Vice President, Development (CA)

About Avantus

Avantus is shaping the future by making reliable, low-cost clean energy a global reality. Our legacy of leadership in next generation solar energy includes developing one of the nation’s largest solar clusters and one of the first projects to beat fossil fuel prices back in 2016. Today, we are expanding the boundaries of existing technologies to build one of the largest portfolios of smart power plants with integrated storage, capable of providing millions of people with affordable, zero-emission energy – day and night. Through our relentless pursuit of better, we are decarbonizing our planet at the gigaton level, and bringing the advantages of clean energy to all of us.

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for the Vice President, Development position. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and detail-oriented organizational skills. This role reports to the Senior or Executive Vice President, Development.

The Vice President, Development will be responsible for the development of solar photovoltaic, battery energy storage, and green hydrogen projects through leadership, project management, economic analysis, negotiation, and transaction support across a pipeline of projects targeting wholesale power markets in the US.  The successful candidate will have proven experience in the energy industry, specifically in energy infrastructure development in CAISO; strong financial analysis skills; an ability to effectively communicate complex ideas; and the ability and enthusiasm to drive projects forward. 

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Independently own and manage project development of utility-scale solar power generation projects from start (greenfield development) to finish (financial close) in the California region to deliver projects on budget and on time.
• Communicate and sync cross-functionally regularly to minimize project risks.
• Direct and manage land use agreements, mitigation settlements, interconnection agreements, offtake agreements, and various other agreements in collaboration with a team of subject matter experts.
• Direct and manage project budgets, objectives, schedules, and deliverables for assigned development projects.
• Travel to site locations to evaluate sites.
• Support land use, environmental permitting applications, and preliminary engineering.
• Coordinate the real estate title curative process including diligence, supporting negotiation, and closeout with the support of internal real estate team and external consultants.
• Support the interconnection process including diligence, technical review, and negotiation from application through signed agreement, with the support of the internal interconnection team.
• Coordinate preliminary project valuation modeling with the project finance team.
• Engage community, local and state institutions, and stakeholders for project support.
• Manage contractors, vendors, and consultants to maintain project timeline and budget.
• Independently lead development project initiatives, task forces, or programs as necessary.
• Provide Executive support during investor due diligence processes.
• Project ownership from start to finish:
• Project economic explanation (key drivers, changes)
• Challenge project team for results
• Sign-off on project pricing and all inputs
• Promotes all executive-level discussions / approvals
• Cash flow approval
• Task Order approvals
• Owns project schedule
• Manage a small team of Analysts, Associates, Managers, and/or Directors.
• Act as a trusted collaborator with the broader development team for continuous improvement.
  

Required Skills And Qualifications

• Possess a proven track record with extensive knowledge of the full cycle of utility-scale renewable power generation development and marketing in the CAISO region.
• Extensive knowledge of interconnection, permitting, real estate, state/federal regulation, utility procurement goals, politics, law, and other issues that impact the development of renewable energy projects in the eastern energy markets.
• Proven ability to lead a team
• Detailed understanding of the interconnection process (study process, contracting, utility requirements, financial obligations, and scope execution by utilities) to both site projects optimally and to advance them through COD.
• Solid understanding of economic drivers for renewable energy projects.
• Concisely frame issues by providing context, analysis, recommendations, and risk/benefit tradeoffs, both in written and verbal format, to project teams and to company executives.
• Create control and influence over the costs, terms, and schedules of key project milestones that are heavily dependent on external counterparties, often without strong commercial recourse.
• Strong understanding of the relationships within a project schedule to prioritize teams’ resource allocation.
• Highly resourceful and able to design processes for the advancement of project milestones and navigate through key risks where more structure is needed.
• Highly proficient in MS Excel (advanced proficiency required), Project, Word, and PowerPoint, as well as Google Earth
• Independent self-starter who can meet deadlines and deliver quality products with minimal oversight.
• Substantial ability to recognize opportunities, identify and evaluate risks in a development context, and effectively communicate the foregoing.
• Demonstrated ability to translate contracts and financing agreements into concise financial and economic analysis.
• Ability to manage a large workload, often supporting processes managed by colleagues, while prioritizing tasks and effectively juggling competing deadlines.
• Detail-oriented with a strong sense of personal responsibility and ownership of work product.
• Excellent personal organizational, pattern recognition, and negotiation skills
• At least 10 years of experience in the energy industry
• Minimum four-year bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, MBA preferred.
  
  

Avantus offers competitive compensation with an excellent benefits package, including 401(k) matching; comprehensive medical and dental plan options; and flexible PTO. We are an equal-opportunity employer.

The typical US base salary range for this full-time position is listed below (plus bonus and benefits). Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus and benefits.

Pay Range

$223,483—$286,517 USD