Energy Consultant

American Electric Power•Columbus, OH

9d•Remote

About The Position

Identify and develop a portfolio of new small business customers for retail electric supply by cold calling provided prospects and self-generated leads. This is a remote opportunity: Ideal home worksite locations for the territory supported by the Energy Consultant include: Belmont, Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, Cambridge, Ohio, Fairborn, Ohio, Findlay, Ohio, St. Clairsville, Ohio, Steubenville, Ohio, Ashtabula, Erie, PA ( State College area) Job Description What You'll Do: Cold Calling: Execute cold calls and follow up calling for leads provided. Keep pace with provided leads to ensure adequate opportunities and market coverage. This requires self-direction, discipline, and consistent effort to make sufficient cold calls and/or in-person canvassing of businesses. Data Collection and Analysis: Gather key customer information and enter it into AEP Energy’s CRM. Collect account and meter number data necessary to access historical usage data required to generate a sales contract. Collect, analyse, and provide insight into customer feedback for future strategic discussions. Develop industry knowledge to improve ability to give customers their ideal energy solutions. Use CRM tools to ensure customer follow up and repeated strategic touches. Customer Pre-Qualification & Credit Review: Pre-qualify the opportunity based on data collected in CRM. Determine customer creditworthiness prior to investing additional sales effort and/or requesting executable pricing. Sales Aptitude: Effectively present AEP Energy’s value proposition to prospective customers via the phone. Build company credibility, brand value, and trust with prospective customers. Gain knowledge, insight and understanding from key decision-makers regarding customer energy needs and challenges. Sales acumen: Adjust sales strategy as appropriate. Identify strategies and product types to help consumers reduce their overall electric expense or avoid exposure by limiting risk from utility or market prices. Learn and adhere to all industry regulatory standards as well as internal AEP Energy standards. Incorporate feedback offered by Channel Manager and Quality Assurance team into improved performance. Overcome objections and raise key considerations based on customer interactions and specific opportunities and concerns. Contact Management & Negotiation:Ensure the customer has reviewed and pre-approved agreement language and is prepared to decide when presented with executable market pricing. Develop familiarity and knowledge of AEP Energy policies. Close Deals: Self-manage the number of customer proposal calls necessary to meet or exceed the monthly sales volume requirements.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED required.
Bachelor's Degree Preferred.
Energy industry experience a plus.

Nice To Haves

Embodies AEP Energy Values (i.e., Accountability, Passion, Integrity, Innovation, Humor, Humility, and Candor).
High-energy, drive and ambition.
Strong service and results orientation.
Effective problem-solving skills: ability to work from concept to analytics, identify alternatives and develop unique solutions.
High EQ-- superior interpersonal skills, win-win mindset, relationship-builder.
Excellent communication skills – of importance are spoken (via phone) and written (via email).
Ability to prioritize, plan proactively, manage conflicting priorities, operate in a high stress environment and multi-task effectively.

Responsibilities

Cold Calling: Execute cold calls and follow up calling for leads provided.
Keep pace with provided leads to ensure adequate opportunities and market coverage.
Gather key customer information and enter it into AEP Energy’s CRM.
Collect account and meter number data necessary to access historical usage data required to generate a sales contract.
Collect, analyse, and provide insight into customer feedback for future strategic discussions.
Develop industry knowledge to improve ability to give customers their ideal energy solutions.
Use CRM tools to ensure customer follow up and repeated strategic touches.
Pre-qualify the opportunity based on data collected in CRM.
Determine customer creditworthiness prior to investing additional sales effort and/or requesting executable pricing.
Effectively present AEP Energy’s value proposition to prospective customers via the phone.
Build company credibility, brand value, and trust with prospective customers.
Gain knowledge, insight and understanding from key decision-makers regarding customer energy needs and challenges.
Adjust sales strategy as appropriate.
Identify strategies and product types to help consumers reduce their overall electric expense or avoid exposure by limiting risk from utility or market prices.
Learn and adhere to all industry regulatory standards as well as internal AEP Energy standards.
Incorporate feedback offered by Channel Manager and Quality Assurance team into improved performance.
Overcome objections and raise key considerations based on customer interactions and specific opportunities and concerns.
Ensure the customer has reviewed and pre-approved agreement language and is prepared to decide when presented with executable market pricing.
Develop familiarity and knowledge of AEP Energy policies.
Self-manage the number of customer proposal calls necessary to meet or exceed the monthly sales volume requirements.