Account Executive

Duke Energy; Spartanburg (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke Energy is seeking an Account Executive to manage strategic issues and cultivate relationships with its largest commercial and industrial customers in the service territory. You will work with internal teams to grow earnings and align with policy priorities, regulatory matters, and reputation management efforts.

You will lead negotiations, coordinate with senior leadership, and drive regional growth by identifying and delivering solutions that meet customer needs and strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus five years of related experience required.
• In lieu of degree and experience, high school/GED plus nine years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships with customers and key stakeholders to support long-term engagement and strategic alignment.
• Identify opportunities for earnings growth and coordinate with cross-functional teams to deliver solutions.
• Develop and implement strategic plans to address customer needs and market trends.
• Manage the sales process from needs assessment to delivery, ensuring customer success.
• Educate customers on regulatory matters and industry developments to keep them informed.
• Maintain technical knowledge of industrial processes and Duke Energy's systems to support customer solutions.

Skills

Relationship management

Negotiation

Strategic planning

Communication

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

High School/GED

Job description

Position Summary

The Account Executive is responsible for managing strategic issues and cultivating relationships with Duke Energy’s largest and most complex commercial and industrial customers. This role focuses on enhancing customer satisfaction, strengthening key external partnerships, building customer advocacy, and identifying opportunities to grow earnings. In collaboration with internal teams, Account Executives develop and execute strategies that support the company’s business objectives, policy priorities and reputation management efforts.

Responsibilities

Relationship and Issues Management

Establish and maintain strong relationships at all levels within customer organizations to support long-term engagement and strategic alignment. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of complex rate structures, billing options, demand response programs, and renewable options based upon their respective customer value propositions, Serve as lead negotiator and primary decision maker in resolving customer issues, ensuring timely and effective solutions. Own and manage the entire customer relationship, coordinating with internal departments, including senior leadership, to ensure alignment. Understand the customer’s unique needs, strategic issues, business objectives and decision-making processes, and effectively communicate those needs internally to drive alignment and support.

Business & Economic Development

Drive regional growth by partnering with the Duke Energy economic development team in identifying, coordinating, and managing potential new projects or expansions within the company’s service territory. Drive earnings growth by proactively identifying and positioning technical products and service solutions that meet and exceed customer needs. Manage the sales process from initial needs assessment through solution delivery, coordinating internal cross-functional teams to ensure customer success. Coordinate and manage customer service projects and load growth opportunities. Actively promote the implementation and broad acceptance of the company’s tools and services.

Strategic Planning

Develop and execute strategic plans to proactively address and resolve issues, strengthening and preserving relationships with the company’s large business customers. Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the customer’s business, key stakeholders and strategic initiatives to better anticipate needs and deliver value. Monitor and communicate market trends, forecasts, and external factors – such as environmental and regulatory developments – impacting large business customers, providing insights to internal stakeholders for strategic planning and forecasting. Develop and implement action plans for specific projects to achieve defined business objectives and customer outcomes.

Project Management

Serve as the primary liaison between customers and internal teams to ensure timely delivery of solutions and alignment with customer expectations. Provide support during emergency and storm events by communicating outage information and restoration updates to customers.

Education and Policy Advocate

Establish and maintain effective communication and education channels to keep customers informed and engaged. Serve as a liaison between the company and customer to communicate and educate on relevant regulatory and legislative matters. Prepare and present relevant information on emerging trends, technologies, and industry developments to customers, ensuring they remain informed and engaged.

Performance Management

Develop and maintain technical and working knowledge of industrial processes and technologies used by large assigned customers that affect the energy delivery methods including all energy end uses. Develop and maintain comprehensive working knowledge of electric systems and components, including those associated with Duke Energy’s transmission and distribution system, as well as the effect of the interface with the customer’s systems. Serve as a resource to assigned internal cross-functional teams to assist in developing solutions to large business customers’ needs.

Basic/Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree AND five (5) years minimum required related experience
• In Lieu of degree(s) and experience listed above, High School/GED AND nine (9) years minimum required related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Certified Energy Manager
• Professional Engineer
• Experience managing relationships with large and complex customers and/or key stakeholders
• Ability to develop results-oriented business relationships to influence the outcome of issues to effectively advance and/or position the corporation’s business plans and objectives
• Extensive knowledge of electric distribution and transmission systems and grid operations
• Knowledge of customer-side energy distribution and energy-consuming systems and processes
• Excellent interpersonal skills including communication skills, presentation skills, conflict resolution and negotiation skills
• Business development experience
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills
• Ability and flexibility to effectively manage and facilitate multiple projects and issues simultaneously
• Effective analytical, problem identification and resolution skills
• Ability to maintain composure and clarity of thought and purpose when confronted with highly stressful situations
• Ability to work in a team environment to coordinate resources in a matrixed organization to meet customer expectations
• Proven self-starter, with a results-oriented mindset, capable of taking initiative and driving tasks to completion with minimal supervision

Working Conditions

Field Mobility Classification - Work location is highly mobile, working at various facilities or field locations with occasional onsite meetings after the onboarding period. Employee must live within a reasonable commute to the posted reporting location, not greater than 50 miles one way. Ability to engage 24/7 for response and resolution of emergent customer needs including but not limited to power outages, emergent maintenance work, and major storm support.

Specific Requirements

• Have the knowledge and capability to pass the CEM certification test
• Valid driver’s license
• Travel Requirements 15-25%
• Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)
• No Represented/Union Position
• No Visa Sponsored Position
• This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.
• Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.

Diversity & Inclusion

Duke Energy values ideas that come from a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we’re dedicated to providing a work environment where all people are valued, respected and able to reach their full potential. Duke Energy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including but not limited to lactation, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military status, or protected veteran status. Duke Energy complies with all applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances prohibiting discrimination.