Role: Director, BESS -- Operating Assets and IPP
Location: Durham, NC (or remote)
We are seeking an experienced, commercially and technically skilled Director, BESS to support our Independent Power Producer (IPP) business, with a focus on our operating battery energy storage system (BESS) assets. This is a leading role on our Asset Management team as we scale our operating fleet through organic growth and M&A.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the commercial management of a portfolio of operating PV & BESS assets, including offtake agreements, tolling agreements, and other revenue contracts, ensuring compliance and full value capture.
- Manage Long-Term Service Agreements (LTSAs), O&M agreements, and Interconnection Agreements (IAs), including performance tracking, invoice review, warranty claims, and contract compliance.
- Apply a strong technical and mechanical understanding of BESS hardware -- cells, modules, racks, PCS/inverters, BMS/EMS, thermal management, and fire suppression systems -- to inform corrective and preventative maintenance decisions.
- Partner with O&M providers, OEMs, and third-party consultants to resolve technical issues, evaluate augmentation and degradation trends, and support capacity testing and performance guarantee claims.
- Support merchant market operations, including bidding strategy input, revenue optimization, and market/ISO participation review in coordination with trading and commercial teams.
- Support diligence of new offtake, O&M, LTSA, and interconnection agreements as the portfolio grows through development and M&A.
- Prepare asset performance reporting, budget variance analysis, and technical/commercial risk assessments for internal stakeholders and investors.
- Identify and manage technical and commercial risks across the operating portfolio, escalating issues and recommending mitigation strategies.
What You Will Bring:
- 8+ years of experience in BESS asset management, commercial management, or origination, with direct exposure to operating battery storage assets.
- Demonstrated experience managing offtake agreements, tolling agreements, LTSAs, O&M agreements, interconnection agreements, and merchant hedge structures (e.g., TB2 swaps).
- Strong working knowledge of BESS hardware and system design -- battery chemistry, cell/module/rack architecture, PCS/inverters, BMS/EMS, thermal management, and fire suppression/safety systems (e.g., NFPA 855, UL 9540A).
- Experience operating assets in merchant power markets, including revenue optimization and market/ISO dynamics.
- Ability to translate technical performance data (degradation, augmentation, availability) into commercial decisions, and vice versa.
- Strong contract review, negotiation, and financial modeling skills.
- Excellent cross-functional communication skills; comfortable working across legal, trading, engineering, and O&M teams.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, finance, business, or a related field; advanced degree a plus.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive health benefits
- 401(k) with contribution matching
- Professional development opportunities
- Collaborative and inclusive work environment in Durham, NC.