Process Improvement Specialist

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

Job Function

. Leads cross-functional business process improvement and enterprise savings initiatives by establishing delivery plans, governance structures, and measurable performance outcomes. Develops sustainable, repeatable and quantifiable improvements aligned to business objectives.

Key Job Information

Process Improvement Specialist 6645

Grade 07
Career Level: P3

Requires in-depth knowledge and experience

Uses best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to improve products or services

Solves complex problems; takes a new perspective using existing solutions

Works independently; receives minimal guidance

Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience

Key Responsibilities

Analyzes and integrates operational performance information from multiple sources and identifies potential program development and process improvement opportunities. Develops analytics, performance metrics, and savings validation reporting to support departmental and enterprise initiatives. Monitors performance goals and metrics, identifies areas at risk, and translates insights into actionable recommendations for leadership.

Planning and Analysis Analyzes business needs and identifies potential cross-functional process improvement initiatives and program management opportunities. Scopes potential initiatives to forecast the anticipated benefits and resource needs of each. Prioritizes needs. Develops departmental continuous improvement plan and collaborates with other departments to determine resource constraints and points of overlap. Negotiates for resources. Maintains repository and roadmap of program, process, department projects, and continuous improvement activities. Decides which stakeholders to engage and how.

Process/Continuous Improvement Leads the planning and execution oversight of cross-functional process improvement and enterprise savings initiatives. Establishes credible project plans including scope, milestones, dependencies, success metrics, and acceptance criteria. Maintains visibility to risks, issues, and decision impacts and escalates to sponsors when delivery objectives are at risk. Recommends mitigation strategies and tradeoffs. Facilitates structured working sessions and establishes clear roles and accountability across stakeholders. Ensures governance discipline and transparent performance reporting to departmental and senior leadership.

Consultation Researches operational best practices and makes recommendations. Develops and communicates project plans, reports, and status updates. Manages organizational change efforts. Serves as a subject matter expert in process improvement to employees and leaders.

Education/Experience/Certifications

Education Typically a bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, finance or other related field or equivalent experience.

Experience Typically five or more years in process improvement, project management or related field.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives requiring alignment across multiple departments without direct authority
Experience developing and analyzing performance metrics, financial impact models, or savings validation reporting
Experience presenting initiative updates, tradeoffs, and risk assessments to senior leaders and executive stakeholders
Demonstrated negotiation and influence skills in environments with competing priorities and resource constraints

Certifications, Licenses and Training Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred. Six Sigma certification preferred.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

Functional Competencies

Intermediate knowledge of project management methods and principles

Intermediate knowledge of PGE’s policies, procedures, tariffs and regulations

Intermediate knowledge of industry best practices related to area of discipline

Intermediate skills in project management

Intermediate skills in influencing without authority

Intermediate skills facilitation and the ability to present complex analyses, risks, and recommendations to senior leaders and executive audiences

Intermediate skills in systems and programs used in functional area, including data retrieval

Intermediate risk management skills

General Competencies

Advanced customer focus skills

Intermediate safety leadership skills

Intermediate skills in analytical thinking

Advanced skills in problem solving

Advanced oral and written communication skills

Advanced interpersonal skills

Intermediate decision-making skills

Advanced organization and prioritization skills

Intermediate knowledge of business process interrelationships

Advanced business acumen

Advanced skills in change leadership

Intermediate risk management skills

Physical and Cognitive Demands

Cognitive Level

Intermediate: Consistent use of relevant principles to solve practical problems and to deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where limited standardization exists.

Cognitive

Ability to adhere to set response times, deadlines and time-sensitive tasks

Ability to follow accuracy standards

Ability to follow through on decision-making tasks

Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively within a team environment

Ability to communicate and problem solve when under stress

Ability to respond and adapt to frequent change

Ability to accept and demonstrate self-awareness when provided constructive feedback

Ability to discern feedback and acknowledge ownership of areas of improvement

Ability to avoid future mistakes by applying reasonable skills to new but similar work situations or tasks

Ability to successfully collaborate with peers, managers and others within the organization

Demonstrates sound memory

Ability to process new information to be applied consistently to work tasks

Schedule/Attendance

Ability to work long hours

Ability to work a variable schedule

Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather

Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular, reliable, predictable, full-time attendance

Physical Capabilities

• Driving/travel/commute: Daily within service territory - Frequently (at least once a week or more)
• Computer use (use computer regularly for entire work shift)

Environment - Indoor/Outdoor

• Office

Compensation Range:

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity. While we anticipate the selected candidate for this position will fall towards the middle or entry point of the compensation range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.

PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here.

Join us today and power your potential!

Assisting with storms or other Company emergencies is a part of all positions at Portland General Electric.

PGE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel connected, valued, and empowered to thrive. PGE will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

PGE does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We recognize individuals have a variety of abilities to offer and we believe there is much to value and celebrate by incorporating different abilities into the work we do. One very important way we live this out is in our application and interview process. We work hard to support individuals who may need an accommodation to fully participate in these processes. If you feel you may need an accommodation, or would like to request one, please notify the Recruiter associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting [email protected] or by calling 503-464-7250. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process. 

To be considered for this position, please complete the following employment application by the posting close date.  Posting closes at midnight (Pacific Time) on the closing date below. If no date is listed, job is open until filled.