Energy Efficiency & Demand Response Program Manager (Commercial or Residential)

About the role

The Energy Efficiency / Demand Response Program Manager leads one or more energy solution(s), program(s), or initiative(s) by collaborating with internal and external teams to meet annual regulatory kWh savings targets within budget. The role ensures compliance with approved program implementation plans, regulatory requirements, internal controls, evaluation standards, and customer experience objectives.

This position requires detailed knowledge of regulated customer programs, collaboration, contract management, budgeting, leadership of external vendors, strategic planning within a regulated framework, and the ability to prioritize and execute on multiple simultaneous priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage at least one energy solution program or initiative, with accountability for participation, energy savings performance, customer satisfaction, program compliance, and achievement of regulatory targets within approved budgets.
• Maintain high customer satisfaction through problem-solving, ethical decision-making, and continuous improvement.
• Assist with vendor contract development, onboard vendors, establish program infrastructure, monitor vendor performance, enforce contractual requirements, and implement a strategic business plan to achieve objectives.
• Effectively manage an external team and foster an engaging work environment by motivating others to collaborate internally (including Marketing, Evaluation, Regulatory, Data Analytics, Customer Care, Legal, Supply Chain) and externally among a multi-disciplinary team for data tracking, reporting, and marketing.
• Assess and mitigate risk by establishing and managing quality assurance and verification strategies, ensuring vendors comply with contracts and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, track, and communicate key performance indicators, forecasts, participation trends, budget impacts, and operational risks to management and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Assist with program design and evaluation by engaging with the Southern Company Design and Evaluation team to provide feedback and drive success.
• Leverage relationships with external organizations (trade associations, community agencies, non-profits, local stakeholders) to educate about energy efficiency opportunities and drive program participation.
• Proactively monitor program performance, including participation, savings, budget, customer experience, vendor delivery, and risk indicators; identify gaps early and implement corrective actions.
• Lead regular performance reviews with implementation vendor partners, using data and contract requirements to drive accountability and improve outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve program design, delivery workflows, customer participation, contractor/vendor performance, reporting accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
• Resolve escalated customer, contractor, vendor, or stakeholder concerns while balancing customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and prudent program administration.
• Support regulatory filings, data requests, audits, EM&V activities, and stakeholder inquiries by providing accurate program information and performance narratives.

Requirements

• Minimum: 4-year accredited degree; advanced degrees and/or relevant industry certifications (e.g., CDSM, BPI BA-T or BA-P, HERS Rater, REA, CEA, CEM) are preferred.
• Strong project and/or program management skills, including strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and developing effective workflow and quality assurance processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading or influencing across multiple organizations to achieve outcomes, regardless of reporting relationships.
• Knowledge of or experience with regulated energy efficiency or demand response programs and direct customer or contractor interaction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting regulatory filings, evaluations (EM&V), or Public Service Commission-related activities.
• Experience reviewing and editing scopes of work and maintaining service level agreements with third-party vendors.
• Working knowledge of quality assurance, compliance monitoring, audit readiness practices, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, invoice review, accruals, and cost-effectiveness awareness.
• Strong vendor management skills, including setting expectations, reviewing performance, enforcing contract requirements, and driving accountability.
• Ability to lead difficult conversations with implementation partners, contractors, internal stakeholders, or leadership in a professional, fact-based, and solution-oriented manner.

Skills

• Ability to work in a rapidly changing environment across multiple teams, prioritizing time-sensitive projects while maintaining focus on performance, compliance, and customer experience.
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, and visual/graphical) for preparing leadership updates, regulatory narratives, vendor communications, and issue-resolution documentation.
• Strategic and creative thinking to improve processes, with a proven track record of critical thinking and problem-solving around complex issues.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze program data, identify trends or risks, assess root causes, and translate insights into actionable plans.
• Working knowledge of energy efficiency and/or demand response program operations, including customer participation, contractor networks, incentive processing, quality assurance, reporting, and evaluation considerations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 Suite (Outlook, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, Copilot).

Behavioral Attributes

• Role model of company values and safety excellence.
• Trusted individual due to depth of expertise, confidence, decision-making ability, consistency, honesty, and integrity.
• Self-directed and resilient, with the ability to take initiative, work independently or in a team, and remain focused in a fast-paced, regulated environment.
• Results-oriented and goal-driven, committed to meeting or exceeding program targets while maintaining compliance, customer satisfaction, and fiscal responsibility.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and emotional intelligence when managing conflict, performance concerns, customer issues, or vendor accountability discussions.
• Ability to build effective partnerships internally and externally, motivating and influencing others without positional leadership.

Benefits

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy. This includes:

• Competitive base salary.
• Annual incentive awards for eligible employees.
• Health, welfare, and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being.
• Eligibility for additional compensation, such as incentive programs (subject to plan terms).

Additional details about total compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process. View a summary of benefits for this position.