Utility Coordination Specialist

Utility Coordination Specialist

Reports To: Director of Site Design

This role requires a full-time onsite presence in Durham, NC

Target Base Range: $75 - 85k (Final compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications)

Please note: We are only able to consider candidates who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and who do not require current or future visa sponsorship of any sort.

About IONNA

Are you ready to electrify your career and drive the future of sustainable transportation? Join IONNA , the groundbreaking joint venture founded by eight automotive titans, as we redefine the EV charging landscape across North America.

At IONNA, we're building a reliable, scalable EV charging network that drivers can trust-backed by some of the most respected names in the automotive industry.

Job Summary

The Utility Coordination Specialist plays a pivotal role in ensuring utility engagement never becomes the critical path for deployment. As we scale, consistent, proactive, and disciplined coordination with utilities is essential to hitting deployment targets.

This role exists because utility timelines are unforgiving-and success depends on early action, relentless follow-through, and clear ownership . The Utility Coordination Specialist initiates all utility engagements early in the site lifecycle, applies standardized processes developed by our Utility Partnership team, and remains engaged throughout the coordination process to ensure nothing jeopardizes the preconstruction schedule.

When this role is working well, utility coordination is predictable, visible, and progressing-even when external dependencies are not. The Utility Coordination Specialist will be a key element in developing the process to enable large scale, distributed build out of an asset network.

What Great Looks Like (12-18 Months In)

You are winning in this role when:

• Utility applications are never late.
  All projects have utility service applications submitted during the Diligence stage-early enough to secure planners without schedule pressure.
• Nothing is stuck without visibility.
  We have a clear, portfolio-level view of where each utility engagement stands, what IONNA owes, and what the utility owes.
• Utility timelines consistently beat targets.
  Through preparation, persistence, and accountability, coordination efforts result in utility schedules that outperform baseline expectations.
• Incentives and programs are understood-not missed.
  Applicable utility, state, and federal EV programs are identified early and incorporated into project planning were beneficial.

Key Responsibilities

Utility Engagement & Initiation

• Initiate all utility service applications during the Diligence stage using established SOPs
• Ensure applications are complete, accurate, and submitted early enough to secure a utility planner
• Serve as the primary point of coordination for utility engagements throughout preconstruction
• Identifying all requirements for design packages for PDF/DWG & Survey Exhibits to meet Utility Standards

You are not measured by submission alone-but by whether utility engagement ever becomes a deployment blocker.

Portfolio Tracking & Accountability

• Maintain clear visibility into all active utility engagements across the deployment portfolio
• Track open deliverables, actions, and dependencies across internal teams and utility partners
• Hold action owners accountable and push for resolution when progress stalls
• Maintaining utility data within iONNA project tracking software on a daily basis

Success in this role requires comfort pushing-politely, professionally, and persistently.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner closely with Due Diligence, Site Development Managers, Design, and Utility Partnership teams
• Ensure all administrative requirements, documentation, and follow-ups are completed on time
• Surface risks early and escalate intelligently to protect deployment schedules

Incentives, Rebates & EV Programs Research

• Identify applicable utility incentives such as make-ready programs, charger rebates, and demand charge reduction offerings
• Research relevant federal, state, and utility-level EV programs by region
• Track eligibility criteria, application deadlines, funding availability, and program limitations
• Coordinate incentive and rebate application submissions where applicable, in partnership with internal stakeholders
• Estimate potential financial benefits and ensure they are incorporated into project assumptions and models when relevant
• Maintain an up-to-date, regionally organized repository of utility incentives and EV programs

This responsibility requires curiosity, discipline, and follow-through-missed programs often equal missed value.

Process Discipline & Consistency

• Apply standardized utility coordination processes consistently across all projects
• Identify recurring points of friction and provide feedback to help refine SOPs
• Help scale a utility coordination function that performs reliably at volume

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Utility Application Timeliness: % of projects with complete utility service applications submitted during the Diligence stage
• Utility Milestone Adherence: % of projects meeting or beating target utility coordination timelines
• Incentive Capture Rate: % of eligible projects where applicable utility or EV programs are successfully identified and pursued

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 2 years of direct experience coordinating utility service applications or utility engagements in infrastructure, construction, or development environments
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple active projects simultaneously
• Clear, confident communicator capable of working across internal teams and external utility stakeholders
• Proven ability to track details, follow through, and close open loops
• High ownership mindset-if progress stalls, you take responsibility for restarting it

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting EV infrastructure, energy, utilities, or large-scale site development programs
• Familiarity with utility incentives, make-ready programs, or EV rebate structures
• Experience working with SOP-driven coordination models
• Exposure to fast-growth or insourced operational environments

How This Role Makes an Impact

This role directly affects:

• Deployment speed - utilities don't become the long pole
• Capital efficiency - incentives are captured, not missed
• Partner trust - utilities and agencies experience prepared, professional engagement
• IONNA's mission - sites move from concept to energized faster and more efficiently

High performers in this role see tangible results: projects that progress smoothly through preconstruction because utility coordination-and incentive awareness-is proactive, not reactive.

Who Will Thrive Here

You'll thrive in this role if you:

• Are comfortable working in environments with external dependencies you don't fully control
• Take pride in staying ahead of problems rather than reacting to them
• Can manage ambiguity while still driving progress
• Are persistent, organized, and unafraid to follow up multiple times
• Prefer being accountable for outcomes-not just tasks

This is not a passive coordination role. It requires judgment, persistence, and ownership.

Why IONNA?

• Build the backbone of the EV charging future
• Work in a highly visible, high-impact role
• Partner with industry-leading automotive stakeholders
• Join a team that values clarity, accountability, and execution excellence

Join the Charge

This isn't just a utility coordination role-it's an opportunity to own one of the most schedule- and value-critical workstreams in EV infrastructure deployment.

Based in Durham, NC , this on-site role offers real accountability, measurable impact, and the opportunity to directly influence how IONNA scales.

IONNA is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices through a competitive base salary, as well as offering bonus programs, comprehensive benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, 401(K), and paid holidays. Actual base salaries are based on several factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, certifications, and specific work location.

We are committed to an inclusive and diverse team. IONNA is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any legally protected status.