Sr. Manager or Director of Structured Finance

About Ava Community Energy

Ava Community Energy (Ava), Formerly East Bay Community Energy, is a Joint Powers Authority comprising Alameda County and its incorporated areas, and the cities of Lathrop, Stockton, and Tracy. Ava’s charter is to provide its customers with low carbon, cost-effective electricity that integrates innovative energy products and maximizes local benefits through the development of local solutions, ranging from increasing access to rooftop solar to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles.

Culture and Commitment to Diversity

Ava believes in a vibrant culture that supports and nurtures a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission. We foster a culture of open communication, responsibility, curiosity, accountability, and teamwork. We want creative problem solvers that are excited to work in an entrepreneurial environment and grow our organization!

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of our service area’s rich culture and communities. We welcome a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and skills.

We strongly encourage people of all characteristics to apply and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type based on age, religion, color, gender identity or expression, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics, and those with a disability as protected by federal, state and local laws.

Position Summary

Ava is seeking to hire a full-time Sr. Manager or Director of Structured Finance, reporting to the Director of Clean Energy Structured Finance. Ava is looking for candidates with structured finance, project finance, or capital markets experience and a renewable energy background that can support the expansion of Ava’s structured finance and capital markets program. The Structured Finance Team works cross-functionally to source, diligence, structure, negotiate, close, and manage financial transactions that both source and deploy Ava’s balance sheet capital or otherwise connect to Ava’s financial obligations. As a public shareholder entity, Ava is uniquely positioned to structure creative financial transactions to benefit our service territory. Deals may utilize IRA benefits, innovate scalable VPPs, accelerate decarbonization, and drive equitable clean energy services. Examples of types of transactions include: billion-dollar bond raises for innovative off-balance-sheet renewable energy prepayment transactions; novel deal structures for public-facing EV charging services; behind-the-meter solar & storage contracts through municipal resilience programs; and loan offerings structured around transportation electrification market development and supporting municipal programs.

Position Details

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Lead and/or collaborate with colleagues on Structured Finance deals and initiatives with minimal guidance from the Director of Clean Energy Structured Finance. Specific activities may include:

• Providing input to prospective deals and financing structures
• Building relationships with counterparties
• Drafting term sheets
• Contributing to counterparty selection
• Negotiating deal terms with counterparties
• Providing a commercial perspective on deal negotiations and coordinating with counsel & team members
• Driving deals to close through planning with clear communication and a clear vision of issues to be resolved
• Building & maintaining financial models and performing financial analysis
• Preparing regular and ad hoc reports and presentations for stakeholders & senior management
• Developing an institutionalized knowledge base for the Structured Finance Team
• Collaborating with the Local Development team to develop local product offerings, such as EV charging services, solar & storage resilience offerings, and others
• Collaborate within the Structured Finance Team and cross-functionally to manage deals post-closing
• Scoping, planning, and developing new activities that can add value to Ava
• Other duties as assigned
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent or 4+ years of experience in energy finance or similar; MBA preferred
• 8+ years of experience in structured finance, project finance, capital markets, lending or related role
• Strong finance, investment, and deal background
• Strong experience building and maintaining financial models
• Project finance experience with clean energy investor/owner or developer preferred
• Ability to wear many hats
• Expert in excel
• Ability to roll up your sleeve and do what needs to be done
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple workstreams
• Ability to take initiative and work independently on projects with minimum supervision
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of basic software programs, including Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to lead others on a deal team is a bonus
  
  
  

Compensation And Benefits

The annual salary for this position is between $190,924 (Sr. Manager) and $211,925 (Director), with a total annual compensation of up to $210,016 (Sr. Manager) or $237,356 (Director) based on performance.

Ava offers a generous benefits package which includes:

• Zero-cost Individual, family, and domestic partner health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Life and AD&D, EAP, STD, and LTD benefits
• Retirement plan with Employer Matching contribution
• Social Security deferment plan
• Paid Time Off Vacation and Holidays
• Commuter Benefits
• Fertility & Adoption Benefits
• Pet Insurance
• Mental Health Support
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care accounts)
• Onsite Fitness Center
• Paid Volunteer Days
• Complimentary Garage Parking
• And More!
  
  
  

Location and Working Conditions

This position is based at Ava headquarters in Oakland, near BART. Ava's team has a hybrid approach inclusive of in-office and remote work. This role is typically in-office from Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the first Wednesday of the month. Ava is not providing relocation or sponsorships for this role.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ava is dedicated to reasonably accommodate an applicant for known physical or mental disabilities so that the applicant may participate in the application process. We will engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with any employee with a known physical or mental disability to identify potential reasonable accommodations, if any, to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their position.

• General office environment is primarily sedentary work which requires the following physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, reaching, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, repetitive motions, talking, hearing, and visual acuity.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.
• The noise level is usually moderate.
  
  
  

Licenses/Certificates

Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class “C” California driver license and a safe driving record, or the ability to provide alternate transportation.

Working at Ava Community Energy

Ava is committed to complying with applicable laws, including the Americans with Disability Act and Fair Employment and Housing Act, ensuring equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. Ava prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), genetic information or characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Ava strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace Being fully vaccinated against COVID is a condition of employment (exemptions will be evaluated by legal counsel).

The information contained herein has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The information also does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.