Sales with Vision: Claudia Kafka

Claudia Kafka is Senior Sales Manager at Gas Connect Austria. Every day, she takes on tasks related to the national and European pipeline network. Her job remains exciting thanks to this diversity, as there is always something new to learn.

Claudia Kafka is Senior Sales Manager at Gas Connect Austria. Every day, she takes on tasks related to the national and European pipeline network. Her job remains exciting thanks to this diversity, as there is always something new to learn.

From her office on the 14th floor of the Gas Connect Austria headquarters, Claudia Kafka enjoys the panorama of Vienna. The 36-year-old also maintains a good overview of her profession. From data management through meetings with national and international customers and partners, all the way to coordinating and concluding contracts – as a Senior Sales Manager in the ten-person Sales Transmission & Distribution department, Claudia Kafka covers a wide range of responsibilities.

Internal and external point of contact

Claudia Kafka has been working at Gas Connect Austria since 2011. The dedicated businesswoman is responsible, for example, for contracts in the Austrian distribution area: "My responsibilities in the domestic supply sector are diverse. They range from concluding contracts for accessing the distribution network to the coordination of groundbreaking projects, such connecting biogas facilities to the distribution network”. In her role as the intermediary between customers and partners in the energy sector and her colleagues within the company, she plays a vital role in mediating and facilitating communication.

The sales department primarily markets cross-border transport capacities across the transmission network. European market participants obtain these capacities through auctions on booking platforms like PRISMA. With her colleagues, Claudia Kafka is responsible for preparing data for capacity marketing and, after concluding capacity contracts, for compiling necessary data for issuing invoices. Furthermore, the sales team assist customers in various special cases in capacity marketing and work on innovative solutions to continuously enhance customer satisfaction.

Required qualities for Sales Managers:

• Precision and enthusiasm when working with numbers and data
• Communication skills
• Solution-oriented thinking
• Excellent IT skills
• Full professional proficiency in English

Specialist with the finger on the pulse

As the industry is continually evolving, it is crucial to remain abreast of new requirements and regulations. Claudia Kafka cites the EU-wide transition to the Entry-Exit model in the transmission network introduced in 2013 as a prime illustration of this principle: "Just as we did back then, at Gas Connect Austria, we keep our contracts and internal processes and systems up-to-date. Continuous monitoring, internal collaboration, and close cooperation with other TSOs are essential."

Is there a need for additional capacities in the European transmission system? Claudia Kafka Claudia is also actively engaged in addressing this question: She is part of the Investment Working Group within the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG). The Working Group is responsible for creating the Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP), a plan for expanding the European transmission network infrastructure. As a Senior Sales Manager, she provides data from the Austrian market area to present Gas Connect Austria's innovative expansion plans in coordination with neighbouring TSOs. Adapting the network to the needs of customers and expanding it when necessary is one of Gas Connect Austria's core tasks. The company is advancing the development of domestic and European hydrogen infrastructure with projects such as "H2 Backbone WAG + Penta-West" and "H2 Backbone Murfeld," and the sales department plays a significant role in these endeavors as well.

Professional and cultural sensitivity

Claudia Kafka particularly values one thing about her work: diversity. One day she is busy with data evaluation and analysis, the next she is attending online calls with neighbouring TSOs or leading a project for automating data preparation in collaboration with other departments. “The fact that I can use my know-how every day in this specialised environment makes me proud. I get to work with great colleagues and partners and I’m still learning new things,” says Claudia Kafka. The basis is a well-founded education: She completed her business administration studies with two master's degrees in “International Management”.