Director, Powered Lands

Job Description

Job Description:\n\n As the Director of Powered Lands, you will join an emerging business platform within Scout Clean Energy and play a pivotal leadership role in shaping its strategic direction, commercialization approach, and long-term growth. As one of the function's foundational leaders, you will establish frameworks, build cross-functional alignment, and help position Powered Lands as a key driver of Scout's future development strategy. \nThis role is responsible for spearheading strategic partnerships and advancing opportunities that combine renewable energy generation, battery energy storage, firm capacity solutions, land rights strategy, interconnection positioning, and co-located large-load applications, including data centers, to accelerate time-to-power and unlock new project value streams \nThe Director will serve as the central leader coordinating Development, Commercial, Finance, Regulatory, M&A, Engineering, Interconnection, Resource Assessment, GIS, and Legal functions to identify, de-risk, structure, and advance Powered Lands opportunities across Scout's existing portfolio, acquisition pipeline, and greenfield development efforts. \nAs the Power Lands Director, you will join an emerging business unit within Scout Clean Energy, and serve as leader in building the function. \n \nKey Responsibilities \nCommercial, Land & Partnership Development \n\n Lead origination, structuring, negotiation, and execution of complex commercial agreements, including: Joint development agreements, strategic partnerships, exclusivity agreements, energy supply and offtake arrangements , licenses and access agreements. \n Develop and negotiate strategic partnerships with: Data center developers, hyperscalers, large industrial customers, utilities, infrastructure providers, technology partners, landowners. gas generation partners. \n\n Partner with cross-function teams on commercial structuring efforts for co-location opportunities and innovative power delivery solutions. \n\n Oversee preparation of proposals, term sheets, commercial negotiations, and partnership agreements. \n\n Identify and secure land rights and development opportunities that maximize project value while balancing regulatory, community, and commercial considerations. \n\n Develop partnership(s) with gas generation or fuel cell partners who can provide energy firming of renewables component of a powered lands project. \n\n \nPartnerships, M&A & Capital Strategy \n\n Support evaluation of acquisition opportunities through a Powered Lands lens, including infrastructure readiness, co-location potential, interconnection positioning, and commercial viability. \n\n Partner with M&A and Project Finance teams to evaluate risk-adjusted returns and value creation opportunities. \n\n Lead development of strategic relationships with infrastructure, technology, and energy-sector partners. \n\n Provide input to financial models related to timeline, cost, risk, revenue opportunities, and strategic optionality. \n\n Support executive and board-level decision making regarding Powered Lands investments and partnerships. \n\n \nProject Development & Pipeline Integration \n\n Identify and prioritize projects within Scout's development and acquisition portfolio appropriate for Powered Lands deployment. \n\n Partner with Development, Interconnection, Engineering, Resource Assessment, and Project Finance teams to: \n\n Evaluate site feasibility \n\n Acquire necessary real estate through ground leases, easements, option agreements, and /or purchases \n\n Integrate large-load requirements into project design \n\n Assess hybrid and/or behind the meter generation configurations including renewables, storage, and firm capacity \n\n Align interconnection strategies with load objectives \n\n Provide direction to development teams as a subject matter expert on which projects to push forward to graduate into our powered lands portfolio. \n\n Guide project teams in evaluating site-level constraints including transmission, gas, fiber, water, zoning, environmental, and permitting considerations. \n\n Support project advancement through disciplined diligence processes and continuous improvement of evaluation frameworks. \n\nMarket Intelligence, Strategy & Program Leadership \n\n Lead the periodic update of powered lands development and refinement of Scout's Powered Lands strategy and business plan, including target markets, siting prioritization, commercialization pathways, and investment priorities. \n\n Establish scalable frameworks, diligence processes, and stage-gate criteria for evaluating and advancing Powered Lands opportunities. \n\n Define program-level priorities and provide recommendations to executive leadership regarding market positioning, capital allocation, and project advancement. \n\n Serve as Scout's internal subject matter expert on co-location strategies, hybrid energy configurations, large-load integration, and emerging market opportunities. \n\n Develop internal playbooks, best practices, and training resources to support organizational capability building \n\n Lead market-level assessments of Powered Lands viability across key regions and utility territories. \n\n Analyze: Load interconnection frameworks, regulatory constructs, utility precedent, infrastructure availability, competitive