Contracting and Utility Services Manager

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.  Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.   Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

Summary     Manages the administration and coordination of new business gas and electric contract contractors across the contractor work-to-pay lifecycle, ensuring contractor work is properly authorized, funded, executed, invoiced and paid in accordance with company policies, financial controls and regulatory requirements. Oversees purchase requisition, purchase order and Service Entry Sheet (SES) processes, vendor onboarding, invoice exception management, accruals and vendor payment support while maintaining audit-ready records and SOx compliance. Provides guidance and consultation to Business Operations leadership, Supply Chain and Finance for the administration of contractors providing ancillary services including boring, restoration and barricading. Administers the policies and procedures of Business Operations to ensure financial stewardship and accurate, timely financial reporting while ensuring customer satisfaction.

Contractor and Vendor Administration: Review, analyze, and recommend contract and process modifications as needed to ensure emphasis on common language, expectations and competitive costs. Lead contract administration activities supporting the contractor work-to-pay lifecycle, including vendor onboarding, training, system access, billing support and payment issue resolution. Oversee vendor transitions, pricing changes and new agreement implementation to ensure business continuity and timely supplier payment. Manages level of service for both contractors and Utility Services. Continually provides for the effective and efficient use of contractor and Utility Services distribution crews, including the overall management of and responsibility for financial objectives, performance goals, administration and coordination of work activities to ensure unit costs, in-service dates, safety expectations and services are in line with company expectations. Create, analyze and forecast budgets for contracting, Utility Services and boring activities as needed to determine effectiveness and efficiency of negotiated services and company resources. People Leadership and Talent Development: Daily management of a diverse portfolio of service providers including contractors, Utility Services and bore crews, supervisors, associates and administrative assistants. Determines whether work is to be performed by contractor, Utility Services or Company Bore crews to ensure the best value is achieved for the assigned segments of work. Manage the deployment of New Business contractors, Utility Services and bore crews throughout Xcel Energy's service territory to maximize work efficiency and maintain expected work production to meet customer expectations. Establish clear goals, promote knowledge sharing and build organizational capability to meet