Client Relationship Manager (Host Engagement)

Minneapolis, MN$128k–148k

About Sparkfund

Sparkfund is the deployment services company utilities rely on to take DERs from grid edge to grid core.

With over a decade of experience as a utility services company, Sparkfund has pioneered a smarter approach to deploying distributed assets as part of a fast-growing grid. Through its Distributed Capacity Procurement (DCP) model, Sparkfund enables utilities to plan, deploy, and dispatch DERs at the scale and pace necessary to meet load growth demand and unlock the full value of the grid. We support program design, assessment of DER grid value, host engagement, and value chain management to ensure on-time, on-budget deployment of distributed resources with maximum grid value and lowest cost.

With more than 3,500 projects deployed across 43 states and more than 300MW of energized assets constructed, Sparkfund is transforming buildings into a valuable extension of the grid for the benefit of our society. At Sparkfund, we partner with utilities, property owners, and organizations to deploy distributed energy solutions that help modernize infrastructure and accelerate the clean energy transition. We're looking for a relationship-driven, highly organized Client Relationship Manager to help grow and manage the host partnerships that make our deployments possible.

This role sits at the center of outreach, relationship management, onboarding coordination, and cross-functional execution. You'll work directly with commercial property owners, tenants, facility managers, and internal stakeholders to move projects from first conversation through successful participation in Sparkfund programs.

If you're someone who thrives managing relationships, building pipelines, solving problems, and keeping moving pieces aligned — while operating with a high level of independence — we'd love to talk.

What You'll Do

Build & Manage Host Relationships

Own a portfolio of commercial host relationships from outreach through active program participation

Lead multi-channel outreach efforts including email, phone, and in-person engagement

Build trust with property owners, tenants, facility managers, and site stakeholders

Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for hosts throughout the engagement lifecycle

Drive Pipeline & Outreach Strategy

Develop and execute outreach strategies across target geographies

Maintain accurate CRM data and pipeline reporting

Track conversion metrics, onboarding timelines, and engagement trends

Identify bottlenecks and proactively adjust outreach strategies based on data and market insights

Coordinate Cross-Functionally

Partner closely with Legal, Engineering, Deployment, Marketing, and Program Management teams

Coordinate onboarding workflows and contracting milestones

Surface risks early and keep internal teams aligned to deployment timelines

Translate field feedback into actionable recommendations for program and process improvements

What We're Looking For

5+ years of experience in customer-facing roles such as account management, partnerships, business development, customer success, or stakeholder engagement

Experience managing long-cycle, multi-stakeholder relationships

Strong communication and relationship-building skills

Ability to independently manage pipelines, priorities, and follow-through

Experience using CRM systems like Salesforce or HubSpot

Comfortable working cross-functionally in a fast-moving environment

Ability to travel up to 33% as needed

Bonus Points For

Experience in energy, infrastructure, real estate, or related industries

Familiarity with DER, battery storage, or utility programs

Experience working with commercial property stakeholders or municipalities

Exposure to contract-driven engagement or onboarding workflows

We recognize that experience doesn't always come from a perfectly linear background or an exact match to every qualification listed above. If your experience aligns strongly with the responsibilities of this role — even if you don't meet every listed requirement or years-of-experience benchmark — we still encourage you to apply.

At Sparkfund, we value curiosity, adaptability, relationship-building, and the ability to learn quickly just as much as traditional career paths or titles.

Why Sparkfund?

Mission-driven work supporting clean energy deployment

Collaborative, people-first culture

Flexible vacation policy and strong work-life balance

Competitive compensation and benefits

Opportunities to help shape growing programs and processes

Hybrid work environment with meaningful autonomy and ownership

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $128,000 - $148,000 (Compensation for this position will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to geographic location, relevant experience, market data, certifications, specialized industry expertise, and overall alignment with the role's scope and responsibilities.)

Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance

401(k) with employer match

12 weeks gender-neutral paid caregiver leave

Monthly communication stipend

Flexible Fridays (Half-day Fridays)

Equal Employment Opportunity

Sparkfund is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees and applicants. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Sparkfund also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs or practices, in all phases of the hiring process and throughout employment. If you need an accommodation, please let us know.

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties, responsibilities, and requirements may change at any time based on business needs.

We encourage individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply — even if you do not meet every listed qualification — as skills and competencies can develop in different ways.