Utility BESS Services Lead

The Opportunity

The Utility BESS Services Lead is responsible for the overall leadership, growth, and execution of the Company’s Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Services business. This role develops and executes the strategic vision for expanding professional services with utility clients while ensuring safe, profitable, and scalable delivery across the services portfolio. 

The Utility BESS Services Lead serves as the senior leader accountable for identifying and converting service opportunities, establishing repeatable execution methodologies, maintaining portfolio performance, and developing long-term client relationships with utility asset owners and operators. 

A key responsibility of this position is to champion and implement a Seller-Doer Project Manager model, enabling project managers to maintain strong client engagement, recognize follow-on service needs, support opportunity development, and contribute to sustainable business growth. 

Key Responsibilities

Business and Portfolio Leadership 

• Develop and execute the strategic plan for growing the Utility BESS Services business. 
• Lead and grow Utility BESS professional services offerings including Owner's Engineering, Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED), detailed engineering, development support, and related pre-EPC or non-construction services. 
• Balance client commitments, staffing requirements, and business objectives across the portfolio. 
• Ensure that staffing projections are current and coordinated with operations through the company software system.
• Monitor portfolio health, utilization, schedule performance, profitability, client satisfaction, and resource requirements.
• Lead portfolio reviews and corrective action planning where required. 
• Identify emerging utility client needs and develop service offerings that address evolving market demands. 
• Establish trusted advisor relationships with utility asset owners and operators. 

Financial & Commercial Management 

• Accountable for portfolio revenue, backlog growth, margin performance, and forecasting accuracy. 
• Support proposal development, pricing strategies, and commercial negotiations. 
• Review major contract terms, risk profiles, and commercial structures. 
• Ensure effective management of change orders, claims, warranty matters, and commercial risks. 
• Lead annual budgeting and business planning activities for the Utility BESS Services business. 

Seller-Doer Project Manager Program Leadership 

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Seller-Doer Project Manager model.
• Establish expectations, tools, and processes that enable project managers to support business development activities.
• Train and mentor project managers to identify, qualify, and capture follow-on service opportunities.
• Create repeatable account management and opportunity development processes. 
• Coordinate with business development, other sectors and operations leadership to convert project-level relationships into broader utility client opportunities. 
• Monitor effectiveness of the Seller-Doer model through backlog growth, client retention, follow-on work, and project manager engagement. 

Execution Management 

• Direct project directors and project managers; ensure coordination with operations such as engineering, procurement, subcontracts, quality, construction management, and commissioning leaders. 
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget. 
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, and commercial management teams on contract administration and dispute resolution. 
• Lead development and execution of project recovery plans when necessary. 
• Oversee subcontractor and supplier performance management processes. 
• Monitor forecasts, earned value metrics, and financial performance. 

Team Leadership & Talent Development 

• Build and lead a high-performing services organization. 
• Recruit, develop, and retain project managers. 
• Mentor emerging leaders and establish succession planning strategies. 
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and client focus. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field. 
• 12+ years of experience in power, energy, utility infrastructure, industrial, or related markets.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing programs, portfolios, business units, professional services groups or complex capital projects.
• Demonstrated experience developing and growing service-oriented businesses.
• Understanding of utility-scale BESS projects, including Owner’s Engineering, FEED, development support, execution planning, and related advisory services. 
• Experience in business development, client relationship management, proposal development, and commercial negotiations. 
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing P&L responsibilities.
• Strong commercial, contractual, and financial acumen.
• Excellent communication, leadership, mentoring, and client engagement skills. 

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Typical office environment, typical construction environment, extreme weather conditions, high noise level, safety hazards (electric currents, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to chemicals), atmospheric conditions (fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation). Sitting, walking, talking, hearing, reading, writing, keyboarding, driving, filing, reaching, stooping, crouching, bending, standing for extended periods of time, lifting or carrying up to 40 pounds.

Position may require travel to other Black & Veatch's offices, conferences, client's offices and/or project sites up to 50% of the time. When not travelling, this role will be hybrid: 2 days per week remote, 3 days per week in-office out of the designated Black and Veatch office.