Economic Development Manager

Alliant Energy; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Alliant Energy in Cedar Rapids, IA is seeking an Economic Development Manager to lead community and business growth initiatives for our service territory. You will partner with key account managers, respond to site selection inquiries and RFPs, and build relationships with large industrial customers.

Success requires experience with manufacturing, food ingredients, animal feed, industrial biotechnology, and health-related industries, plus travel up to 1 week per month.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field preferred.
• 3 years of supervisory experience or equivalent.
• 5 years of economic development, government relations, or related experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads and oversees the economic development team, promoting safety and inclusion while driving performance.
• Maintains awareness of current trends in economic development.
• Develops and implements strategic reviews of customer accounts to evaluate needs, usage trends, and market intelligence.

Skills

Account Planning

Business Development

Business Negotiations

Competitive Intelligence

Contract Management

Customer Experience Management

Customer Journey Mapping

Customer Needs Analysis

Sales Forecasting

Segmentation Strategy

Solutions Selling

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business

Associate Degree in Business

Job description

Bring YOUR energy to Alliant Energy!

At Alliant Energy, our purpose is to serve customers and build stronger communities. We are passionate about powering beyond the market challenges of today, while powering what’s next in energy. When our employees say “I am energy”, it means they take pride in the work we do when disaster strikes, as well as all the days in between. We want you to be safe, happy and healthy. That’s why we prioritize safety, offer volunteer opportunities and provide competitive pay, comprehensive health and retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement and paid time off.

Join Alliant Energy as an Economic Development Manager and help drive business growth across our service territory. We’re seeking a professional with economic development experience who can partner with Key Account Managers, lead responses to site selection inquiries and RFPs, and build relationships with large industrial customers.

Success in this role requires experience working with industries such as manufacturing, food ingredients, animal feed, industrial biotechnology, and health-related businesses , along with the ability to identify growth opportunities and attract new investment. You’ll spend 1-3 days/week meeting with customers and communities , with one week of out-of-state travel per month.

Spring and fall are the busiest seasons, offering excellent opportunities to make a visible impact on customer and community growth.

Job Summary

Manager Economic Development manages and provides leadership for the community and leads the business support, retention, and growth efforts for Alliant Energy through the development and implementation of customer programs and services, utility service provisions, and load growth opportunities for customers and communities. This position is responsible for economic development strategy, planning, and implementation for the organization. This role ensures that Alliant Energy maximizes the value of its business, community, and economic development resources to drive economic vitality in the service territory and to spur customer growth. This position manages a team responsible for executing economic development activities for both gas and electric products and services and oversees database management and industry/company research.

What you will do

• Performs all leadership duties including, but not limited to, hiring and rewarding talent, fostering an inclusive and safe workplace, partnering with employees to set clear goals and expectations, providing timely and specific feedback on performance, developing improvement plans to address performance gaps, addressing conflict with care and respect, identifying opportunities for growth and development, embracing and modeling lifelong learning, ensuring employees report to work fit for duty, adhering to our Code of Conduct, and modeling Alliant Energy’s Core Values at all times.

• Maintains an understanding of current trends in economic development.

• Develops and proactively implements strategic customer account reviews on an ongoing basis to evaluate customer needs, usage trends, market analysis, and assessment of competitors, and market intelligence with a focus on future load growth and competitive value.

• Directs and manages team efforts to represent Alliant Energy to municipal, local, and state officials for economic development committees, meetings, and events and at conferences to promote Alliant Energy’s service area and regional business climate.

• Assists local communities in business and industrial park planning, development, and attraction efforts, including sharing information and technical advice on grants, loans, incentives, land use issues, and community planning and development.

• Oversees and manages team efforts to promote Alliant Energy territories to target audiences through proactive outreach and creative marketing plans, and responses to potential customer interest.

• Maintains an in-depth understanding of utility industry, economic development, information technology, and regulatory trends to ensure the department is productive and efficient in meeting customer and Alliant Energy’s business goals.

• Supervises the database and research team members, ensuring effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

• Leads research and process development initiatives to innovate and improve economic development strategies and programs.

• Serves as the business liaison between Alliant Energy and higher education institutions and public-private partnerships. Executes outreach plans and coordinates available higher education resources for Alliant Energy. Responsible for the coordination and measurement of activities and strategies executed through partnerships with higher education institutions and other governmental affiliates.

• Engages in other duties as needed that support our Values and helps deliver on our Purpose to serve customers and build strong communities.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree Emphasis in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or related field. Preferred

• Associate Degree Emphasis in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or related field. Preferred

Required Experience

• 3 years of supervisory experience or equivalent. (Equivalent supervisory experience may include project management, providing work direction, leadership experiences through temporary assignments, roles in the community or external organizations, or other demonstrated leadership experience.)

Preferred Experience

• 5 years of technical or professional experience in economic development, community/government relations, or industrial, community, or commercial customer relations/account management

Key Skills

• Account Planning • Business Development • Business Negotiations • Competitive Intelligence (CI) • Contract Management • Customer Experience Management • Customer Journey Mapping • Customer Needs Analysis • Customer Success Management (CSM) • Data Analysis • Sales Forecasting • Segmentation Strategy • Solutions Selling

Our people are passionate about what they do, the product they sell, and the customers they serve. If you’re looking for an opportunity to be a part of a work family that values collaboration, innovation and dedication, we’re the right company for you.

Alliant Energy offers a comprehensive total rewards package including competitive compensation and benefit programs. Information on these benefit programs is available on our Careers site.

Pay Range:

$130,000-$150,000

This position is eligible to participate in the annual incentive program. The final salary offered will generally fall within this range and is dependent on various factors including but not limited to the responsibilities of the position, experience, skill set, internal pay equity and other relevant qualifications of the applicant.

It’s not just what we do; it’s how we do it.

Live Safety. Everyone. Always | Make Things Better | Care For Others | Do The Right Thing | Act For Tomorrow | Think Beyond. Be Bold

Alliant Energy and its subsidiaries are committed to creating a culture of belonging and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where an applicant’s qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All candidates selected for employment with Alliant Energy will be required to successfully complete a background check, and a drug screen where applicable.

Visa sponsorship not supported.

Disclaimer:
The above information on this description has been crafted to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not crafted to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Applicants in need of a reasonable accommodation for any part of the hiring process, please email [e-mail].