Southern Company is committed to building the future of energy for the customers who depend on us, the communities we serve and the industry we lead. The ASCEND program will transform how we do business, helping us elevate the customer experience, adapt to industry changes, and implement technology that offers new capabilities with more agility. It will involve implementing multiple applications, including the replacement of our meter data management (MDM) and customer service systems (CSS) with a new, Oracle customer information system (CIS) called customer to meter (C2M). Additionally, it includes implementing an advanced analytics platform (AAP), customer experience (CX) and customer engagement platform (CEP).

The new platform, to be rolled out to Alabama Power, Georgia Power and Mississippi Power, will be implemented in phases over the next four years. Currently, we are building an ASCEND organization dedicated to helping the electric operating companies realize the vision for a modernized, efficient, digital customer experience to deeply engage with our customers and provide a more personalized experience. ASCEND will be one of the most comprehensive Customer Service and Marketing transformation initiatives in our company’s history. 

Click here for more information about the ASCEND program and to view FAQs.

The location for this position is flexible between Atlanta, Birmingham, or Gulfport.

The successful candidate will remain an employee of the operating company while reporting to the ASCEND Program Team and may report to a SCS or operating company leader for delivery.

There will be alignment for technology employees to the technology leaders and business employees to business leaders. 

 

Job Description – CIS MDM Project Technology SR Application Analyst

This position is responsible for partnering with Southern Company's Power Delivery, Customer Service and Shared Services business units and the Technology Organization for the development and support of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Metering applications and infrastructure. The incumbent assumes responsibility for ensuring timely, reliable, quality solutions and support for the Metering and AMI business customers.

The scope of work includes: providing functional and technical subject matter expertise for Metering and AMI applications; problem analysis and resolution (production support), root cause analysis, implementing vendor solutions; providing input to application life cycle management; providing oversight for the design, development, testing, and implementation of application solutions; staying abreast of emerging computer technologies; and staying abreast of the business processes emerging computer technologies.

 

Specific Job Responsibilities:

Single point of customer contact for assigned Metering/AMI applications 

Subject matter expert for applications – business process, data/workflow, and reports

Owns result/solution end-to-end

Impact analysis (functional, application risk assessment)

Manage production deployments, production verification testing and user implementation support

User acceptance coordination with customer / bug tracking 

Troubleshooting and resolving application quality issues

Application life cycle management

Release planning / management

Compliance and change management controls adherence

Application vendor interface and support

Disaster recovery plans/testing

Occasional travel within the Southern Company footprint is required

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to establish and maintain quality relationships with peers and management, vendors, and internal customer groups 

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills required 

Must be able to manage production support and project related activities simultaneously 

Ability to work effectively with limited direct supervision

Excellent customer service skills

Risk assessment/mitigation skills

Strong communications and interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively within a team environment

Technical writing skills

Ability to gather and document business and functional requirements

Ability to estimate project costs and timelines

Self-starter and demonstrate initiative

 

Education / Experience:

B.S., B.A., or B.B.A degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Management Information Systems, Business, or another related field, is required

Demonstrated technical understanding of how application frameworks and other technologies can be leveraged to help meet business needs

Experience with supporting Linux based systems preferred

Experience with Java/J2EE, C#/.Net 

Good understanding of REST/SOAP Web Services

Familiarity with Windows Azure and/or Amazon Web Services

Knowledge of databases is preferred

Knowledge of business functions and operations performed within organizations of the Southern Company supported by this team (Metering and AMI)

Understands and is knowledgeable of technology solutions that could impact business partners. 

Proven analytical skills, problem solving skills and project management skills

Experience supporting vendor applications highly preferred

Possess a solid understanding of technical environments and software methods

Power Delivery/Customer service experience either directly or in a support role desired

 

Behavioral Attributes:

High degree of initiative and personal responsibility “ownership” for assignments

Takes personal ownership of career development

Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the company culture – Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, and Superior Performance.

Ability to effectively multi-task and prioritize workload

Must have a strong desire to be a student of the business

Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to work with a team, build superior relationships, and collaborate across TO organizations