Economic Development Manager - Indianapolis

Job Summary:
Reporting to the Director of Energy Solutions and Business Development, this position will oversee a geographical territory leading economic development activities intended to secure revenue/margin growth opportunities and improve the economic vitality of CenterPoint Energy’s service territory. This position will be instrumental in developing and fostering external relationships with an assortment of economic development organizations and local, regional, and state permitting entities to ensure CenterPoint Energy is well represented and viewed as the preferred energy and utility partner.     
Essential Functions:

• Serves as the economic development single point of contact for assigned Local Economic Development Organizations (LEDOs), Regional Economic Development Organizations (REDOs), and State Economic Development Organizations (SEDOs) within CenterPoint Energy’s Indiana service territory. 
• Respond to site selection RFP’s, providing utility specific data and infrastructure information.
• Coordinates and leads activities related to providing energy service; assisting in the development of proposals and the negotiation of contracts.
• Coordinates and leads all utility specific site visits through a clear and organized agenda and preparing leadership for roles and expectations during the visits
• Monitors competitive activity by other utilities in the areas of economic development and develops quarterly newsletters for CNP leadership on all aspects of economic development activity in a geographically assigned territory. 
• Partners with key internal and external stakeholders to provide detailed and timely responses to RFI’s, supporting comprehensive and strategic planning projects across CenterPoint Energy’s Indiana service territory.
• Assists Energy Solutions leadership as a point of contact for economic development opportunities and project reporting functions; leading and participating in prospective client meetings and coordinating site visits with key project stakeholders. 
• Identify and assesses site development opportunities within CenterPoint Energy’s territory with utility service potential.
• Collaborate with the Utility Projects and Reporting Manger in addition to CNP engineering teams to provide cost estimates, timelines and feasibility analysis for prospective development 
• Develops and maintains resource materials, brochures and presentations reflecting current economic trends and industry analysis, presenting market information and economic data to Energy Solutions leaders, key business partners, and economic development contacts in a timely manner.
• Responsible for economic development customer acquisition and demonstrates achievement of departmental goals and objectives through detailed project tracking and reporting.
• Monitors competitive activity by other utilities in the areas of economic development, collaborating with management to identify and propose new and innovative opportunities to attract customer’s to CenterPoint Energy’s service territory.
• Build strong working relationships with the additional external stakeholders of an economic development project that can help promote collaboration of timely execution (i.e. water/sewer, government permitting agency, telecom, local industrial developers)
• Supports testimony for CenterPoint Energy’s base rate cases and other regulatory filings related to economic development. 
• Maintains a high level of visibility in the economic development community by staying actively engaged through various communication channels and fulfilling CenterPoint Energy board level commitments.
• Represents CenterPoint Energy at various industry conferences, national trade shows, and aids in development and maintenance of marketing materials to attract potential customers to the region. 
• Partners with internal Key Accounts Managers and other stakeholders as necessary to drive project results and support CenterPoint Energy’s retention and expansion efforts.
• Monitors trends in industrial growth, regional and state development, and energy demand to inform internal utility planning.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to structure and present collaborative incentive opportunities
• Use tools like GIS mapping, internal CRM solutions, google earth, etc. to enhance the reporting and tracking of economic development projects and provide visual organization to the reporting.
• Improves the customer experience by onboarding customers and connecting them with programs and services and appropriate points of contacts, while helping with issues resolution, as needed. 
      Basic Qualifications:
  Education:  
  •    Requires a bachelor’s degree in Business (Economics, Marketing, Business, Public Relations, or related field). 
   
  Experience:
  •    8 years of experience in Economic and/or Community Development, Business Development or closely related field
  •    Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills, ability to interact with all levels of customers and employees.
  •    Project management and contract negotiation skills
  •    Ability to present analysis to leadership

Preferred
•    Master’s Degree in Economic Development, Business, Public Administration or related field•    Experience working in the electric and gas utility industry in a capacity that deals with economic development, account/project management, local governmental agencies, customer service, community relations, utility planning and/or public policy.