OREANDA-NEWS. January 18, 2016. Consumers Energy is starting a new program to develop the next generation of field leaders, those who supervise electric and natural gas crews.

"We have the expertise and ability in-house to teach the technical side of our business to those with little to no utility experience through our new Field Leader Development Program," said

Cathy Hendrian, Consumers Energy's vice president of human resources. "We are looking to attract people with leadership and management expertise who are interested in transferring those skills to good-paying field leader careers in the energy sector."

Consumers Energy has multiple positions in Michigan to fill in the Field Leader Development Program, intended for experienced leaders who may need to develop energy operations skills. The positions are full-time and will require working outdoors during inclement weather and interacting with customers.

During the 12- to 18-month training program, participants will not have direct supervisory responsibilities while receiving an overview of electric and gas operations and rotating through multiple field-based assignments.

After development, the successful participants will be eligible for full-time, permanent field leader positions with supervisory responsibilities.

The Field Leader Development Program is patterned after a program Consumers Energy has used reliably for years to develop engineering talent.

"This new program will strengthen our Promise to Michigan to deliver the energy our customers need whenever they need it by supporting our efforts to get the right people in the right positions with the right training," Hendrian said.

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.