Director of Energy and Utilities

Role Scope

Own the full lifecycle of utility power development projects across multiple US markets simultaneously, from initial feasibility and pre-application through engineering studies to finalized interconnection agreements.

Build and manage a lean team of energy and utilities specialists, cultivating direct relationships with utility and water providers across every active US market.

Lead all negotiations with utilities, energy suppliers, and behind-the-meter generation partners, covering power pricing, capacity commitments, solar agreements, water supply contracts, and infrastructure access.

Assess new data center sites for power delivery viability, utility interconnection risk, and water supply constraints before lease commitments are made, working alongside the site acquisition team.

Align utility capacity, power, and water timelines with construction and design teams so schedule commitments hold across every active site.

Manage the energy portfolio, including physical and financial instruments, to enforce SLA requirements with utilities, reconcile energy bills, and surface rate improvement opportunities.

Requirements

• Personally managed US utility interconnection processes end to end across multiple major markets, from pre-application through finalized agreement, without dropping the timeline.
• Negotiated power purchase agreements, utility service contracts, and behind-the-meter generation deals against counterparties who operate on utility timelines, not startup timelines.
• Built or scaled an energy or utilities team in a high-growth environment from scratch, creating the process rather than inheriting one.
• Quarterback across site acquisition, construction, design, and customer teams simultaneously, and catch a utility scheduling slip before it lands on the build schedule.
• Can read and document a utility's full load interconnection process, including financial commitments, cost responsibilities, and timeline gates, well enough to explain when power is actually secured.
• Write and present clearly enough to brief a CEO on interconnection risk or negotiate directly with a utility executive without losing technical credibility.
• Hired and managed a team working on complex energy and utility problems, and the people you’ve led have closed deals and delivered power commitments on time.

Nice-to-Haves

• Energy trading, hedging, or demand response experience.
• Utility-side background (ISO/RTO or public power entity).
• Deep market expertise in ERCOT, NYISO, MISO, SPP or SERC.
• First-of-a-kind deal structures (co-located generation, powered land, hybrid grid models).
• Regulatory and policy navigation (PUC proceedings, ISO stakeholder processes).

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $300,000 - $400,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, qualifications, and location.
• Competitive total compensation package (salary + equity).
• Retirement or pension plan.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous PTO policy.