Key Account Manager

American Electric Power•Wayne, IN

About The Position

The Key Account Manager is responsible for retaining, expanding, and ensuring the overall satisfaction of assigned strategically important managed account customers. The role takes an economic and business development approach to customer experience and is accountable for developing and implementing strategic programs and offerings, generating new business, delivering exceptional customer service, developing and negotiating contracts, and building long-term partnerships with executive-level decision makers. Serving as a single point of contact for customer contacts, the manager identifies critical issues and oversees action plans to resolve them in coordination with relevant operating company departments. The role collaborates with engineers, account managers, Customer Services, Energy Efficiency, Economic Development, operating company departments, and, as necessary, the Corporate National Account organization. It also markets products and services to customers in identified industry segments, engages operating company leadership on matters affecting key accounts, and promotes energy efficiency, demand response, and energy conversion initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Communications, or another related field.
Two years of experience in customer account management, business development, or economic development.
Demonstrated communication and presentation skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to travel to various locations for extended periods and work late into the evenings.
Demonstrated ability to build strategic internal and external relationships, exercise political acumen, and show initiative in managing resources, projects, and issues across business units, committees, and task forces.
Demonstrated successful leadership.

Nice To Haves

Utility industry experience.
An advanced degree or professional certification, such as Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or Juris Doctorate (JD).

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain high-level relationships with key decision makers in assigned customer organizations.
Retain and expand the assigned client base and support customer satisfaction.
Serve as a single point of contact for customers, identify critical issues, and oversee plans to resolve them with relevant operating company departments.
Develop and implement strategic programs and offerings, pursue new business, provide customer service, develop and negotiate contracts, and manage account initiatives.
Build long-term business relationships and partnerships with executive-level decision makers.
Coordinate with engineers, account managers, Customer Services, Energy Efficiency, Economic Development, operating company business units, and other relevant groups to meet goals and objectives.
Market products and services to operating company customers in identified industry segments.
Engage operating company leadership on issues that may affect assigned key accounts.
Promote and support operating company energy efficiency and demand response programs for assigned key accounts.
Promote and support operating company energy conversion with assigned key accounts.