Director, Energy Strategy, Digital Infrastructure

Vesper Energy Development•Albuquerque, NM

1d•Remote

About The Position

At Vesper, we know energy. Headquartered in the greater Dallas area, our team brings two centuries of collective renewable energy experience and has delivered more than 10 GW of renewable energy projects globally. Today, our pipeline spans over 35 renewable energy and storage projects with a generating capacity of 11+ GW — enough to power more than 2 million homes. As we continue developing, owning, and operating renewable energy projects across the United States, Vesper is strategically positioning select assets to meet the surging demand for data center and AI infrastructure. This role sits at the center of that evolution, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of energy at the intersection of clean power and next-generation technology. This role owns the power coordination function within Vesper’s digital infrastructure development platform, with responsibility for utility engagement, interconnection strategy, and diligence ready power milestone documentation across a portfolio of repositioned energy assets. The role is accountable for defining and maintaining credible power delivery pathways, schedules, and risk positions for assigned sites, and for escalating constraints early with options and recommended mitigations. The role partners closely with Digital Infrastructure Development, Transmission and Interconnection, Engineering, Commercial, Legal, and external utilities and advisors to advance projects through power stage gates and to support internal investment decisions and buyer technical diligence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field required
10+ years in power generation development (renewables + gas-fired generation experience required) and/or large load power development, with direct exposure to large load power delivery and utility engagement leadership required.
Demonstrated experience managing interconnection and utility workstreams end to end, including feasibility processes, study coordination, and substation and service planning interfaces.
Demonstrated ability to model Vesper's values, Accountability, Respect, Courage, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement, through day-to-day behaviors (e.g., flags risks early, communicates directly, involves the right stakeholders early, and documents and shares learnings).
End-to-end utility coordination experience, including load applications and letters, feasibility processes, study requests and coordination, and substation and service planning interfaces
Direct experience originating and advancing powered land and or digital infrastructure projects, including early screening and development sequencing
Working knowledge of interconnection queue mechanics at ISO and RTOs and IOU managed utilities, with specific experience in ERCOT and the on-going Batch Zero study reforms required
Ability to communicate power delivery risk, constraints, and schedule in terms investors and buyers can underwrite, including clear milestone definitions and sensitivity drivers
Working knowledge of FERC Order 2023 / SB6 implications and large load queuing impacts as applicable
Strong cross functional execution and influence, including ability to align Engineering, Commercial, Legal, and Development partners on assumptions, priorities, and decisions
Strong process and systems mindset, including building repeatable templates, trackers, and diligence artifacts that reduce rework and improve decision quality.
Strong executive communication skills, including concise decision ready updates and escalation with options and recommendations

Nice To Haves

Direct experience implementing Behind-the-Meter (BTM), Private Utility Networks (PUN), and other off-grid power delivery strategies preferred but not required.
Existing relationships with regional utility planning, large load, or key accounts teams, and ability to build credibility quickly with new counterparties
Familiarity with BTM configurations and hybrid grid and BTM power delivery structures, and the commercial and schedule tradeoffs they create

Responsibilities

Own utility and transmission level power coordination across the digital infrastructure portfolio, including strategy, sequencing, and accountability for power milestone progress
Lead power feasibility screening at LOI stage by triaging site viability, identifying constraints and upgrade drivers, and documenting options before meaningful capital is deployed
Manage formal utility engagement for large load service, including load letters and applications, feasibility studies, study requests and coordination (including SIS as applicable), and substation and service planning interfaces
Define, document, and maintain diligence ready power milestones and narratives that support internal stage gate decisions and can withstand buy-side technical diligence
Evaluate and leverage existing PV and storage interconnection agreements as delivery pathways and / or negotiation leverage, documenting constraints, modification requirements, and schedule impacts
Maintain and grow senior utility relationships in target markets, and track queue dynamics, transmission expansion plans, and utility program timelines to inform site prioritization and risk mitigation
Partner cross-functionally to integrate power delivery plans into site diligence and conceptual planning, including supporting conceptual master planning for co-locating large loads at existing sites
Support buyer technical diligence and executive and investment committee communications on power risk by presenting assumptions, risks, mitigations, and milestone status clearly and consistently
Establish and improve templates, trackers, and operating cadence for power development documentation across the portfolio to improve speed, quality, and consistency
Other duties as assigned