VP, Customer Development and Growth

About the role

The Vice President of Customer Development & Growth leads Summit’s enterprise customer growth, market development, customer development, and energy efficiency strategies across its multi-state footprint. This role advances sustainable customer growth, expands natural gas adoption, strengthens customer and community relationships, and aligns initiatives with Summit’s business, operational, regulatory, and long-term growth objectives.

Responsibilities

• Set and lead Summit’s enterprise customer development, growth, and energy efficiency strategy.
• Translate corporate priorities into actionable growth plans, performance measures, and team goals.
• Advise executive leadership on market opportunities, regulatory considerations, risks, and investment priorities.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, customer needs, regulatory developments, and emerging technologies to inform strategy.
• Lead identification, evaluation, prioritization, and execution of growth opportunities across residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and strategic account segments.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Finance, Regulatory, and Legal to assess feasibility, economics, risk, and execution plans.
• Build strategic relationships with developers, municipalities, builders, trade organizations, economic development entities, and other external partners.
• Strengthen customer relationships, improve customer experience, and support long-term retention.
• Oversee engagement strategies for key accounts, growth customers, developers, municipalities, and strategic stakeholders.
• Guide tailored customer solutions that align with Summit’s operational, financial, and regulatory requirements.
• Analyze market trends, economic development activity, competitor activity, customer demand, regulatory changes, and energy policy developments.
• Develop programs, incentives, and initiatives that encourage natural gas adoption in high-potential markets.
• Evaluate renewable natural gas, hydrogen, energy efficiency, and other emerging solutions where practical.
• Provide financial stewardship for growth, customer development, and energy efficiency programs, including budgets, forecasts, resources, and performance expectations.
• Manage regulatory and stakeholder risks before they affect business objectives.
• Lead, develop, and hold accountable a multi-state Customer Development and EE/CIP organization.
• Build leadership capability, succession depth, technical expertise, and clear performance expectations.
• Ensure growth initiatives are supported by economic analysis, cost-benefit evaluation, and risk assessment.
• Monitor performance against approved plans and recommend corrective actions when needed.
• Represent Summit with regulators, policymakers, municipalities, industry groups, customers, and community leaders.
• Provide executive oversight for customer development issues, escalations, complaints, and crisis situations.
• Manage customer-related communications during disruptions or high-profile matters.
• Evaluate tools that enhance engagement, streamline processes, improve reporting, and support decision-making.
• Promote continuous improvement and scalable processes across the customer development function.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, degree in business administration, engineering, energy management, or related field preferred.
• Advanced degrees, such as an MBA, preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in customer development, business development, utility operations, or commercial functions, preferably in the natural gas or energy sector.
• Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience, including leading managers, cross-functional teams, multi-state programs, or large strategic initiatives.
• Experience in regulatory environments, stakeholder engagement, customer acquisition/retention programs, and executive-level presentations.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of natural gas utility operations, distribution systems, market dynamics, and energy regulations.
• Expertise in business development, strategic planning, customer relationship management, and energy efficiency program management.
• Awareness of sustainability practices, renewable energy options, and emerging energy technologies.

Skills

• Strong leadership, communication, presentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret market trends, customer needs, performance data, and financial information.
• Proficiency in budgeting, resource allocation, governance, and performance management.

Benefits

The salary range is $210k - $250k annually, depending on experience. Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to our employees when they need it most.

Schedule

Full-time position.

Pay

$210k - $250k annually, depending on experience.

Benefits

Competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to our employees when they need it most.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status.