Energy Efficiency & Key Member Specialist at Flathead Electric Cooperative – Kalispell, Montana

Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Key Member Program supports and strengthens our key members by understanding their individual energy needs and other political and cost-related issues that impact their ability to thrive. The program provides a dedicated resource responsible for supporting the longevity and vitality of these key members, leading to a stronger community, and, in-turn, a stronger Co-op.

This position will manage and strengthen relationships with key members, including large commercial and industrial members. The primary objective is to become the trusted energy advisor for key members, acting as a single point of contact for these members, understanding their unique energy needs, providing exceptional member service, and identifying opportunities to work together that benefit both the key member and FEC.

The person holding this position must provide FEC with superior performance, attain the training, knowledge, and skills to perform the job duties assigned, and develop and maintain a successful Key Member portfolio. By collaborating with internal teams, resolving inquiries, identifying energy efficiency and load management opportunities, and promoting the cooperative's products and services, the position will contribute to the growth and satisfaction of our key members, and, in turn, the strength of our Cooperative and the communities FEC serves.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Serve as the primary point of contact for key members, and build strong relationships with senior leaders (e.g., owners, facility managers, etc.), understanding their energy requirements, challenges, and growth plans.
2. Provide personalized assistance to key members, addressing their inquiries, resolving issues, making recommendations, and ensuring timely and accurate responses to their energy-related needs.
3. Work closely with internal teams (such as other key member specialists, engineering, operations, member services, and finance) and with external providers, vendors, and resources (such as BPA, Comfort Ready Home, contractors, and installers) to facilitate key member requests and projects.
4. Increase key member awareness of FEC and participation in FEC’s energy programs. Work closely with communications and marketing workgroup to identify outreach opportunities and develop effective campaigns and training materials. Conduct presentations and workshops to enhance commercial/industrial members’ understanding of energy management practices, emerging technologies, and FEC programs.
5. Conduct regular meetings with key members, to include annual site visits and other visits as needed.
6. Serve as the primary contact for custom energy efficiency projects for commercial/industrial members. Coordinate commercial energy audits to identify energy efficiency opportunities within key members’ operation.
7. Actively monitor and analyze key members' energy usage and trends. Interpret energy usage data and provide actionable insights. Prepare reports to help key members understand their energy consumption and costs and identify opportunities to work with FEC to optimize/reduce usage and/or offset demand.
8. Monitor power quality for key members, and lead efforts to mitigate power quality issues.
9. Understand FEC billing, metering, and engineering policies and procedures to educate key members. Review electric rates, bills, and rate classifications of key members to ensure accuracy. Effectively communicate rates and rate changes to key members.
10. Maintain a database of all key member data, contacts made, to track ongoing and potential key member energy projects.
11. Proactively identify opportunities to enhance FEC’s Key Member Program to meet the evolving needs of key members. Keep abreast of best practices, industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies in the energy sector, sharing relevant information with key members.
12. Serve as a primary contact for commercial/industrial member questions about their energy use or service, including rate structure/class, demand and usage, billing, electric vehicle charging, distributed generation, backup generators, energy programs, etc.
13. Provide backup support as needed for Energy Services Department for various needs, such as high bill complaints, site visits for energy audits, etc.
14. Maintain active involvement in local and regional associations that support key member program goals.
15. Meet all key member program goals and initiatives set by supervisor.
16. Support FEC’s brand and image, representing FEC as the “trusted energy advisor” in the community. Help coordinate and participate in FEC member engagement initiatives such as tradeshows, fairs, parades, and the Annual Members’ Meeting. Become proficient in and conduct the operation of FEC’s energy demonstration tools (electrical safety board, hydropower model, etc.) as needed.
17. On a rotating basis serve “on call” to direct after-hours communications to members regarding major outages or abnormal system behaviors. Maintain the technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively and efficiently perform required on-call duties.
18. Always assist members/vendors/employees and the general public in a courteous and professional manner ensuring their continued satisfaction with FEC. Work in harmony and show respect to all fellow employees in order to promote an effective and pleasant working environment.
19. Maintain ongoing communication with supervisor regarding situations requiring immediate attention, problems/concerns, questions, etc.
20. In pursuit of zero workplace incidents, promote and maintain a positive safety culture while adhering to all applicable policies outlined in the Safety Manual. Report all incidents and potential safety hazards in a timely manner to supervisor or Safety Coordinator.
21. Become familiar with and follow FEC objectives and applicable policies.
22. Perform other duties as assigned by management applying the same skill and enthusiasm as with regularly assigned responsibilities.

