Principal Strategic Efficiency Consultant

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.

We are seeking a strategic, analytical finance professional to join our team in an enterprise-facing role focused on budgeting, financial planning, and driving business impact. In this position, you will partner with senior leaders to translate complex financial data into clear insights, identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiencies, and proactively guide decisions that support operational and financial performance across the organization.

The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of performing complex financial analysis and delivering compelling, data-driven recommendations that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and create measurable value—preferably within a utility company or similarly regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities

Planning and Analysis Defines strategic continuous improvement objectives. Analyzes business needs and identifies potential process improvement initiatives aligned to strategic objectives. Scopes potential initiatives to forecast the anticipated benefits and resource needs of each. Develops departmental and/or cross-functional continuous improvement recommendations and collaborates with other departments to determine resource constraints and points of overlap. Maintains repository and roadmap of continuous improvement activities.

Process/Continuous Improvement Proactively provides insights for complex, widely scoped and/or cross-functional improvement initiatives. Identifies strategic objectives using financial reporting.

Stakeholder Engagement/Change Management Develops and implements timely and accurate status updates customized to stakeholder needs, including executives. May develop and implement reports, presentations, proposals and supporting materials.

Impact Assessment Assesses impacts of changes to process, technology, organization structure and policy in connection with very complex midsize to major projects and strategic initiatives and in consultation with officers, managers, supervisors and individual contributors. Evaluates effectiveness of change efforts.

Education/Experience/Certifications

Education Requires a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, organizational development, psychology or other related field or equivalent experience.

Experience Typically eight or more years in project management, change management, process improvement, strategic finance, cost transformation, consulting or a related field.

Certifications, Licenses and Training

• Strongly prefer PMP certification and/or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, CBPL, CCIM and/or change management certification such as PROSCI.
• CPA, FPAC or other related finance and/or accounting certification.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

Functional Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of project management, change management and/or process improvement methodologies and standards.
• Advanced knowledge of and skill in using software applications used in department.
• Advanced knowledge of business process re-engineering and continuous improvement methods and concepts.
• Advanced knowledge of systems thinking concepts and principles.
• Advanced knowledge of group problem-solving methods and techniques, including problem analysis, nominal group and brainstorming techniques and consensus building.
• Advanced knowledge of process improvement methodologies and the application of human factors.
• Advanced skills in strategic thinking in order to understand where the organization is, where it wants to be and how to get there.
• Advanced consulting skills.

General Competencies

• Advanced analytical thinking skills.
• Advanced process improvement skills.
• Advanced business acumen.
• Advanced change leadership skills.
• Advanced organization and prioritization skills.
• Intermediate presentation and facilitation skills.
• Advanced conflict management skills.
• Advanced decision-making skills.
• Advanced enterprise/business awareness skills.
• Advanced interpersonal skills.
• Advanced facilitation skills.
• Advanced negotiation skills.
• Advanced problem-solving skills.
• Advanced risk management skills.
• Advanced written and oral communication skills.
• Expert organization and prioritization skills.

Physical and Cognitive Demands

Cognitive Level

Substantial: Consistent use of logic or scientific thinking to define problems, collect information, establish facts and draw valid conclusions (for example, engineer, HR director, plant manager, etc.).

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 adhere to pre-established schedule, including start/stop time and break/lunch schedule [typically for nonexempt positions, although some exempt positions may have an established start/stop time]
• Ability to work long hours [typically for exempt positions; if included in nonexempt positions, overtime applies]
• 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 [for part- time positions, change to part-time attendance]
• Ability to work on-call schedule

Physical Capabilities

• Driving/travel/commute: Overnight inside/outside the service territory - Occasionally (one to two times a month or less)
• Use computer regularly for entire work shift
• Lifting/pushing/pulling: Up to 10 lbs.
• Carrying: Up to 10 lbs.
• Unstable surfaces requiring balance
• Stairs (over 10 steps)

Environment - Indoor/Outdoor

• Office
• Plant
• Field

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity.

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 talentacquisition@pgn.com 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.