utilization, safety, timeliness, and system reliability for capital projects.

• Establishes and executes the business unit's plan, goals, and objectives, integrating with broader corporate strategic initiatives and ensuring operational excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is classified under Operations Management and Engineering Design due to its focus on leading design teams, managing operational aspects of distribution systems, and ensuring engineering standards are met. The "New Business" aspect suggests a focus on growth, expansion, and potentially new development projects within the utility's service territory.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for distribution design activities, including planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for capital projects.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of distribution designers, ensuring adherence to corporate design, quality, and safety standards.

• Drive efficient and competitive utilization of design resources, emphasizing safety, timeliness, cost containment, system reliability, and customer satisfaction.

• Develop and implement the unit's business plan, goals, and objectives in alignment with Xcel Energy's strategic initiatives and corporate management systems.

• Foster strategic partnerships with other business units and departments to ensure accurate, current information flow and meet stakeholder expectations.

• Champion process improvement efforts, safety goals, customer satisfaction initiatives, and cost reduction strategies within the design function.

• Share responsibility for after-hours "On-Call" duty, including support during storm restoration efforts, troubleshooting outages, and directing design resources for field assistance.

• Provide ongoing training and mentoring to new and existing designers using established skill-based programs and other learning resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of operational leadership, technical oversight, and people management, common in senior roles within utility engineering and operations. The emphasis on "cost-effective designs," "optimal asset utilization," and "compliance with regulations" points to a strong focus on operational efficiency and risk management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering is preferred. Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of electric and/or gas distribution design experience (preferably from design, engineering, construction, or operations).

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering combined with three or more years of electric and/or gas distribution experience may be considered. Required Skills:

• Proven leadership and team management capabilities to direct technical groups effectively.

• Extensive knowledge of electric and/or gas distribution system design principles and practices.

• Strong project management skills, including planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for capital projects.

• Expertise in ensuring adherence to corporate design, quality, and safety standards.

• Ability to foster continuous learning, career planning, and skill development within a technical team.

• Demonstrated experience in process improvement, cost containment, and efficiency optimization.

• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Proficiency in using design and work management tools and processes relevant to utility operations. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with storm restoration efforts and emergency response coordination.

• Familiarity with regulatory compliance and administrative guidelines for utility operations.

• Skill in mentoring and training new hires and existing personnel.

• Experience in developing and executing business plans and strategic objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement suggests a senior-level role where practical, hands-on knowledge of distribution design is critical, but leadership and strategic planning capabilities are equally important. The alternative educational path with experience indicates flexibility in candidate profiles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Documented experience in leading and managing complex distribution design projects from conception to completion.

• Case studies showcasing innovative and cost-effective design solutions for gas and/or electric distribution systems.

• Evidence of successful team leadership, including developing and motivating technical personnel.

• Examples of process improvement initiatives that led to enhanced safety, efficiency, or cost savings.

• Demonstrations of effective resource management and budget adherence for capital projects. Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate and document established design and work management processes.

• Experience in identifying and implementing best practices for workflow optimization.

• Understanding of how to integrate new design processes with existing construction and operations workflows.

• Documentation of strategies used to ensure consistent and accurate application of design tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a "portfolio requirement" in the raw description, the responsibilities and experience suggest that candidates will need to demonstrate their capabilities in these areas. A strong candidate would prepare examples of their leadership in design projects, process improvements, and team development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The anticipated starting base pay for this position is $97,600.00 to $138,600.00 per year. Benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program

• Medical/Pharmacy Plan

• Dental

• Vision

• Life Insurance

• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account

• Health Care Reimbursement Account

• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)

• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)

• Transportation Reimbursement Account

• Short-term disability (STD)

• Long-term disability (LTD)

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)

• Tuition reimbursement

• Transit programs

• Employee recognition program

• Pension

• 401(k) plan

• Paid time off (PTO)

• Holidays

• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)

• Parental Leave Working Hours:

• Standard full-time employment, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for after-hours "On-Call" duty and storm restoration efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided for a specific region in the US (Boulder, CO). This range is competitive for a management role in the utility sector, considering the required experience and responsibilities. The extensive benefits package is typical for a large, established company like Xcel Energy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Energy (Electricity and Natural Gas)

Company Size: Large (Xcel Energy serves 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight states, indicating a significant employee base and operational scale).

Founded: Xcel Energy was formed in 2000 through the merger of New Century Energy and NSP (Northern States Power), with NSP dating back to 1909. This history suggests a stable, established company with a long-standing presence in the energy sector.

Team Structure:

• The role involves leading "dispersed groups of Designers," indicating a team that may not be co-located.

• This position likely reports to a higher-level director or vice president within the Engineering, Operations, or Delivery division.

• Close collaboration is expected with construction, operations, planning, and potentially regulatory affairs departments. Methodology:

• Focus on "cost effective designs" and "optimal asset utilization."

• Emphasis on "safety, timeliness, cost-containment, system reliability, customer satisfaction."

• Utilization of "Corporate Management System" for goal setting and performance tracking.

• Commitment to "continuous learning" and "best practices."

• Active participation in "formal company efforts to streamline processes."

Company Website: https://www.xcelenergy.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Xcel Energy's description as a "leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company" highlights its significant market presence and broad service offering. The company's stated goal to "be the preferred and trusted provider" suggests a customer-centric approach. The culture likely emphasizes reliability, safety, and innovation within a regulated industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a management-level position overseeing a critical function within the company's operational infrastructure. It sits above individual contributor designers and likely reports to a director. It requires a blend of technical expertise, leadership acumen, and strategic thinking.

Reporting Structure: The manager leads a team of designers and will report to a higher-level executive within Xcel Energy's operations or engineering departments. This structure implies significant responsibility and direct impact on project execution and operational efficiency.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the company's ability to deliver reliable and cost-effective energy services to its customers. Effective design management ensures that new infrastructure projects are built to high standards, on time, and within budget, directly influencing customer satisfaction, system reliability, and the company's financial performance. The manager's decisions on design standards and resource allocation have long-term implications for the company's asset base and operational efficiency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to Director-level roles within Engineering, Operations