Sr. Business Development Manager - PSSD

Southern States, LLC; Hampton (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern States LLC is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to drive strategic revenue growth across utility and heavy industrial markets, including IOUs, municipal utilities, and large industrial facilities. You will build executive relationships, guide technical solutions (STATCOM/SVC, capacitor banks, grid modernization), and influence project specifications.

The role emphasizes long sales cycles, market intelligence, and collaboration with engineering to win large capital equipment

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business or related field (Electrical Engineering preferred) or equivalent experience.
• 5–10+ years of experience in electrical utility sales, oil & gas/petro-chem, heavy industrial power systems, or T&D equipment sales.
• Proven track record of closing multi-million dollar capital equipment deals.
• Strong understanding of reactive power compensation, transmission and distribution systems, substation design and utility procurement processes.
• Ability to manage long sales cycles (6–24 months).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a regional growth strategy targeting utility and heavy industrial markets.
• Identify upcoming capital projects and position company solutions early in the project lifecycle.
• Lead strategic business development, account management, and relationship development with executive-level stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering to develop proposals, bid strategies, and RFP/RFQ responses.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Negotiation

Contract management

Self-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business

Electrical Engineering preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Job Summary

Senior Business Development Manager (BDM) is responsible for driving strategic revenue growth across the electrical utility and heavy industrial markets, including investor-owned utilities (IOUs), municipal utilities, renewable developers, EPC firms, mining, oil & gas, data centers, and large industrial facilities.

This role focuses on identifying new opportunities, developing key account relationships, influencing project specifications, and expanding market share for utility-class electrical equipment and engineered power solutions.

The ideal candidate has deep experience in transmission & distribution (T&D), reactive power compensation, electrical substations, MV/HV equipment, or heavy industrial power systems.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Development

• Develop and execute a regional growth strategy targeting utility and heavy industrial markets.
• Identify upcoming capital projects (substations, transmission upgrades, grid modernization, industrial expansions).
• Position company solutions early in the project lifecycle (pre-specification stage).
• Track and manage project pipelines (12–36 month horizon).

Account Management & Relationship Development

• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with:
  • Utility engineering & procurement teams
  • EPC firms and engineering consultants
  • Industrial plant managers and electrical engineers
• Act as trusted advisor on system reliability, power quality, and grid compliance solutions.
• “Best in Class” customer experience ownership.

Technical & Commercial Leadership

• Lead technical solution positioning for:
  • STATCOM/SVC and reactive power solutions
  • HV & MV substation class capacitor bank solutions
  • Sub-Cycle Transfer & Disconnect Switches
  • Grid modernization products
• Collaborate with engineering teams to develop proposals and bid strategies.
• Support RFP/RFQ responses and commercial negotiations.

Market Intelligence & Strategy

• Monitor interconnection queues, capital budgets, regulatory filings, and infrastructure investments.
• Identify competitive threats and market gaps.
• Provide quarterly revenue forecasts and territory reporting

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (Electrical Engineering preferred) or equivalent experience.
• 5–10+ years of experience in:
  • Electrical utility sales
  • Oil & Gas/Petro-Chem
  • Heavy industrial power systems
  • T&D equipment sales
• Proven track record of closing multi-million dollar capital equipment deals.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Static & Dynamic Reactive Power Compensation
  • Transmission & distribution systems
  • Substation design and equipment
  • Utility procurement processes
• Ability to manage long sales cycles (6–24 months).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience selling:
  • FACTS devices (STATCOM/SVC)
  • HV/MV capacitor banks
  • Substation automation
• Knowledge of:
  • NERC, FERC, IEEE, and utility standards
  • EPC bidding structures
  • Interconnection processes (ERCOT, CAISO, PJM, etc.)
• CRM experience (Salesforce).

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinker with long-range planning capability
• Strong professional & technical acumen
• Executive-level communication skills
• Negotiation & contract management expertise
• Self-driven with high accountability

Performance Metrics

• Annual revenue growth targets
• New project pipeline development
• Win rate on strategic bids
• Gross margin performance
• Key account penetration

Thank you for your interest in Southern States LLC. At this time, we are only considering candidates who are authorized to work in the United States and who will not require sponsorship now or in the future. We appreciate your understanding and wish you success in your job search.