GAS Strategic Technology Director

Southern Company•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

GAS Strategic Technology Director JOB SUMMARY: The Director, GAS Strategic Technology, is a senior technology leader accountable for defining and executing technology strategies that advance Data & AI, Growth Technology, and operational health capabilities across Southern Company Gas (GAS) while influencing broader Southern Company technology direction. Reporting to the VP, Gas Technology Solutions (GTS), this role owns multi-year technology portfolios and establishes scalable platforms and operating models that deliver significant business outcomes across GAS including revenue growth, regulatory confidence, risk reduction, compliance adherence, cost efficiency, and improved employee and customer experiences. This leader has joint business and technology responsibility for GAS Data & AI strategy and execution through the GAS Enterprise Decision Support and Data Governance (EDGE) platform and serves as a senior authority on data management, analytics, AI operating models and solutions. This role defines standards, investment priorities, and capability roadmaps that influence adoption across GAS and inform enterprise-level data and AI direction. The Director leads the Growth Technology portfolio, accountable for establishing and scaling digital products and capabilities that enable organic growth across sales, marketing, energy efficiency, and large-load opportunities. This includes setting growth technology strategy, investment priorities, and success measures for customer and revenue facing digital capabilities enabling GAS Digital Transformation aligned with broader Southern Company growth objectives. In addition, the position has accountability for technology‑related regulatory strategy and investment posture, partnering with Regulatory, Finance, and Planning leaders to develop and support approximately $120M in annual technology investments across four regulated GAS utilities (Atlanta Gas Light, Chattanooga Gas, Nicor Gas, and Virginia Natural Gas). The role also has oversight responsibility for GAS Technology Problem & Health Management, ensuring technology reliability, resilience, and continuous improvement across the GAS operating footprint. This position leads a multi‑layer organization consisting of manager and front-line leaders, overseeing approximately 35+ employees and 50+ contractors, manages a $25M+ annual operating budget, and supports a significantly larger regulated capital investment portfolio. The role is a member of the GTS Senior Leadership Team and serves as a senior technology advisor to GAS leadership. JOB REQUIREMENTS: Education Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field required. Advanced degree is preferred. Experience and Knowledge 10+ years of progressive IT experience, including senior leadership roles managing large, complex organizations. Demonstrated experience defining and executing large-scale portfolio-based technology strategies. Experience delivering data, analytics, and AI platforms or solutions at enterprise scale. Proven leadership of data, analytics, and AI platforms at scale, including governance, security, and operating models. Experience delivering customer‑ and revenue‑facing digital products and growth‑oriented technology portfolios. Deep understanding of regulated utility environments, including capital planning, cost of service, and regulatory risk. Experience influencing and supporting multi‑year investment strategies and operating budgets. Track record of building strong leadership pipelines and scalable organizations. Skills Enterprise‑level leadership presence with the ability to influence executive stakeholders. Ability to define strategy, set priorities, and arbitrate tradeoffs across multiple portfolios. Strong financial and regulatory acumen, including capital investment governance and value realization. Ability to establish operating models, standards, and governance frameworks adopted at scale. Proven talent developer capable of leading leaders and building succession pipelines. Clear, executive‑level communicator able to translate complex technical topics into business decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field required.
10+ years of progressive IT experience, including senior leadership roles managing large, complex organizations.
Demonstrated experience defining and executing large-scale portfolio-based technology strategies.
Experience delivering data, analytics, and AI platforms or solutions at enterprise scale.
Proven leadership of data, analytics, and AI platforms at scale, including governance, security, and operating models.
Experience delivering customer‑ and revenue‑facing digital products and growth‑oriented technology portfolios.
Deep understanding of regulated utility environments, including capital planning, cost of service, and regulatory risk.
Experience influencing and supporting multi‑year investment strategies and operating budgets.
Track record of building strong leadership pipelines and scalable organizations.
Enterprise‑level leadership presence with the ability to influence executive stakeholders.
Ability to define strategy, set priorities, and arbitrate tradeoffs across multiple portfolios.
Strong financial and regulatory acumen, including capital investment governance and value realization.
Ability to establish operating models, standards, and governance frameworks adopted at scale.
Proven talent developer capable of leading leaders and building succession pipelines.
Clear, executive‑level communicator able to translate complex technical topics into business decisions.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Define and own the GAS Data & AI technology strategy, operating model, and investment roadmap through the EDGE platform.
Establish standards and governance frameworks for data, analytics, and AI solutions influencing adoption across GAS while aligning with enterprise practices.
Set multi‑year priorities and success measures for Data & AI capabilities aligned to business and regulatory objectives.
Ensure platforms are secure, governed, scalable, and operationally resilient.
Leverage vendor partners to increase capacity, accelerate delivery with controls on performance and internal accountability for delivery success and value creation.
Own the Growth Technology portfolio strategy, investment priorities, and delivery outcomes supporting organic growth objectives.
Establish and scale customer‑ and commercial‑facing digital products across sales, marketing, energy efficiency, and large‑load opportunities.
Owns technology product selection, negotiation and holds vendors accountable for delivery quality, outcomes, controls, and value.
Define success metrics and value realization for Growth Technology investments.
Partner with Sustainability, Finance, and Planning leaders to integrate growth initiatives with emissions reduction and long‑term financial planning.
Oversee GAS Technology Problem & Health Management through subordinate leaders.
Set expectations and accountability for reliability, incident prevention, and continuous improvement.
Ensure consistent technology experience for field and office employees across the GAS footprint.
Shape and recommend technology investment posture and regulatory strategy in partnership with Regulatory and Finance leadership.
Provide senior oversight and accountability for technology inputs to filings and rate cases.
Own value tracking, investment governance, and transparency for major technology programs.
Influence standardization and automation of financial and planning processes using data and AI.
Lead and develop a multi‑layer leadership team, including Directors and Managers.
Establish leadership expectations, succession plans, and talent pipelines for critical roles.
Serve as a senior contributor to GTS and TO leadership decisions and enterprise initiatives.