Manager, Emporia VPP Project Delivery

Emporia Energy•Littleton, CO

4d•$100,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

You are the Grid Navigator. A battery on a wall is a liability. A battery with Permission to Operate (PTO) is a revenue-generating asset generating meaningful revenue per year in VPP grid services revenue. Your job is to close that gap as fast as possible, in four states simultaneously. You will own the end-to-end permitting and utility interconnection process for Emporia’s battery deployment program — from documenting AHJ requirements and engaging fire marshals to submitting interconnection applications and relentlessly following up with utilities until PTO is in hand. You will do this for Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and Colorado simultaneously, against aggressive deadlines, with no slack in the schedule. This role requires someone who has done this before — who has navigated Connecticut’s fire code environment, who knows the difference between Eversource and National Grid interconnection processes in Massachusetts, and who understands that the relationship with an AHJ inspector is worth as much as the paperwork. You bring the expertise. AI amplifies your reach.

Requirements

4–8 years in residential or light commercial solar or battery storage permitting and interconnection, with direct, hands-on experience submitting and managing applications
Direct experience in at least two of the four target states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, or Colorado — with working knowledge of local AHJ processes, utility interconnection procedures, and relevant electrical codes
Personal relationships or demonstrated ability to build relationships with AHJ inspectors, fire marshals, and utility interconnection personnel
Direct knowledge of Connecticut’s residential battery storage permitting environment, including fire code requirements — this is the highest-risk market and the first launch state
Experience with utility interconnection processes at Eversource, National Grid, or Xcel Energy specifically
Strong organizational discipline: you manage multiple open applications across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously without anything slipping
Genuine comfort with AI productivity tools and documented adoption of technology to extend individual capacity

Nice To Haves

Experience with EG4, Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, or comparable battery storage product permitting — including knowledge of UL 9540 and UL 9540A fire safety documentation used in AHJ submissions
Familiarity with VPP or demand response program enrollment processes in New England or Colorado utility territories
Experience working alongside an installer network where permitting responsibilities are shared between Emporia and third-party electrical contractors
Working knowledge of single-line diagram preparation for residential battery storage interconnection packages
ConnSol, Clean Peak, or Efficiency Maine program experience

Responsibilities

Permitting & AHJ Management
Research, document, and maintain permitting requirements for residential battery storage installations across all target jurisdictions in CT, MA, ME, and CO initially and likely other markets soon
Proactively initiate and manage AHJ pre-approval relationships in each market — building personal connections with inspectors and fire marshals before the first application is submitted
Own and actively manage Connecticut fire code risk (DR-001), working with the engaged consultant to ensure Emporia’s E60 battery meets local fire marshal requirements and that pre-approval is obtained before June launch
Identify and respond to AHJ-specific requirements — fire setbacks, spacing rules, emergency access provisions, equipment placement restrictions — and integrate these into the installation playbook
Track permit application status across all active installations and drive resolution of outstanding items before they become deployment blockers
Utility Interconnection
Confirm technical and procedural interconnection requirements for each target utility: Eversource (CT/MA), United Illuminating (CT), National Grid (MA), Central Maine Power / Versant (ME), and Xcel Energy (CO), and others
Assess interconnection processing timelines per utility and produce a risk-adjusted deployment schedule that flags where 30–90 day processing windows threaten the June 1 or other near term launches
Prepare and submit interconnection application packages for all target installations, ensuring packages meet each utility’s technical specifications
Actively manage Colorado’s Xcel eligibility tool dependency — maintaining direct contact with Xcel to obtain tool access and escalating when delivery commitments are blocked
Build and maintain relationships with utility DER and interconnection staff who can compress timelines, surface informal guidance early, and escalate stuck applications
Track all submitted applications through utility review and flag risks to the deployment readiness gate timeline
VPP Program Enrollment
Coordinate enrollment in state and utility VPP / demand response programs as a prerequisite for each market launch:
Massachusetts: ConnectedSolutions (ConnSol) and Clean Peak Energy Standard
Maine: Efficiency Maine storage incentive and demand response programs
Colorado: Xcel Energy VPP / demand response program (contingent on eligibility tool)
Connecticut: Eversource and UI demand response program requirements
Others to follow
Document enrollment requirements, eligibility criteria, and processing timelines for each program, and ensure enrollment is confirmed before the deployment readiness gate for each market
Permitting Infrastructure & Documentation
Build and maintain a state-by-state regulatory database: AHJ contacts, permit fees, application templates, fire code references, and utility interconnection requirements — structured so agents and future team members can execute against it
Develop standardized permit application packages and single-line diagram templates for each target state that can be adapted for individual home installations with minimal manual effort
Own the permitting and interconnection section of the deployment readiness gate checklist for each market
Build a follow-up and status tracking system that surfaces overdue applications and prompts action before timelines slip
AI-Native Operations Expectations
Emporia is transitioning to an AI-engineer model. This role is expected to build and supervise AI-assisted agent workflows — not just execute tasks.
Experienced and/or willing to adapt AI skills in everyday workflow
Build AI-assisted workflows for installer candidate research, vetting, and scorecard generation across target markets
Use AI tooling to draft playbook content, training materials, market-specific adaptations, and contract templates — then own the review and finalization
Implement agent-assisted job dispatch and quality monitoring that allows one person to manage volume that would traditionally require two or three operations coordinators
Design the workflows you build today to scale with AI assistance, so the operational model does not require proportional headcount growth as installation volume increases