Chief Commercial Officer

Description

We are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels heard and respected, and extending our culture of care so that every individual can reach their full potential. We want you to have a sense of belonging and feel valued for your contributions and the perspectives you bring.

Summary: The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) will be responsible for building and managing the project development portfolio and maximizing returns on development capital investments in utility-scale wind, solar, and storage development projects across the Americas region. This professional will hold responsibility for development project origination and full-cycle project development (up to NTP) as well as portfolio management and capital recycling initiatives, including the acquisition and divestiture of development project(s). S/he will drive development efforts for wind, solar, and storage projects with multiple internal and external stakeholders, working closely with EPC, O&M, and other functional resources to ensure high quality project development and sales. S/he will also be responsible for overseeing and managing a team structuring, negotiating, and finalizing critical deal documents to include land and entitlement agreements, asset sale or purchase agreements, joint development agreements and other strategic partnerships, interconnection access, permits, environmental assessments, ALTA surveys, and site plans and engineering designs.

Requirements

• Leads the project origination and development program for wind, solar, storage, and hydrogen, including greenfield development and M&A and development portfolio management initiatives, across the Americas region.
• Identifies and analyzes project and portfolio acquisitions as well as market and technology diversification and expansion opportunities for growth of the Company.
• Maximizes value creation through the optimal deployment of allocated resources, steering the development pipeline via project origination (informed by understanding and forecasts of regulatory, political, technological, commercial, and market dynamics), portfolio and individual project prioritization and divestitures, and resource allocation.
• Ensures high quality project development and delivery using tools such as quality reviews, analyses and adequate monitoring and reporting systems.
• Leads a team of commercial professionals focused on maximizing the value of the development portfolio and individual projects, through the origination, structuring, negotiation, and closing of project transactions:
• Manages RES’ efforts to develop and cultivate relationships across utility and corporate clients.
• Drives the structuring of complex transactions, including conducting and directing multiple types of quantitative and risk-based analysis.
• Collaborates closely with finance team members to analyze the impacts of covariance and basis, assess contractual terms and the financial impacts of various deal structures to inform the negotiating position.
• Drives the creation of innovative deal structures that equitably distribute risk; and responds to and/or directing responses to RFPs and develop other proposal documentation.
• Bidding for and securing power offtake agreements.
• Leads a team of development professionals who manage all phases of project development from land identification to project divestiture, including:
• Deals screening and returns analysis on projects based on early-stage project information.
• Commissioning of studies required to assess project viability (Geotech, mineral rights, environmental impact, etc.).
• Securing full site control through acquisition of land rights from other renewable developers and private landowners.
• Leadership over structuring and negotiating contracts with and coordinating efforts of subject matter experts needed to advance and de-risk projects, including title insurance, permitting experts, real estate/land agents, interconnection engineers, surveyors, etc.
• Due diligence on projects to identify fatal flaws in siting, design, permitting, interconnects, PPAs, RECs, and other project issues.
• Adherence to quantitative and qualitative requirements of both tax equity and equity investors.
• Coordination with project valuation team (i.e., modelers) to assess development budgets, preliminary project returns, and financial impact of open development risks.
• Works with the in-house engineering team to inform bidding process, respond to customer specifications, and track bid status.
• Partners with project finance team on key issues necessary to finance the projects with tax equity and debt; and manages project portfolio risk across the entire development and commercial value chain.
• Manages development budget for region and gains approval for development expenditures above a certain threshold.
• Builds and leads a team of commercial professionals focused on maximizing the value of the development portfolio and individual projects, including:
• Optimizing portfolio risk, and basis market fundamentals, recommending points of entry or acquisition and divestiture opportunities and hedging strategies.
• Maximizing the value of project positions in capacity and renewable energy certificate markets.
• Maintaining currency in all relevant power markets and of all regulatory initiatives and the impacts to the business; and optimizing the portfolio of contracted vs. merchant power generation exposure either through creative long-term agreements or through merchant sales and/or wholesale market trading structures.
• Manages the Risk and Investment Committee and Major Transaction Committee process, ensuring high quality information and timeliness to facilitate appropriate approvals before critical project deadlines and deliverables.
• Monitors upcoming step-ups in project risks or credit requirements and keep the Americas leadership team aware of any such events, seeking and gaining required approvals in a timely manner when necessary.
• Manages and develops partner relationships, both internally and externally to include joint development partnerships and third-party advisors, that can assist in the growth of the business and closing of deals.
• Partners with senior stakeholder relations leaders on key local and state affairs matters that may potentially affect development objectives.
• Drives the continuous improvement of development processes by applying best practices, incorporating lessons learned, and implementing applicable optimization tools in ongoing effort to progressively reduce the LCOE of projects.
• Analyzes and refines regional and company processes to improve efficiency and productivity.
• Tracks and drives policy developments and opportunities to best capitalize on target markets, partners, and strategies.
• Maintains a thorough understanding of key technology trends.
• Develops and presents strategies for long-term growth to senior leadership at the Company.
• Explores and assesses energy and renewable energy markets, trends, customers, and competitors.
• Acts as a thought leader and team player who builds a consensus and a shared vision across the company and wins support to execute the strategy and business objectives.
• Recruits, develops, motivates, and retains high performance teams and ensures the Company has the talent to achieve its growth strategies.
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Broad experience with utility/power project development, including:
• Securing interconnection rights, transmission capacity, federal, state, and local regulatory approvals, building permits, and environmental permits.
• Works with local landowners to secure land for project development.
• Project financing.
• Financial forecasts and economics, including knowledge of financial/business concepts (NPV, ROI, IRR as well as internal management metrics).
• Negotiating and closing complex agreements (PPA, REC, EPC, O&M, Asset Management, etc.); and experience overseeing engineering, design, construction, commissioning, and start up.
• Proven ability to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously and a strong understanding of costs and activities necessary for project development cycle.
• A thorough understanding of competitive and regulated wholesale and retail power markets and strong commercial acumen.
• Strong working knowledge of financing structures commonly used in the industry and command of market terms used in tax equity and debt transactions.
• Knowledge of key technology choices and trends and an ability to drive procurement strategy.
• Proficiency in community engagement with local stakeholders and media and able to represent the company in public hearings, craft messaging for lobbying of state/federal politicians and agencies.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to interact clearly and concisely with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent network and relationships with senior executives in the broader energy industry and renewable energy sector, and the ability to build a positive RES brand externally.
• Proven people management skills, including career development, mentoring, coaching and all aspects of performance management.
• Functional competencies include accountability, attention to detail, building strategic
• partnerships, managing vision & purpose, and excellence.
  
