Strategic Gas Planning Manager
SCS Commercial Operations – Gas Supply & Energy Trading
This position will be located at The Energy Center in Birmingham, AL
POSITION SUMMARY
The Strategic Gas Planning Manager in Gas Supply and Energy Trading (GSET) is responsible for shaping Southern Company’s long-term natural gas supply, infrastructure, and storage strategy to ensure reliable, flexible, and cost-effective fuel delivery for the generating fleet, including new generation required to serve large-load growth. This role leads forward-looking evaluation of pipeline expansions, upstream supply options, and storage needs, ensuring reliability and balancing cost, risk diversification, and future optionality amid evolving market dynamics and LNG competition. The position works in close partnership with the Gas Procurement Manager and the Gas Operations Manager, ensuring strategic planning decisions are aligned with commercial and operational needs.
Through engagement with pipelines, suppliers, and marketers, this role negotiates precedent agreements, assesses execution and supply risks, enhances supply basin diversity, and develops fuel solutions for new generating assets. This role partners closely with System Planning, OPCOs, and Commercial Operations leadership to align gas strategy with fleet expansion and operational requirements, while providing leadership through cross-functional collaboration, analyst development, and clear communication of complex strategic issues to stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Deep gas market experience, with an understanding of evolving market dynamics and future supply challenges is strongly preferred
- Origination experience in Southeast gas markets with proven negotiating skills and a track record of creating value in transactions is strongly preferred
- Strong relationships with pipelines, marketers, suppliers, and other end users are strongly preferred
- Extensive knowledge of pipelines across and into the Southeast, as well as upstream supply sources and basins is strongly preferred
- Knowledge of gas requirements for electric generation and understanding of how pipeline limitations and tariff language can present challenges for electric generation is strongly preferred
- Strong, innovative problem-solver with the proven ability to communicate complex topics in written or verbal form to diverse audiences
- Gas trading or scheduling experience is a plus
- Knowledge of Southern Company gas generating fleet or fleet operations is a plus
RESPONSIBILITIES
Focus:
- Forward-looking supply strategy, infrastructure planning, and risk diversification.
- Evaluate new generation siting options and fuel availability while balancing cost, reliability, flexibility and future optionality
- Support System Planning and OPCOs in new generation discussions
- Engage with pipelines in conceptual discussions of expansion and greenfield projects
- Negotiate precedent agreements (PAs)
- Track and report progress of pipeline projects, evaluating execution risk and keeping management informed of any changes
- Assess supply risks, LNG competition, upstream project economics, and total cost (FT + commodity) for upstream supply projects to ensure reliable and low-cost supply into the system
- Enhance supply basin diversity for reliability and price stability
- Anticipate evolving market dynamics, infrastructure trends, and future supply challenges
Storage Strategy:
- Determine storage needed (total volume, locations, deliverability) to serve current and future generating fleet for reliability and daily pipeline balancing
- Work with storage providers to contract existing and develop new storage assets
Leadership:
- Direct comprehensive long-term strategy for transportation, supply, and storage development, ensuring a reliable, liquid supply of natural gas while minimizing cost for customers
- Engage with key players across pipelines, marketers, suppliers, and other end users to influence outcomes and create opportunities that are aligned with Southern Company needs
- Build relationships cross-functionally within GSET to understand current and future operational challenges, across CO to understand gas strategy impact on the generating fleet, and across OPCOs to understand and address their needs for firm transportation for new and existing generation
- Contribute to gas generation development and strategy discussions with SCS and OPCO leadership
- Provide effective leadership by hiring, developing, and mentoring high-performing gas planning analysts, fostering a collaborative, inclusive team culture, and contributing to the broader GSET and Commercial Operations teams
BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES
- Demonstrate Southern Company Values – Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, and Superior Performance
- Safety focus and a strong personal safety record
- Ability to work within a team setting, including the ability to build and motivate a team toward a shared goal
- Demonstrated initiative and creativity coupled with a strong customer service focus will be expected
- Dedication to an accident-free work environment with strict adherence to all safety and compliance requirements
- Must lead by example and ensure equity and fairness in interactions with others
- Must conduct self in a manner that builds trust and confidence with coworkers, contractors, supervisors, and management
BENEFITS
- Competitive Pay
- Excellent benefits packages which includes:
+ Medical and dental coverage
+ Long-Term Incentive Program
+ Defined Pension/Cash Balance Benefit Plan
+ Performance-sharing plan
+ 401(k) plan with a generous company match
+ Bonus opportunities
+ Tuition Reimbursement
*Please submit an updated resume with your application_
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com .
Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.
Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Job Identification: 17153
Job Category: Energy Trading
Job Schedule: Full time
Company: Southern Company Services