MINIMUM POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Associate’s degree in a related field. Four years of industry experience can be substituted for degree requirement.

Job Related Experience: 5 to 10 years of experience in member/customer account management and/or business development with a proven track record of delivering exceptional member service and building long-term relationships. Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and results-oriented, with a drive for exceeding member expectations and achieving goals. Industry experience preferred, including understanding of energy-related concepts, electrical and building codes, regulations and practices related to commercial and industrial energy consumers, energy efficiency, demand response, power distribution, and power quality.

Supervision: No Experience Supervising Required.

Computer Skills: Proficient on computer, including Microsoft Office 365, using CRM software and other relevant tools for account management and reporting.

Certificates & Licenses: Industry Key Account Certification required. May be obtained within 18 months of starting the position.

Other Qualifications:

• Valid Montana Driver's License and be insurable to drive FEC vehicles.
• Present a professional appearance at all times.
• Be a team player with effective verbal and written skills.
• Able to travel occasionally out-of-area and/or overnight.
• Able to work 40 hours per week with additional time as needed.
• Legible handwriting.
• Possess proven ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Exhibit excellent member relations and customer service skills.
• Consistently meet deadlines, budgets and work on projects simultaneously.
• Able to establish and maintain working relationships with a variety of individuals, some of whom have opposing points of view.
• Experience with public speaking.
• Ability to absorb and apply constructive criticism from team members and peers.
• Ability to function in a dynamic environment subject to impromptu changes in schedules, requirements, and priorities.
• Must have excellent reasoning and deductive skills; be process oriented, focused on standardization, streamlining and implementation of best practices.
• Must have critical thinking skills; be autonomous and self-driven; be able to work well independently and with others; and must exercise good judgment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS (Based on an 8 hour work day)
Stand F (Frequently) Walk F (Frequently) Sit F (Frequently) Handling / Grasping F (Frequently) Reach Outward F (Frequently) Keyboarding F (Frequently) Speaking F (Frequently) Vision F (Frequently) Hearing F (Frequently) Reach Above Shoulder R (Rarely) Climb R (Rarely) Crawl R (Rarely) Squat or Kneel R (Rarely) Bend R (Rarely) Foot or Leg Controls F (Frequently) Drive F (Frequently)	Lift/Carry 10 lbs. or less O (Occasionally) 11-25 lbs. R (Rarely) 26-50 lbs. N (Not Applicable) 51-100 lbs. N (Not Applicable) Over 100 lbs. N (Not Applicable)
Push/Pull 10 lbs. or less O (Occasionally) 11-25 lbs. R (Rarely) 26-50 lbs. N (Not Applicable) 51-100 lbs. N (Not Applicable)

N (Not Applicable) Activity is not applicable to this position
R (Rarely) Position requires this activity up to 5% of the time (0 - 2 hrs./day)
O (Occasionally) Position requires this activity up to 6% - 33% of the time (2 - 4 hrs./day)
F (Frequently) Position requires this activity from 34% - 66% of the time (4 - 6 hrs./day)
C (Constantly) Position requires this activity more than 66% of the time (8+ hrs./day)

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Will be working mostly indoors, and occasionally working outdoors in all types of weather and terrain, including gaining access to and examining attics, crawlspaces, and new construction sites, as needed.