  
  

Safety

• Presents, supports, and leads-by-example with a safety and quality-oriented attitude.
• Leads by example to show that safety is the most important function, ensuring that all employees follow safe practices while working.
• Accountable to continually reinforce safe behaviors and correct “at risk” behaviors.
• Adheres to and ensures all site team members understands standard operating procedures.
• Leads and supports the site team in technical, quality and safety, utilizing system in place.
  
  
  

Leadership

• Fosters and demonstrates a workplace inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation, and exceeding expectations.
• Manages one or more direct reports.
• Participates in hiring and selection process to fill positions on the team.
• Communicates regularly with direct reports on goals, accomplishments, and information on policies.
• Demonstrates leadership and expertise in eyes of client group.
• Employee Development:
• Provides tasks and assignments that challenge and stretch employees’ responsibilities.
• Conducts regular discussions with employee(s) on personal development. Comfortable with empowering others.
• Conducts timely, effective performance reviews in accordance with RES guidelines.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics or Engineering required.
• Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or Engineering preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in energy project development, driving projects to completion, deal structuring and interacting with various counterparties (greenfield project developers, IPPs, utilities, investors, and other off takers).
• Domestic and International travel required 16%-30%.
  
  
  

Location: Denver, CO

RES offers benefits that are effective first day of employment. These benefits include the following:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Health Savings Account with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 4x pay Basic Life and Voluntary Life
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Accident, Hospital, and Critical Illness
• 401 (k) plan with 6% company match
• 4 weeks Paid Time Off (PTO) and 10 Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement and Green Car Reimbursement
• Volunteer and Charity Matching
• Paid Parental Leave and Paid Sabbatical Leave
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Employee Discounts and Wellness programs
• Wellness Reimbursement
  
  
  

Physical Requirements And Environment

The work environment and physical demands characteristics are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Rarely: Climbing, crouching, kneeling, pulling/pushing/lifting between 5-15lbs., and stooping are required.

Occasionally: Carrying 5-15lbs., gripping, handling, pinching, and walking are required.

Frequently: Standing is required.

Constantly: Reading, grasping, hearing, reaching, vision, repetitive motion, and sitting is required.

Rarely exposed to extreme cold, heat, and humidity, and wet climates, in the working environment.

Occasionally exposed to noise and hazards in the work environment.

We maintain a drug-free workplace. Candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment background investigation and drug test as a condition of employment.

RES is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.