Key Account Manger Associate - Principal

AEP; Charleston, Northern (WV, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

AEP is seeking a Key Account Manager Associate to retain, expand, and maximize satisfaction of major commercial and industrial accounts. You will lead relationship building with executives, coordinate cross-functional teams, and champion energy efficiency initiatives across the OPCO network.

The role requires strong communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to travel and work extended hours as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Communications or related field.
• Two (2) years of experience in customer account management or economic development; utility industry preferred.
• ABET-accredited engineering degree preferred; professional certifications (PE, CEM, PMP, MBA, JD) valued.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains high-level relationships with key decision makers within assigned accounts.
• Responsible for retention, expansion, and overall client satisfaction; serves as single point of contact to resolve issues.
• Develops and implements strategic programs, negotiates contracts, and builds long-term executive relationships.
• Interfaces with engineers and operating company groups to meet goals and objectives.
• Promotes energy efficiency and demand response programs to key accounts.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree (Finance, Business, Engineering, Communications)

Job description

**Job Summary**Responsible for the retention, expansion, and overall satisfaction of identified large commercial & industrial managed account customers. This position requires a mindset which includes an Economic and Business Development focus and approach to Customer Experience. Responsible for proactively managing and be ultimately responsible for the development and successful implementation of strategic programs and offerings, developing new business, providing exceptional customer service, contract development and negotiation, and building long-term business relationships / partnerships with executive level decision makers. This position will interface with engineers, account managers and representatives within the Customer Services group, the Energy Efficiency group, the Economic Development group and various departments within the operating company and as necessary with the Corporate National Account organization to meet stated goals and objectives.**Job Description****Key Account Manager Associate****Note:** This position is posted at multiple grade levels and offers a range of opportunities for advancement. The minimum qualifications outlined below apply to the Key Account Manager Associate level, with increased educational, skill, experience and certification requirements for higher level Key Account Managers up to the principal level.**What You’ll Do:****Essential Job Functions & Tasks*** Establishes and maintains high-level relationships with key decision makers within assigned key strategic account organizations entities.* Is responsible for the retention, expansion, and overall satisfaction of that client base. Provides a 'single point-of-contact to customer contacts to identify critical issues and responsible for overseeing the plan of action to resolve critical issues with key departments within the operating company.* Proactively manage and be ultimately responsible for the development and successful implementation of established programs and offerings, developing new business, providing exceptional customer service, contract development and negotiation, building long-term business relationships with customer decision makers, new service issues, and various account management initiatives.* Interface with engineers, the Energy Efficiency group, the Economic Development group and various AEP and operating company business units to meet stated goals and objectives.* Markets a variety of products and services to OPCO customers in various identified industry segments. Works, with the support of the manager, with and engages the operating companies' leadership (at the executive, regulatory, operations & customer service level) with various issues that may affect the assigned key accounts.* Promotes and supports operating company energy efficiency/demand response programs system wide to assigned key accounts. Promotes and supports operating company energy conversion programs with assigned key accounts.**What We’re Looking For:****Education:** Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Communications or other related field.**Work Experience:** Experience in customer account management, business or economic development and/or utility industry experience preferred but not required.**Strong Preference:** Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a program accredited by ABET\\*\\*ABET - Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.**Other Requirements:*** Demonstrated communications and presentation skills.* Excellent written and verbal communications skills.* Must be able to travel to various locations for extended periods and work late into the evenings.* Must possess demonstrated ability to successfully build strategic internal and external relationships, possess political acumen, and display strong initiative to manage resources, projects and issues across business units, committees and task forces (both internal and external to the Company).* Demonstrated successful leadership.**Key Account Manager****What You’ll Do:****Essential Job Functions & Tasks*** Establishes and maintains high-level relationships with key decision makers within assigned customer organization. Is responsible for the retention, expansion, and overall satisfaction of the assigned client base.* Provides a 'single point-of-contact to customer contacts to identify critical issues and responsible for overseeing the plan of action to resolve critical issues with key departments within the operating company.* Proactively manage the development and successful implementation of strategic programs and offerings, developing new business, providing exceptional customer service, contract development and negotiation, building long-term business relationships with executive level decision makers, new service issues, and various account management initiatives.* Interface with engineers, the energy efficiency group, the economic development group and various AEP and operating company business units to meet stated goals and objectives.* Executus strategies to market a variety of products and services to OPCO customers in various identified industry segments.* Works with and engages the operating companies' leadership (at the executive, regulatory, operations & customer service level) with various issues that may affect the assigned key accounts.* Promotes and supports operating company energy efficiency/demand response programs system wide to assigned key accounts.* Promotes and supports operating company energy conversion with assigned key accounts.**What We’re Looking For:****Education:** Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Communications or other related field.