Utility Relations Manager, Focus on Energy

Job Description

At APTIM , we come to work each day knowing that we are making an impact on the world. Our work spans from safeguarding and maintaining critical infrastructure to helping communities recover from natural disasters, from empowering our armed forces and first responders to reducing carbon and energy use, and from making cities more resilient against the threats of climate change to restoring contaminated ecological systems.

Job Overview:

APTIM's Energy Transition is seeking a Utility Relations Manager to support Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Program. The Utility Relations Manager is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day relationships between APTIM (Focus on Energy's Program Administrator), Wisconsin's electric and natural gas utilities, including Municipal Electric utilities and Electric Cooperatives. This position reports to the Utility Relations Director and is part of the Stakeholder Engagement team.

APTIM's work in Wisconsin has centred on administration of Focus on Energy, one of the longest standing energy efficiency and clean energy programs in the country. This award-winning program serves 107 utility territories across the Wisconsin market and supports more than 50,000 energy efficiency projects annually. Coordination with the teams administering and implementing Focus on Energy programs will be essential to create a seamless customer experience.

APTIM's Energy Solutions team is a recognized leader in the marketplace. Our technical experts deliver highly innovative projects and complex client solutions providing the full breadth of energy solutions including energy management, carbon management, smart energy infrastructure, distributed energy resources (DER), and carbon-free mobility solutions. Our consultants proactively collaborate with clients to define and implement strategies and campaigns around key business drivers, with the primary focus of finding and delivering high-impact projects exceeding expectations and meeting the unique needs for our commercial and retail clients.

The Utility Relations Manager is responsible for ensuring that Focus on Energy's participating utilities have clear and open access to Program information, have opportunities to give and receive feedback on the Program and are approached by Focus on Energy representatives with consistency and clarity. The Utility Relations Manager will be expected to engage with utility partners proactively to understand their unique goals and challenges and communicate how the Program can support those goals and challenges. This position will be a critical member of the team by informing overarching strategic direction and driving new initiatives.

This position is based in Wisconsin and will travel regularly within the state of Wisconsin and there is the opportunity for travel outside of Wisconsin, sporadically, for conferences, events, and continuing education. The Utility Relations Manager will communicate across functional teams to exchange ideas, embraces a collaborative approach, takes ownership of their workspace, and finds solutions to challenges as they arise. Candidates must be able to manage multiple tasks, be well-versed not only in the core components of the current Focus on Energy program portfolio, but able to understand and communicate about the upcoming IRA Home Energy Rebate program requirements. The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, be able to maintain positive relationships with the client, colleagues, implementation subcontractors, and wide variety of market stakeholders in addition to Wisconsin's utilities. This role requires a person who is accountable, process driven, and detail oriented. In this role, you will be working with others who are passionate about clean energy, energy efficiency, and making a positive impact on the industry.

What you can expect from APTIM:

• Work that is worthy of your time and talent
• Respect and flexibility to live a full life at work and at home
• Dogged determination to deliver for our clients and communities
• A voice in making our company better
• Investment into your personal and professional development

Key Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

• Connect regularly with utility partners via phone, email, virtual platforms and face-to-face discussions to ensure utilities are current on Focus on Energy's offerings and efforts, and to gain the utility perspective on issues relating to Focus on Energy.
• Maintain an appropriate level of involvement with groups and associates having utility membership or representation (WUA, MEUW, WECA, etc.).
• Collaborate and project manage initiatives that drive toward improved customer experience and an enhanced partnership.
• Ensure Wisconsin utilities receive timely and accurate reports per APTIM's obligations as Program Administrator.
• Respond to direct inquiries and requests made by utilities in a timely manner, delegating amongst the APTIM and internal stakeholder teams as appropriate.
• Manage annual review process to ensure utility partners are working from the most current information on Focus on Energy.
• Deliver supporting information, collateral, and contacts to utility partners to support deepened customer engagement.
• Be attuned to broad regulator, policy, and economic concerns touching utilities and bring these perspectives into Focus on Energy's planning efforts.
• Identifying and building relationships with other stakeholders to help connect with utility customers.
• All other duties as assigned.
• Ensuring compliance with all APTIM quality and safety policies as well as all OSHA regulations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of industry experience required.
• Knowledge of Focus on Energy and WI utility landscape
• Experience in working with any of the following stakeholders is ideal: contractors, utilities, retailers, program implementers, manufacturers or distributors of energy-efficient equipment or services.
• Strong service orientation with the ability to work across multiple departments and units within an organization, external clients and multiple stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with excellent time management, project management, and follow-through; creative problem solver with strong analytical abilities
• Ability to absorb information from multiple parties and formulate necessary communications or decisions quickly.
• Conceptual understanding of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the types of equipment, technologies, and building practices in use by participating Focus on Energy Trade Ally Contractors.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and experience with client engagement and coordination Experience in the use of typical productivity software tools.
• Strong quantitative and analytic capabilities to interpret data and solve practical problems.
• Adaptable to the use of proprietary software tools to be used in combining large volumes of data for consolidated reporting.
• Exceptional relationship management skills.
• Ability to travel statewide and occasionally out-of-state.
• Must be a self-starter, organized and have an ability to manage competing priorities with established deadlines Commitment to fostering a collaborative work environment within the team and the broader organization.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills; experience with client engagement and coordination.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software -- Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint,

Desired/Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics and/or Power BI.
• Professional experience working with a wide variety of stakeholders, such as state, local and federal governments, for-profit and non-profit organizations, utilities, and others.
• CEM, BPI, MBA, PMP, or similar certification.
• 3+ years' experience in the energy efficiency industry.

Who we are and what we do:

APTIM is a global industry leader headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. With more than 4,000 employees worldwide, APTIM specializes in critical infrastructure, technical and data solutions, program management, environmental services, resilience, as well as sustainability and energy solutions. Our dedicated people have the proven experience and expertise to provide integrated services and solutions to government agencies, commercial, industrial, and energy customers. APTIM is committed to accelerating the transition toward a clean and efficient energy economy, building a sustainable future for our communities and the natural world, and creating an inclusive equitable environment that celebrates the diversity of our people.

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