Planning and Design General Manager

Job Content:

To provide strategic leadership and governance over OETC's transmission network planning and engineering design functions, ensuring the development of a reliable, secure, efficient, and sustainable electricity transmission network in alignment with OETC's strategic objectives, regulatory obligations, and future electricity demand.

The role is responsible for overseeing long-term network development plans, power system studies, transmission capacity assessments, investment appraisals, customer connection requirements, and conceptual engineering designs. It ensures that proposed network investments and technical solutions are economically justified, technically sound, compliant with applicable standards, and aligned with OETC's operational and business requirements.

The role also provides strategic oversight of engineering consultancy activities, technical specifications, tender documentation, and project design development up to the award of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts, while promoting engineering excellence, innovation, cost optimization, and continuous improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Network Planning & Development

• Develop and implement OETC's transmission network planning and design strategy, aligned with corporate objectives, business plans, regulatory requirements, and national energy development priorities.
• Lead the preparation and periodic review of the Five-Year Transmission Capability Statement, ensuring alignment with forecast electricity demand, generation developments, and transmission network requirements.
• Oversee long-term transmission network expansion plans to ensure adequate capacity, security, reliability, and operational flexibility.
• Provide strategic recommendations to Executive Management on future network investments, emerging technical challenges, and infrastructure development priorities.
• Ensure network development plans support the integration of renewable energy, energy storage systems, and evolving power system technologies.

Power System Planning & Technical Studies

• Lead and oversee transmission network studies, including load flow, short-circuit analysis, system stability, contingency analysis, and transmission security assessments.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of accurate power system models and planning assumptions to support investment and operational decisions.
• Evaluate network capacity, system constraints, and future load requirements to identify necessary reinforcement and expansion projects.
• Ensure compliance with the Grid Code, Oman Electrical Standards (OES), Transmission Security Standards, and applicable licence obligations.
• Oversee the evaluation of alternative technical solutions to optimize network performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Investment Planning & Economic Appraisal

• Lead the identification, assessment, and prioritization of transmission network investment requirements based on system needs, asset performance, demand growth, and regulatory obligations.
• Oversee the preparation of Pre-Investment Appraisal Documents (PIADs), feasibility studies, technical assessments, and economic evaluations for proposed network projects.
• Ensure proposed investments are supported by appropriate technical justifications, cost estimates, risk assessments, and evaluation of alternatives.
• Coordinate with Asset Management, Finance, Operations, and Projects functions to ensure investment proposals are aligned with business requirements and capital expenditure plans.
• Support the development of regulatory submissions, price control forecasts, and business plans relating to transmission network investments.

Engineering Design & Technical Governance

• Provide strategic leadership over engineering design activities, including front-end engineering, conceptual design, technical specifications, and engineering standards for transmission projects.
• Ensure engineering designs meet approved technical requirements, reliability standards, safety requirements, and project objectives.
• Oversee the development and review of design specifications, engineering solutions, and technical documentation for transmission infrastructure.
• Ensure the effective application of engineering standards, design methodologies, and technical assurance processes across planning and design activities.
• Promote the adoption of innovative engineering solutions, modern technologies, and value engineering practices to improve project efficiency and lifecycle performance.

Customer Connections & Network Integration

• Oversee the technical assessment and processing of new connection applications from distribution companies, generation companies, and directly connected customers.
• Ensure the timely preparation of technically and commercially informed connection offers in coordination with relevant internal departments.
• Lead the assessment of network impacts associated with new generation, renewable energy projects, energy storage systems, and major electricity consumers.
• Ensure connection proposals comply with applicable regulatory requirements, technical standards, and network capacity limitations.
• Maintain effective coordination with relevant stakeholders to facilitate timely and efficient network connections.

Engineering Consultancy, Tendering & Project Interface

• Oversee the preparation of technical scopes of work, engineering specifications, cost estimates, and tender documentation for consultancy and EPC projects.
• Provide technical leadership during tender preparation, consultant evaluation, technical bid assessments, and contractor prequalification activities.
• Coordinate with the Supply Chain and Projects functions to ensure engineering requirements are appropriately reflected in procurement and contractual documentation.
• Oversee the technical development of projects from conceptual design through tender evaluation and EPC contract award, ensuring effective handover to the Projects function.
• Ensure engineering consultancy deliverables meet the required technical, quality, schedule, and cost expectations.
• Coordinate with relevant stakeholders on land, wayleave, and technical interface requirements affecting proposed transmission projects.

Financial Planning & Budget Management

• Lead the preparation, monitoring, and management of the Planning & Design departmental budget in alignment with approved business plans.
• Oversee the development and validation of preliminary capital expenditure estimates for proposed transmission projects.
• Ensure effective cost control, financial discipline, and optimal utilization of departmental resources.
• Support the preparation of annual budgets, regulatory price control submissions, and long-term investment forecasts.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization through efficient network planning, design standardization, and value engineering.

Regulatory Compliance, Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with applicable APSR requirements, OETC licence conditions, Grid Code provisions, technical standards, and internal policies and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective technical governance and quality assurance processes across network planning and engineering design activities.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, regulatory, financial, and operational risks associated with network development and engineering design.
• Ensure timely resolution of relevant internal and external audit findings, regulatory observations, and technical compliance matters.
• Maintain effective coordination with regulatory authorities and relevant stakeholders on network planning and technical obligations.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for network planning, engineering design, investment appraisal, and customer connection activities.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning methodologies, engineering processes, technical standards, and project design practices.
• Promote the adoption of advanced engineering tools, digital technologies, and data-driven approaches to improve planning accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Monitor departmental performance against approved objectives, timelines, budgets, and quality requirements.
• Ensure regular review and enhancement of departmental policies, procedures, and standard operating practices.

Stakeholder & Strategic Relationship Management

• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, including Operations, Asset Management, Projects, Finance, Supply Chain, and other relevant departments.
• Maintain strategic coordination with APSR, distribution companies, generation companies, and other electricity sector stakeholders.
• Oversee relationships with engineering consultants, technical service providers, and contractors to ensure effective delivery of planning and design requirements.
• Represent OETC in relevant technical committees, regulatory discussions, and industry forums related to transmission network planning and development.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination to support integrated network development and investment decisions.

People Management & Capability Development

• Lead, manage, and develop the Planning & Design team to ensure the availability of competent technical and leadership resources.
• Establish workforce capability requirements and identify technical skills and competency gaps.
• Oversee employee performance management, professional development, and succession planning within the department.
• Promote knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous professional development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, safety, and technical excellence.

Reporting & Executive Communication

• Prepare and present regular reports to Executive Management on transmission network development plans, investment requirements, engineering design performance, and strategic technical matters.
• Provide timely technical advice and recommendations to support executive decision-making on network investments and infrastructure development.
• Communicate key planning risks, network constraints, project readiness, and regulatory compliance matters to relevant stakeholders.
• Support the preparation of reports and presentations for Executive Management, the Board of Directors, and regulatory authorities, as required.

Other Requirement:

Knowledge and Understanding of the Asset Management, HSE Management System and IT Security Standard Requirements according to ISO55001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 27001 to carry out the assigned duties as per the roles and responsibilities matrix.

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Power Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline
• Master's degree in electrical Power Systems, Power Engineering, Engineering Management, or MBA (Preferred)

Experience:

• Minimum 11 years of relevant experience in electrical power systems, transmission network planning, engineering design, or related functions in a power utility company
• Minimum 4 years in a managerial or leadership role