The MUSH (Municipal, Universities, Schools, Hospitals) Market Specialist position provides leadership in the system-wide development of strategies that drive positive sales, customer value, and external results. This position provides support to executive level management and is directly responsible for driving significant sales results and maintaining high customer satisfaction. This individual will cultivate and maintain relationships with senior leadership and corporate energy managers of Mississippi Power's Managed Account customers. Objectives include identifying and securing key sales opportunities across all markets, providing market-level insight to ensure customer satisfaction targets are exceeded and to increase sales opportunities, working closely with management to increase their understanding of MUSH markets, and working closely with customers to maximize the company's external effectiveness.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• 4-year degree from accredited university is strongly preferred. Marketing, Finance, Economics, Engineering degree or equivalent technical work-related experience and a MBA or similar work experience demonstrating solid understanding of financial/economic drivers highly desired
• Knowledge and experience in sales, with emphasis placed on working with MUSH customers, including experience in making sales presentations and developing sales proposals.
• Must have ability to develop strong relationships with company External Affairs and Economic Development teams and have a broad understanding of municipal, state and other governing and influencing entities.
• Must be able to cultivate strong relationships in all areas outside of the MPC franchised area to develop projects both within the State as well as outside of the State.
• Must have ability to proactively identify sales opportunities, communicate ideas and successfully negotiate business deals that contribute to positive net income for the company.
• Project management skills are required, including the ability to work across multiple organizations and lead people toward a common objective with minimal oversight from upper management.
• Extensive knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems, end use products, technologies, products and service offerings, energy efficiency programs and rates.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, oral and written communications skills; ability to interface and negotiate with individuals at all levels inside and outside the company.
• Strong analytical and strategic skills.
• Detailed working knowledge of State funding entities, including laws, procedures and regulations related to the selection of products and services, procurement and implementation of products and services.
• Strong desire to exceed customer expectations through providing work class customer service.
• Self-starter that works with sense of urgency; works well in a team environment; maintains a positive attitude despite constantly changing priorities.
• Ability to understand customers key performance objectives and convey how company products and services can contribute to customer's success.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Secure strong relationships with customer base on behalf of Mississippi Power that lead to superior customer satisfaction.
• Be an expert in all products and services offered by MPC that apply to customer base including Business and Energy Services, Lighting and end use.
• Act as a consultant for the customer by understanding the customer's business. Seek to provide effective and creative solutions to customers' needs.
• Develop executive-level relationships with Managed Account customers, leverage those relationships, and execute strategies that lead to superior customer satisfaction as well as leads for electrification and products and services.
• Aggressively cultivate sales opportunities for Business Services' products, lighting and end use technologies.
• Develop and execute on going account plan strategies for customers.
• Demonstrate trust, responsiveness, value and knowledge by contacting the customer regularly, anticipating needs, uncovering opportunities, and responding to requests promptly.
• Be an industry/customer expert and resource to executive level management.
• Be recognized within the market as a leader and an expert resource for identifying and sharing trends, information transfer, training, forecasting, customer assistance, sales planning, and professional and trade association representation.
• Lead the development of system wide segment strategies with a focus on sales and net income growth goals through involvement in the Southern Company industry segment teams.