Utility Operations Manager Jobs in Spring, TX (NOW HIRING)

Location: Houston, Texas (Downtown)
Job Category: Consulting
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Model: Hybrid (3-4 days onsite)

Cognizant Consulting is more than Cognizant's consulting practice. We're a global community of experts dedicated to helping clients reimagine their businesses through industry, operational, and technology transformation. We partner with leading organizations to solve complex business challenges and create sustainable value through innovative solutions.

As a Senior Consulting Manager – Utilities Grid Modernization & Speed to Power Transformation, you will make an impact by advising utility clients on strategic transformation initiatives that improve service energization, modernize distribution operations, enhance reliability, and accelerate business outcomes. You will be a valued member of Cognizant Consulting's Energy & Utilities practice and will collaborate closely with utility executives, operations leaders, engineering organizations, IT and OT stakeholders, and project teams to drive large-scale transformation programs.

This role requires a blend of strategic advisory experience, utility industry expertise, business process transformation leadership, and program execution capabilities. You will help clients navigate complex grid modernization initiatives while delivering measurable operational and customer-focused outcomes.

• Lead strategic consulting engagements focused on grid modernization, distribution operations transformation, utility operational excellence, and Speed to Power initiatives
• Partner with utility executives and operational leaders to assess current-state capabilities, identify improvement opportunities, and define transformation roadmaps
• Design future-state operating models, governance structures, business processes, and organizational frameworks that improve energization performance and operational effectiveness.
• Serve as a trusted advisor across utility operations and technology domains, including SCADA, DMS, OMS, ADMS, GIS, DERMS, AMI, work management, asset management, and customer platforms.
• Facilitate executive workshops, stakeholder alignment sessions, transformation planning activities, and strategic decision-making forums.
• Translate business objectives into actionable requirements, operating procedures, implementation strategies, and measurable success metrics.
• Lead cross-functional teams across operations, engineering, IT, OT, field services, and vendor organizations to deliver transformation outcomes.
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to energization cycle times, outage restoration performance, operational efficiency, field productivity, customer service, and system reliability.
• Contribute to Cognizant's thought leadership, industry solutions, business development efforts, and Energy & Utilities consulting growth strategy.

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this position requires 3-4 days per week onsite at a Cognizant or client office in Houston, Texas (Downtown).

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured, we will always be clear about role expectations.

• 12+ years of consulting, advisory, business transformation, or program leadership experience within the Energy & Utilities industry.
• Deep expertise in electric transmission and distribution operations, grid modernization, outage management, restoration processes, and utility operating models.
• Proven experience leading large-scale utility transformation programs, operational improvement initiatives, or technology-enabled business transformations.
• Strong executive stakeholder management skills with demonstrated experience advising business and operational leadership teams.
• Experience working with utility technologies including SCADA, DMS, OMS, ADMS, GIS, DERMS, AMI, WMS, EAM, CIS, and related platforms.
• Experience developing business cases, transformation roadmaps, governance frameworks, operating models, and implementation strategies.
• Strong consulting, facilitation, communication, and problem-solving skills with the ability to influence executive decision-making.
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Power Systems, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business, or a related discipline. Advanced degree preferred.

• Experience supporting service energization, customer connections, field operations transformation, commissioning, and operational readiness initiatives.
• Knowledge of outage lifecycle management, crew dispatch, switching operations, restoration prioritization, and customer communication processes.
• Understanding of distributed energy resources, distribution planning, reliability improvement programs, and operational resilience initiatives.
• Experience leading Agile, hybrid, or waterfall transformation programs and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, SAFe, Agile, ITIL, Lean Six Sigma, Prosci Change Management, or utility-industry certifications.

We're excited to meet people who share our passion for helping clients solve complex challenges and create meaningful business outcomes. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you don't meet every qualification. We value diverse experiences, transferable skills, and unique perspectives that help drive innovation and transformation.

This position is eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) plan and company contributions
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Employee assistance program
• 10 paid holidays plus paid time off
• Paid parental leave and fertility assistance
• Learning and development certifications and programs

Applications will be accepted until September 5, 2026.

Cognizant will only consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring company sponsorship now or in the future.