Executive Director of Corporate Strategy

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7. 

Location

This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to One Energy Plaza located in Jackson, MI.  The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify). 

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Executive Director of Corporate Strategy leads the strategy department and is responsible for the development and execution of CMS Energy’s strategy. This role is responsible for monitoring and understanding the implications of changes in the company's business environment, internal strategic consulting for senior executive teams on high-priority assignments and performing on-demand Merger and Acquisition analysis and due diligence. Leverage internal and external benchmarks and market intelligence to proactively develop strategic initiatives aimed at optimizing performance and P&L results. Work directly with business leaders and stakeholders to support existing business unit growth strategies across Consumers Energy Electric Supply, Electric Distribution, Gas Utilities, and NorthStar Clean Energy. Responsibilities include prioritizing, staffing, and ensuring successful delivery of a portfolio of strategic engagements to advance business unit objectives. In addition, lead the corporate development team in proactively identifying and evaluating both organic and inorganic growth opportunities for the company.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage CMS Energy’s long-term strategic planning process to enable effective decision-making regarding enterprise and business unit strategies, including recommending changes to strategy when appropriate. Accountable for leading the planning and execution of the monthly and quarterly strategy meetings with the senior executive team and, as appropriate, the CMS Energy Board of Directors.
• Support the deployment of strategies across business units—including Consumers Energy Electric Supply, Electric Distribution, Gas Utilities, and NorthStar Clean Energy—by partnering with business units to lead high-impact consulting engagements that drive strategy achievement.
• Stay informed on the company’s business environment through an analytically rigorous "signpost" and scenario analysis process. Build relationships with utility industry strategy peers, leaders at energy technology companies, investment bankers, advisors, and industry analysts to shape perspectives regarding industry developments and the company’s positioning.
• Proactively identify and evaluate new business opportunities, conduct analytical research on potential investments, recommend investments, and provide due diligence.
• Lead corporate development activities, managing key phases of mergers and acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, partnerships, and divestments—including developing strategy, supporting valuation, due diligence, and contract negotiations.
• Lead the Corporate Strategy and Corporate Development teams, including sourcing, researching, evaluating, and executing new project opportunities. Manage the overall project portfolio, ensure quality control and client satisfaction, and support team development.
• Consult on high-priority assignments in the direction of the senior executive team. Manage teams that partner with subject matter experts across the company to develop robust analytical insights and recommendations. Collaborate with the senior executive team to deliver clear and actionable strategy decisions.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to identify and solve for emerging business trends with strategic impact.
• Leadership and business acumen.
• Trust building and stakeholder management.
• Highly self-directed.
• High degree of diplomacy, negotiation and organizational navigation.
• Ability to provide solutions and identify actions in highly complex and ambiguous environment.
• Solution-oriented and results-driven.
• Executive presence and strategic communication .
• Exceptional communication skills (written, oral, presentations, interpersonal).
• Astute strategist.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field, with a minimum of twelve (12) years of leadership or executive consulting experience, including advising in C-level executive environments.
• OR Associate’s degree in business, finance, or a related field, with a minimum of fourteen (14) years of leadership or executive consulting experience, including advising in C-level executive environments.
• OR High school diploma with a minimum of sixteen (16) years of leadership or executive consulting experience, including advising in C-level executive environments.

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Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.