Key Account Manager – Utility Benchmarking & Consulting

Join a Boutique Consulting Firm Trusted by Utility Leaders Across North America

Our client is a highly respected consulting firm that partners with electric and gas utilities across North America to improve operational performance through benchmarking, analytics, and operational consulting. Their work helps utility leaders understand where they stand relative to peers, what is driving performance, and what actions can improve results.

They are seeking an experienced utility operations leader to join the firm as a Key Account Manager — a unique, high-impact role that blends client relationship management, benchmarking delivery, operational consulting, and strategic advisory work.

This is not a traditional consulting role and it is not a pure sales position. This opportunity is designed for someone who has worked inside a utility environment, led teams or operational functions, and is ready to apply that experience across multiple organizations in a more strategic, client-facing capacity.

What You’ll Be Doing

In this role, you will work directly with utility leadership teams to help them understand operational performance, benchmarking results, customer experience trends, and improvement opportunities.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading benchmarking discussions and helping utility clients interpret operational performance data
• Supporting and leading consulting engagements tied to customer operations and utility performance
• Building trusted advisor relationships with utility leaders and operational stakeholders
• Facilitating onsite client meetings, presentations, and peer forums
• Identifying operational trends, performance drivers, and process improvement opportunities
• Supporting firm growth through relationship expansion and selective business development activity
• Collaborating closely with firm leadership on consulting delivery and client strategy

This role offers significant visibility and influence. You will not be buried inside a large consulting delivery team — you will be directly involved with clients and leadership discussions from the start.

What They’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 7+ years of experience within an electric or gas utility environment
• Leadership experience at the Manager or Director level
• Strong operational expertise in areas such as:
  • Customer Service
  • Contact Center Operations
  • Billing
  • Credit & Collections
  • Customer Operations
• Experience leading operational improvement initiatives
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• The ability to speak credibly with utility leadership teams
• A practical, operational mindset — not just theoretical consulting knowledge

Highly preferred experience includes:

• Digital customer transformation initiatives
• eBill, ePay, IVR, or customer self-service adoption
• Affordability programs and arrears management
• KPI management and operational analytics
• Process improvement methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma
• Root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This role is ideal for someone who has been successful within a utility environment but wants:

• Broader industry exposure
• More variety and strategic involvement
• Greater earning potential
• A more direct connection between effort and reward
• A long-term path toward leadership and ownership

You’ll gain exposure to multiple utility operating models, leadership teams, and strategic initiatives across North America rather than staying within a single utility structure.

Compensation & Growth Opportunity

Compensation includes both strong base salary and meaningful upside potential.

Compensation Structure

• Base salary: $115,000–$125,000
• Additional consulting compensation paid hourly for project work
• Annual firm performance bonus
• Sales incentive opportunities tied to benchmarking and consulting engagements
• Typical total compensation: $160,000–$220,000+ for strong performers

Benefits Include

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• 3–4 weeks PTO
• Professional development support
• All travel expenses covered
• Employees retain airline and hotel rewards points

Additional Details

• Fully remote opportunity within the United States
• Approximately 25–30 weeks of travel annually
• High visibility role working closely with firm leadership
• Small, collaborative consulting environment with strong mentorship and growth potential

Submit a resume to cnyjobs@hiresapphire.com for immediate and confidential consideration.

Sapphire Recruitment is an EOE

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