**Work Experience:** Two (2) years of experience in customer account management, business or economic development. Utility industry experience preferred.**Strong Preference:** Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a program accredited by ABET\\*\\*ABET - Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.**Licenses/Certifications:** Advanced degree or professional certification preferred; i.e. Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Masters Business Administration (MBA), Juris Doctorate (JD).**Other Requirements:*** Demonstrated communications and presentation skills.* Excellent written and verbal communications skills.* Must be able to travel to various locations for extended periods and work late into the evenings.* Must possess demonstrated ability to successfully build strategic internal and external relationships, possess political acumen, and display strong initiative to manage resources, projects and issues across business units, committees and task forces (both internal and external to the Company).* Demonstrated successful leadership.**Key Account Manager Sr.****What You’ll Do:****Essential Job Functions & Tasks*** Establishes and maintains high-level relationships with key decision makers within assigned key strategic account organizations entities. Is responsible for the retention, expansion, and overall satisfaction of that client base.* Provides a 'single point-of-contact to customer contacts to identify critical issues and responsible for overseeing the plan of action to resolve critical issues with key departments within the operating company.* Proactively manage and be ultimately responsible for the development and successful implementation of strategic programs and offerings, developing new business, providing exceptional customer service, contract development and negotiation, building long-term business relationships with executive level decision makers, new service issues, and various account management initiatives.* Interface with engineers, the energy efficiency group, the economic development group and various AEP and operating company business units to meet stated goals and objectives.* Develop strategies to market a variety of products and services to OPCO customers in various identified industry segments.* Works with and engages the operating companies' leadership (at the executive, regulatory, operations & customer service level) with various issues that may affect the assigned key accounts.* Promotes and supports operating company energy efficiency/demand response programs system wide to assigned key accounts.* Promotes and supports operating company energy conversion with assigned key accounts. **What We’re Looking For:****Education:** Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Communications or other related field.**Work Experience:** Five (5) years of experience in customer account management, business or economic development. Utility industry experience preferred.**Strong Preference:** Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a program accredited by ABET\\*\\*ABET - Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.**Licenses/Certifications:** Advanced degree or professional certification preferred; i.e. Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Masters Business Administration (MBA), Juris Doctorate (JD).**Other Requirements:*** Demonstrated communications and presentation skills.* Excellent written and verbal communications skills.* Must be able to travel to various locations for extended periods and work late into the evenings.* Must possess demonstrated ability to successfully build strategic internal and external relationships, possess political acumen, and display strong initiative to manage resources, projects and issues across business units, committees and task forces (both internal and external to the Company).* Demonstrated successful leadership. **Key Account Manager Principal****What You’ll Do:****Essential Job Functions & Tasks*** Establishes and maintains high-level relationships with key decision makers of the OPCO's most complex and influential assigned strategic account customers. Is responsible for the retention, expansion, and overall satisfaction of that client base.* Provides a 'single point-of-contact within the AEP organization to resolve critical issues with key decision makers within the operating company.* Proactively manage and be ultimately responsible for the development and successful implementation of strategic programs and offerings, developing new business, providing exceptional customer service, contract development and negotiation, building long-term business relationships with executive level decision makers, new service issues, and various account management initiatives.* Interface with engineers, the energy efficiency group, the Economic Development group and various AEP and operating company business units to meet stated goals and objectives.* Develop strategies to market a variety of products and services to customers in various identified industry segments.* Develop a program of work to conduct marketing outreach to these customers.* The program of work should include prioritization of outreach, key targets for the various services and product offerings, value propositions, etc.* Works with and engages the operating companies' leadership (at the executive, regulatory, operations & customer service level) with various issues that may affect the assigned key accounts.* Promotes and supports operating company energy efficiency/demand response programs system wide to assigned key accounts.* Promotes and supports operating company energy conversion programs with assigned key accounts. **What We’re Looking For:****Education:** Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, Communications or other related field.**Work Experience:** Eight (8) years of experience in customer account management, business or economic development. Utility industry experience preferred.**Strong Preference:** Bachelor's degree in Engineering in a program accredited by ABET\\*\\*ABET - Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.**Licenses/Certifications:** Advanced degree or professional certification required; i.e. Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Masters Business Administration (MBA), Juris Doctorate (JD).**Other Requirements:*** Demonstrated communications and presentation skills.* Excellent written and verbal communications skills.* Must be able to travel to various locations for extended periods and work late into the evenings.* Must possess demonstrated ability to successfully build strategic internal and external relationships, possess political acumen, and display strong initiative to manage resources, projects and issues across business units, committees and task forces (both internal and external to the Company).* Demonstrated successful leadership. **What You’ll Get:**Base Salary from:* **Key Account Manager Associate:** $74,551-$93,189 /year* **Key Account Manager:** $87,633-$109,544 /year* **Key Account Manager Senior:** $98,993-$128,689 /year* **Key Account Manager Principal:** $116,255-$151,132/year