Technology Planning Analyst

Technology Planning Analyst (TPA)

Location: The Energy Center - Birmingham, Alabama

Energy Center office work 4 days a week with some Fridays as required. Some Travel (up to 25%).

This position reports to the Southern Power Technology Director, participates on the leadership team, and supports Southern Power Company (SPC) to guide our strategic technology direction. This position ensures that our technology investments are optimal, adheres to standards, aligns with business objectives, and are justified against the total cost of technology ownership.  The TPA advocates for technology investments that advance SPC’s competitive advantage and benefit Southern Company as a whole. The Technology Planning Analyst (TPA) provides thought leadership on direction and decisions based on emerging technologies, industry trends, competitive landscape, the art of the possible with technology balanced with what is achievable. The position fosters strategic partnerships, elicits business requirements, documents business processes and business cases.  The position creates and maintains technology roadmaps, produces professional presentation materials, and facilitates governance and budget processes.  The position coordinates vetting new technology with security, contracts, legal and business owners to mitigate risks.  This position is based in Birmingham.  Travel may be required across the footprint of SPC.  

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES 

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with SPC to apply knowledge of the business and appropriate technology for improving efficiency and scalability, mitigating risk, and driving net income growth, improving scalability, and planning for technology lifecycle replacements.
• Anticipate needs and provide business consultation for innovative solutions. 

• Understand and articulate the mission, vision, goals, strategic priorities of SPC to influence positive business outcomes.

• Develop and own SPC strategic technology plans, communication, and governance aligning with enterprise strategic plans.

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships within the Technology Organization effectively supporting SPC. 

• Gains information on technology trends among industry competitors uses to guide technology recommendations and planning
• Share technology best practices across Southern Company and external partners. 
• Ensure that SPC understands the importance of common technology standards and the risks of non-compliance (e.g., cost, cyber, uptime, etc..).
• Educate on technology initiatives, updates, and service changes representing SPC interests with the sponsoring Technology Organization group.
• Drive technology leadership and facilitate governance to ensure appropriate prioritization of technology spend within SPC.
• Create and maintain technology roadmaps for functions, systems, and businesses.
• Creates professional presentation materials used to guide executive audiences.
• Facilitate governance clearly documenting agendas, minutes, surveys, and decisions.
• Coordinate and track funding for technology investments and benefits realization.
• Develop business cases including business requirements, options, and cost-benefit.
• Champion the use of Data Analytics technology (including ML/AI) to integrate operations and commercial decision making.
• Consult on technology budgeting to ensure a full understanding of technology costs.
• Coordinate vendor management activities (e.g., demos, quotes, RFP’s, and contracts) 
• Plan and provide leadership for the delivery oversight of Technology initiatives.
• Travel as necessary to SPC generation facilities to understand operations and impact your work has on it.

EDUCATION 

• BS or BA degree in Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or related field is required.

JOB EXPERIENCE 

• Customer facing experience with relationship building demonstrated is required.
• Technology portfolio management, technology driven business consulting, or experience in Renewable and Distributed Power Generation a nice to have.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES 

• Demonstrate Southern Company Values.
• Demonstrate a net income mindset.
• Expertise in technology trends and economic drivers in Energy & Utility industry.
• Strong technical background combined with strong business acumen.
• Proven collaborator leveraging broader enterprise expertise, tools, and plans.
• Proven innovator delivering incremental and transformational change drawing out creative ideas from diverse teams.
• Experience managing multiple priorities and delivering high-quality work. 

• Proven analytical, problem-solving, financial analysis and planning skills.

• Demonstrated strategic planner and innovative thinker who articulates vision and generates professional business decision making deliverables.
• Broad knowledge of technology tools and application rationalization.
• Experience with Data Analytics, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.
• Ability to build, maintain, and influence relationships at all levels.
• Demonstrate leadership skills with strong customer focus orientation.
• Strong knowledge of viabilities of current and emerging technologies.
• Excellent presentation skills communicating ideas concisely at appropriate levels.
• Excellent facilitation skills, listening, verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail for self and others.

• Proven track record of achieving results. 

• Proven ability to negotiate, compromise, and influence. 

• Flexible, calm under stress adjusting smoothly to changes in direction.

• Self-motivated, proactive, and removes obstacles for the success of others.