Business Development Liaison

Job Title: Business Development Liaison

Department: Critical Operations Support

Reporting Relationship: Director – Critical Operations Support

FLSA Status: Exempt

Grade: L

General Responsibilities

The Business Development Liaison serves as the strategic recruitment and retention lead for Central Alabama Water, driving regional economic expansion by positioning the utility’s high-capacity infrastructure and exceptional water quality as key regional assets. This high-level role builds partnerships with state and local economic development agencies, peer utilities, site selectors, and municipal leaders to attract high-water-volume and water-purity-dependent businesses (e.g., advanced manufacturing, beverage and dairy production, data centers, medical, and pharmaceutical facilities) to the coverage area.

In addition to driving growth, this role manages complex utility contract lifecycles, ensures long-term water quality and capacity commitments, and bridges internal utility operations with external economic stakeholders.

Essential Job Functions

• Economic Recruitment & Site Attraction: Proactively partner with state and regional economic development organizations, site selection consultants, and municipal leaders to market the region’s water capacity, reliability, and superior water quality to prospective commercial, data centers, and industrial clients.
• Inter-Agency & Utility Alignment: Interface continuously with Planning and Zoning boards, regional Chambers of Commerce, the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), and peer utility providers (electric, gas, telecommunications) to coordinate joint infrastructure planning, and site readiness.
• Key Customer & Contract Lifecycle Management: Serve as the executive point of contact for incoming and expanding "Critical Customers"—including major industrial plants, beverage/dairy wholesalers, medical complexes, and consecutive water systems—managing comprehensive contract lifecycles from negotiation to execution.
• Technical Quality & Capacity Alignment: Collaborate with internal teams to evaluate, support, and guarantee specific flow rate and water quality parameters required by high-spec prospective industrial facilities.
• Operational Resilience & Continuity Integration: Work with incoming critical accounts and internal operations to integrate emergency preparedness, mutual aid frameworks, and emergency water connection contingencies into long-term service agreements to safeguard business continuity.
• Financial & Business Analytics: Maintain detailed calculations, projection charts, and growth graphs to track water usage demand, revenue impact, and capital expansion status for prospective and expanded accounts.
• Continuous Market Learning: Stay informed on utility industry dynamics, municipal budgeting cycles, and emerging water technology innovations.
• Other Duties: Perform other strategic business development and community outreach duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Marketing, Economics, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience: Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive experience in economic development, corporate key account management, utility business development, or high-level industrial customer relations.
• Knowledge: Deep knowledge of regional economic development processes, utility rate structures, water distribution capabilities, contract administration, and multi-agency project management.
• Software: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Certifications & Licenses

• Valid Driver’s License (Required).
• Lean Six-Sigma Preferred

An equivalent combination of nationally recognized professional certifications, specialized industry credentials, and directly related professional experience will be considered in lieu of specific listed certificates.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Physical: Ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods; manual dexterity for keyboarding; ability to see and hear within normal parameters.
• Environment: A hybrid work environment requiring office presence, executive presentations, and extensive field travel to prospective industrial build sites, regional economic summits, and stakeholder meetings.
• Availability: Standard business hours with flexibility to attend evening economic board meetings, regional trade shows, or respond during critical customer emergency events as required. On-call 24/7 as required to support critical operations and emergency responses.

Core Values: The Business Development Liaison must champion and embody the core values of the Reliability division: Ownership, Reliability, Authenticity, and Future Thinking