Job Description

Technology Planning Analyst (Atlanta or Birmingham)

Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Technology Planning Analyst (TPA) is responsible for serving as a Customer Account Manager and serves as the escalation point for Technology related needs for the business units they support. They provide strategic technology planning and coordination as applicable for business processes, and provide evaluation and management of technology initiatives that support meeting the customer goals and objectives by leveraging business, technical, and consulting resources from across the Technology organization to ensure the timely delivery of effective business solutions. This position will report to the Director of Customer Service and Marketing Technology Solutions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education:

* B.S. degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field preferred. Advanced degree is a plus.

Experience/Knowledge/Skills:

* Demonstrated ability to think strategically, exhibit breadth in vision, and creative thinking to help identify and expand options for business process improvement/reengineering and the use of current and emerging technology.

* Cross-functional experience in the business or Technology and a general knowledge of business partner functions and of the Southern Company core business.

* Strong account management and consulting skills with a proven ability to build, maintain and influence relationships at all levels, within all organizations, both internally and externally.

* Demonstrated leadership skills with major projects and/or initiatives within Southern Company with experience in successfully handling multiple projects simultaneously.

* Experience in business requirements analysis.

* Demonstrated talent in the area of proactive communications and the ability to make presentations to all levels (employees, management and executives).

* Demonstrated understanding of technology and financials, with the ability to make sound business recommendations based on the available information.

* Strong technical writing skills

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

* Build and maintain strategic partnerships with the Customer Service and Marketing business unit organizations across the enterprise so as to apply knowledge of the business and appropriate technology for the purpose of streamlining processes, reducing costs, and improving customer satisfaction.

* Serves as the liaison between Customer Service (with a special focus on contact center organizations) and Technology including serving as the escalation point for any Technology needs for the business units they support and through involvement with System Leadership Teams, User Groups and committee involvements.

* Supports the Channel Management and Customer Engagement strategic initiatives and project prioritization with focus on customer self-service and call center technologies.

* Facilitates the development of strategic technology plans for the business unit, ensuring compatibility with the Technology strategic plans and initiatives and compliance with the corporate IT policies (hardware/software risk assessment, security policies, etc.), while looking for opportunities to marry business processes with technology.

* Evaluates the needs of the business and proactively provides technology strategy and solutions to facilitate business objectives.

* Leads and develops business cases which are focused on clear articulation of business requirements, determining the value of projects, and the appropriate use of technology, including funding information and financial analysis.

* Provides high level estimates for projects and initiatives through estimate coordination from the portfolio, communication, compiling the various components of the estimate, delivery to the customer, and negotiation of the commitment date.

* Takes ownership of assisting the customer in defining the high-level requirements and scope definition on projects.

* Through their knowledge of the customers business and appropriate technology, facilitates identification of business process definitions and improvements needed.

* Keeps Portfolio Managers updated on business unit initiatives.

* Responsible for vendor management, including coordination of the Statement of Work, quotes, Supply Chain engagement, and the Requests for Proposals; arrangement of vendor demonstrations of new technology; and assisting management with vendor contracts, ensuring expected results and release budget planning.

* Understands and articulates the missions, goals, tactical and strategic initiatives for the business units supported.

* Provides high-level education on capabilities of current technology and consults on Technology products and services.

* Assists customers and management by conducting budget investigations; providing forward-looking project and release budget planning; achieving budget targets for cost center (overhead), applications work orders (billing), and functional budgets.

* Keeps business partners informed of major Technology initiatives, communicates business unit technology needs to ensure that technology priorities are driven by business needs and to maximize the value of technology initiatives to the business.

LI

Job Field: Information Technology

Job Type: Standard

Primary Location: Alabama-Metro Birmingham/Eastern AL-Birmingham

Operating Company: Southern Company Services

Other Locations: Georgia-Metro Atlanta-Atlanta

Job Type: Standard

Travel (Up to...): Yes, 25 % of the Time

Work Location(s):

APC Corporate Headquarters - 600 North 18th Street (600BIRMINGHAM)

600 North 18th Street

Birmingham, 35203

Georgia Power Headquarters - 241 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE (241ATLANTA)

241 Ralph McGill Blvd. NE

Atlanta, 30308

Req ID: SCS2009108