The Position

Do you dream about creating a more sustainable future? At Uplight, we are motivating energy users and providers to accelerate the clean energy ecosystem. Working with over 80 of the world’s leading electric and gas utilities, Uplight provides an end-to-end customer energy experience. Uplight delivers personalized experiences that customers have now come to expect–improving satisfaction, increasing revenue, reducing the cost to serve, and contributing to carbon reduction goals. We are B Corp certified,  enabling us to put our values into action by not only making decisions for the benefit of our shareholders, but also for our customers, environment, employees, and community.

Uplight is hiring a Director, Innovation Solutions to serve as a subject matter expert working closely with our customers to shape, close, and grow our innovation partnerships for new solutions incubated within Uplight’s Step Change Labs. The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial professional with experience at the intersection of the energy ecosystem, technology solutions, new innovations, and working cross-functionally with internal stakeholders (sales and customer success, product development, senior executives) and external customers and partners (utility executives, directors, program teams, as well as other partners in the energy ecosystem).  The Director, Innovation Solutions will be responsible for driving the adoption of new innovative solutions, bringing actionable customer feedback to our product teams, and supporting our customers to achieve their innovation goals. This job will require an in-depth working knowledge of utilities and a desire to work closely with our customers to shape solutions and buying needs.  

What you get to do:

This role requires a senior leader that understands, very well, innovation and customer adoption/buying. A proven track record of driving adoption of innovative solutions as a salesperson, internal champion within an organization, or product owner is a must. An in-depth understanding of (or passion and desire to learn about) the electric, gas, and water utility buying economics (including how both regulated and non-regulated utility models work) is a must.   

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, curious learner who loves bringing new solutions to market, finding customers who will be early adopters, supporting salespeople to qualify, build interest and close opportunities, and work with product teams to shape and package innovative solutions for scale. Demonstrated experience success in sales, new business development, and landing multi-million dollar deals selling large complex software, SaaS or services sales a plus. 

There is a clear expectation for the Director, Innovations Solutions to demonstrate specific and current domain expertise, which can be leveraged from day one to quickly build a strong innovation pipeline and to meet growth targets. Candidates who meet the following baseline criteria will receive strong consideration for this role.

Skills and experience are necessary, but we hire on value alignment first, so if you feel you would be a good fit with us, still consider applying.

What you will contribute:

• Innovation Solutions expertise to support our client organization in their sales and delivery roles to identify good innovation partners for Uplight and close new business
• Ability to apply a consultative and customer development approach to new and existing customers to identify innovation opportunities, share feedback to product development teams to inform solution development and growth. 
• Leverage subject matter expertise to Influence C-level decision-makers, stakeholders, and industry influencers in support of the sales team. 
• Accelerate sales and customer process in facilitating workshops, providing demos, creating decks/product packages for sales and customer presentations, contributing content to proposals and scopes of work. 
• Work closely with Step Change Labs leadership, Uplight senior executives, and Uplight sales teams to develop go to market and strategies and tactics to test/incubate new solutions, close business, and build reference accounts for hyper-growth
• Excellent collaboration across functions to deliver the best innovation partnerships on top of existing and new client business 
• A keen eye for opportunity, an entrepreneurial approach to growing new businesses, and a desire to make a step-change impact on the path to a clean energy ecosystem

What you bring to Uplight:

• Minimum of 7 years experience, as an entrepreneur, product marketer, salesperson, or innovation professional developing and/or selling SaaS, Services and/or enterprise software or innovation solutions to customers including C-Level Executives
• Successful track record of meeting growth targets for innovation, sales, or business lines
• Track record of success in start-up, corporate innovation, or a new product line in an existing company. Thrives in an entrepreneurial environment where the expectation is to contribute not only to client success and revenue but also to the product roadmap and company strategy
• Capable of reaching, and influencing C-level decision-makers, stakeholders, and industry influencers.
• Demonstrated success working closely with senior executives to develop growth plans which materialize for new solutions.
• When COVID-related travel restrictions are lifted you can expect 25-50% travel and/or customer face time
• Experience in the Utility industry is a distinct plus. The ability to learn the nuances of different segments of the Utility market including the decision-making process, regulatory environment, and market influences is important, too.

What makes working at Uplight amazing:

In addition to all the standard medical and dental benefits, that kick in Day 1, we:

• Are proud to be over 300+ rebels with an important cause by helping to create a more sustainable planet.
• Are committed to the environment, our employees, and our communities. 
• Are focused on career growth by following defined career ladders
• Take our work and mission seriously and….we love to laugh!

We also:

• Provide a 401k Match
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance 
• Monthly wellness stipend 
• Peer to Peer recognition program 
• Management by objectives bonus plan (change if commission role)
• Innovated flexible time off 
• Keep you energized with plenty of food and drink (when our offices reopen)

Salary Range: $130,000 to $145,000 (dependent on experience)

Uplight provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.