Consultant I, II, New Business Construction

JOB SUMMARY:

The Customer Development Department focusses on growing our business from the addition of new customers, increased utilization of natural gas from our existing customer base and maintaining long term relationships with our key customer accounts.

The purpose of this position is to promote and market natural gas and facilitate the on-boarding of all new residential, commercial, and industrial customers to the utility’s distribution system. The primary focus of this role is to drive market strategy and growth opportunities and analyze expansion through the addition of new customers and expansion into unserved communities and new natural gas market applications. This role is responsible for initiating and developing relationships with customers/developers to collaboratively facilitate their natural gas infrastructure projects. This role utilizes rigorous project management and technical skills to develop and execute new business designs in a timely and efficient manner, as well as optimize designs such that they are both cost-effective and meet corporate policies and standards. The individual in this role will work with internal and external parties to ensure that we develop and maintain consistent and supportive customer growth opportunities to meet annual growth targets.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

The office location for this position is in Kankakee. However, this position will cover the Kankakee territory, which includes towns from Coal City -Thomasboro to Fairbury- Sheridan. Must be comfortable with excessive driving 1-2 days a week.

Required:

- Bachelor’s Degree

OR

- 5+ years of related work or military experience

- Proficiency with MS Office

- Valid Driver’s License – position requires excessive travel within our service territory

- Responsible for after-hours duty supervision coverage (duty supervisor)

Preferred:

- Previous experience with construction project planning

- Previous experience with builders/developers for residential/commercial construction

- Previous experience with customer-facing opportunities, front line sales, or market development

Skills:

- Strong organizational skills and excellent follow through skills

- Leadership skills, excellent interpersonal skills, ability to take initiative, highly organized

- Ability to build strong relationships with both internal and external customers

- Customer focused mindset with proven ability to respond quickly to customer needs

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

- This position is based out of an office environment; however site visits, customer visits, and pre-construction meetings are required

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Initiate and develop relationships with customers/developers to collaboratively facilitate their natural gas infrastructure projects from project initiation through construction installation completion

- Provide a single point of contact for a customer during the complete onboarding process from project initiation through construction installation completion

- Utilize rigorous project management and technical skills to develop and execute new business designs in a timely and efficient manner, as well as optimize designs such that they are both cost-effective and meet corporate policies and standards

- Ensure all customers are extended service in as timely and cost-effective manner as possible, by managing the planning, design and coordination for the construction of underground natural gas utility infrastructure for residential, commercial, and industrial customers

- Work with customers to obtain and evaluate essential project information such as natural gas load requirements, delivery pressure requirements, plats, site plans, etc.

- Formulate the most efficient routing of new gas mains and services to serve new residential, commercial, and industrial developments; recognize job site opportunities and propose alternative natural gas main and service designs for system reliability and cost effectiveness; advise potential residential, commercial, and/or industrial natural gas customers of constructability issues during the planning process

- Work collaboratively to drive a project with technical staff and other internal departments to ensure timely design and implementation of natural gas infrastructure projects while providing a superior customer experience though the sales and customer onboarding process

- Prioritize and manages multiple projects simultaneously to optimize overall customer demand portfolio.

- Generate budgets for new business projects and run feasibility models; reconcile past payments to the original customer commitment as directed by tariff.

- Responsible for negotiating and completing contracts, commitments, or agreements with the customer

- Identify and drive opportunities for growth through conversions utilizing a consultative sales approach, promoting the benefits of natural gas over other energy sources

- Provide excellent customer service through timely and thorough communication with individual customers, municipalities and other governmental agencies at on-site planning meetings and throughout the entire onboarding process

- Balance external stakeholder (customer, regulatory agency, permitting jurisdiction, etc.) needs with company goals and objectives to reach favorable resolution to stakeholder issues and/or concerns

- Maintain a thorough knowledge of the company’s terms and conditions, tariffs, rates, processes, etc.

Duties Discretion:

Employee receives clear instructions from supervisor regarding what to do and how to do it.

Tasks follow set guidelines or procedures.

Employee must consider alternative courses of action and then make a decision after considering the options.

Employee has the authority to make significant choices and decisions, without specific guidance or direction from the supervisor.

Explanation:

This is an individual contributor role, reporting to the Supervisor, Customer Development. This role is heavily self-directed in the day-to-day responsibilities of the position.

Task Complexity:

Tasks are straight-forward, routine, and often repetitive.

Tasks are varied and fairly complex.

Assignments are quite varied and highly complex.

Explanation:

This role is responsible for identifying, facilitating and driving the growth strategy for the utility. This role works independently with customers, municipalities, engineers, contractors/developers, field personnel and various levels of leadership.

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com .

Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com .

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Identification: 14653

Job Category: Construction

Job Schedule: Full time

Company: Nicor Gas

Pay Range: 65,521.00 - 118,444.70 USD Annually: Base salary varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, and at the time of this posting, this is the reasonable salary range for this role.