National Grid Partners is hiring a Strategic Relationship Manager, Venture Acceleration. This is a hybrid role that can be based out of our California, Brooklyn, NY, or Waltham, MA offices.

National Grid Partners launched in 2018 as the corporate venture and innovation arm of National Grid, one of the world's largest investor-owned utilities. Since then, we've invested in over 50 startups that are making the power grid safer, cleaner, and smarter. Our team combines 100 years of investing experience and 125 years of utility operations.

The Venture Acceleration team at National Grid Partners runs the Next Grid Alliance (NGA). The objective of the NGA is to drive collaboration between National Grid, NGP startups, and NGA member utilities to accelerate innovation for the energy transition.
The Relationship Manager is expected to:

1. Develop and lead yearlong working group thought forums on critical challenge areas facing National Grid and its utility peers;
2. Account manage and deepen relationships with top tier NGA members - from senior executives to middle management - to encourage greater participation in the NGA, alignment on topics, and interest in NGP portfolio companies;
3. Identify, develop, and track sales opportunities for NGP portfolio companies with NGA members; and
4. Identify and bring back to National Grid external innovation awareness, investment, and co-development opportunities.

The ideal candidate must effectively manage an ecosystem of stakeholders with varying interests utilizing a combination of capabilities that include consultative sales, account management, and program management. To excel at this job, it is important to have enough domain expertise in the electric and/or gas utility sector to lead robust discussions within the working group thought forums that result in measurable impact. The candidate must also be able to balance developing/building strategy and executing at a tactical level. The position also requires a candidate of collaborative nature as well as strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

The ideal candidate must effectively manage an ecosystem of stakeholders with varying interests utilizing a combination of capabilities that include consultative sales, account management, and program management. To excel at this job, it is important to have enough domain expertise in the electric and/or gas utility sector to lead robust discussions within the working group thought forums that result in measurable impact. The activities will be truly entrepreneurial ranging from strategic work at the early stage by generating a pipeline of projects, to customer validation and job-to-be-done interviews, to developing financial business propositions, novel technical solutions and compelling pitches to the investor and start-up community. The position also requires a candidate of collaborative nature as well as strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

* Own, develop, and deliver 1 unique Working Group track per year including curriculum and program development, participation - speaker and attendee - recruitment, and impact tracking.
* Own, develop, and deliver other NGA activities beyond Working Group - technology showcases, networking events, and elements of the NGA Summit, a 2-day annual conference of members and portfolio company CEOs.
* Account manage top tier NGA members to deepen relationships, understand core priorities/interests, drive strategic value, and make target portfolio company introductions.
* Maintain relationships with non-top tier NGA members, including: occasional touch base, invitation to NGA activities, and inclusion in surveys.
* Partner with NGP's Marketing team in the development and distribution of NGA monthly newsletter to members and content develop/review for NGA social media.
* Identify, develop, and track NGP portfolio company sales opportunities with NGA members originated by NGP.
* Bring external innovation awareness, investment, and co-development opportunities to appropriate parties within National Grid.
* Broaden engagement with National Grid stakeholders drive deeper engagement with NGA and it's members on strategically relevant topics and opportunities.
* Collaborate and knowledge share with peers on the Venture Acceleration team and NGP more widely.

* 10 years of experience in a combination of business development, strategy, and program management roles within the energy sector.
* Strong consultative sales capabilities with electric and gas utilities.
* Strong communicator and public speaker with ability facilitate in-person and virtual thought forums.
* Experience in an energy consulting, advisory, research, or market intelligence firm is a plus.
* Team player willing and able to work in a highly collaborative environment.
* Ability to work with Investment, Business Development, Innovation, and Marketing teams within NGP as well as teams within the wider National Grid Business Units and Functions to create and execute effective content and programs.
* Track record working with startups and helping them scale. Ability to effectively engage and gain credibility with startup CEOs.
* Broad understanding of emerging technologies and innovation shaping the energy industry
* Self-starter who works well in autonomous environment
* MBA from a top program and BS are preferred.