Director, Commercial & Key Accounts

City of Austin•Austin, TX

4d•$131,400 - $168,800•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is a critical role within the Austin Energy Operations organization and a member of the Electrical Systems and Engineering Technical Services team. This position is responsible for managing a team of Key Account managers who are responsible for managing Austin Energy's largest and most significant customers based on revenue and service complexity. The position is responsible for customer escalations and usually the team that this position manages are many customer's first contact when they are dissatisfied with services of Austin Energy. Thus, this position requires extensive knowledge of utility services and Austin Energy's key systems for monitoring and reporting on utility services. This position must interface with Directors and executive leadership and therefore have excellent written and oral communications skills. Also, in leading a professional team of managers, this position must have excellent managerial and organizational skills. Primary duties including troubleshooting customer issues and working across the utility with Operations and Engineering teams to help resolve.

Requirements

Knowledge and experience in management of energy efficiency programs.
Knowledge of energy efficiency technologies.
Knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, and policies.
Knowledge of city practice, policy, and procedure.
Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
Knowledge of reporting concepts and preferred business practices.
Knowledge of budgeting and purchasing processes and systems.
Knowledge of project management and internal control concepts and practices.
Knowledge of green building and sustainability standards and legislation regarding state and local mandates.
Skill in oral and written communications.
Skill in handling hostile conflict and uncertain situations.
Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
Skill in using computers and related software applications.
Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees, the public and contractors.
Ability to work various shifts, on-call and backup hours, typically in support of outages or energy emergencies.
Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, or in a field related to the job, plus seven (7) years related experience, two (2) years of which were in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
Criminal background investigation and NERC Personal Risk Assessment.

Nice To Haves

Comprehensive knowledge of the Bulk Electric System and the Wholesale Energy Market
Technical understanding of Substation, Transmission, Distribution and Relay protection
Experience developing, negotiating and executing contracts related to the energy industry
Leadership experience in energy emergency events
Comprehensive understanding of electric rates with an emphasis on commercial rates, as well as an understanding of the rate making process
Education may substitute for experience up to two (2) years.

Responsibilities

Lead team of professionals who manage relationships with key customers
Ensure training and development of team with knowledge of AE tools and systems needed to best serve key customers
Execute and manage contracts as appropriate
Serve on the Incident Command team
Maintain relationships with surrounding utilities as a means to troubleshoot issues within AE's system and between surrounding utilities' systems and key account customers
Plans, directs, and coordinates the development and delivery of a range of technical program services to improve energy efficiency in new and existing residential, commercial and industrial building.
Directs and manages the performance of energy audits and engineering feasibility studies; reviews and evaluates recommendations of building design reviews and studies, and cost-effectiveness comparisons of end-use technologies.
Manages annual O&M, CIP and incentive budgets including preparing short and long-term spending plans.
Prepares and presents annual results-of-operations reports for Austin Energy management and public advisory committees.
Manages promotional and outreach efforts to establish partnerships with contractors, vendors and trade allies to enhance customer services and participation to meet Austin Energy's energy efficiency goals.
Formulates specific plan objectives to achieve desirable electric load shape changes through energy efficiency and load management programs and projects.
Directs technical and planning process elements for evaluating alternative energy efficiency program initiatives.
Develops and executes strategies to maintain excellent customer satisfaction with Austin Energy’s Commercial and Key Account Customers
Develops and implements plans and programs to promote Austin Energy’s Green Building and Sustainability projects and programs.
Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.