positioning, market demand trends. \n\n Monitor emerging opportunities within data center, AI infrastructure, industrial electrification, and large-load development sectors. \n\n Translate technical, regulatory, and market intelligence into actionable strategic recommendations. \n\n \nRegulatory, Interconnection & Risk Management \n\n Lead assessment and strategy development related to generation and load interconnection processes. \n\n Evaluate regulatory considerations impacting Powered Lands opportunities, including: \n\n Private Use Network (PUN) frameworks \n\n Public utility classification risk \n\n Metering and settlement structures \n\n Air permitting requirements \n\n Environmental permitting obligations \n\n Coordinate with internal and external experts to identify development risks, fatal flaws, and mitigation strategies. \n\n Monitor regulatory developments, infrastructure constraints, utility positions, and evolving market structures affecting Powered Lands opportunities. \n\n Develop risk-sharing and alternative commercial structures to preserve project value and execution certainty. \n\nPowered Lands Department Leadership \n\n Serve as the central coordination point for Powered Lands initiatives across multiple internal functions. \n\n Lead the development of Board and Risk Committee presentations, synthesizing complex information into clear, compelling materials that facilitate critical decisions, advance strategic objectives, and align stakeholders on business priorities. \n\n Mentor and develop cross-functional team members supporting Powered Lands activities. \n\n Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and disciplined decision-making. \n\n Establish scalable operating processes and performance management frameworks supporting long-term program growth. \n\nCross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration \n\n Own, coordinate, and participate in complex, cross‑functional initiatives by translating organizational priorities into clear plans, timelines, and deliverables, and proactively managing dependencies across teams to ensure work stays aligned with Scout’s broader goals. \n\n Build, sustain, and engage in effective cross‑functional working groups by intentionally engaging partners with a meaningful range of experience, expertise, perspectives, and problem‑solving approaches to drive stronger outcomes. \n\n Lead and effectively engage in cross‑team meetings and forums with clear purpose and structure, balancing competing stakeholder needs while guiding groups toward decisions, next steps, and accountability. \n\n Act as a connector and point of integration across teams by ensuring information flows clearly, risks and tradeoffs are addressed early, and teams understand how their work fits into the larger system. \n\n Navigate ambiguity and competing priorities by exercising sound judgment, adapting plans as needed, and maintaining forward momentum. \n\n Model inclusive collaboration and influence without authority, creating space for diverse viewpoints while driving alignment and commitment to shared outcomes. \n\n \nRequirements\n\n Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Economics, Real Estate, Energy Systems, or a related field required. \n\n Advanced degree (MBA, JD, Master's degree, or equivalent) preferred. \n\n 7+ years of progressive experience in renewable energy development, digital infrastructure, energy markets, commercial transactions, or related fields (e.g., oil & gas). \n\n Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional development initiatives involving energy infrastructure, data centers, industrial load, or renewable generation. \n\n Demonstrated experience negotiating and executing commercial agreements. \n\n Deep understanding of: \n\n U.S. power markets \n\n Transmission systems \n\n Generation and load interconnection processes \n\n Renewable energy development \n\n Energy storage systems \n\n Experience structuring and negotiating complex commercial agreements and strategic partnerships. \n\n Strong analytical, financial, negotiation, and risk management capabilities. \n\n Excellent communication and executive-level presentation skills. \n\n Proven ability to influence and align diverse stakeholder groups in dynamic, fast-paced environments. \n\n Ability to travel approximately 20 – 40%, depending on project and transaction activity, \n\n This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. \n\n \nPreferred Qualifications \n\n Experience supporting data center energy procurement, hyperscaler partnerships, or large-load infrastructure development. \n\n Familiarity with project finance structures, offtake arrangements, and energy market commercialization. \n\n Experience working across multiple markets, ISOs/RTOs, or regulatory jurisdictions. \n\n Experience partnering closely with legal counsel on complex contract negotiation and execution. \n\nKey Competencies \n\n Strategic thinking and market development \n\n Commercial negotiation and partnership structuring \n\n Energy infrastructure and interconnection expertise \n\n Financial and risk-management acumen \n\n Executive communication and stakeholder management \n\n Cross-functional leadership \n\n Analytical problem solving \n\n Program and portfolio management \n\n Innovation and continuous improvement \n\nTimeline and Location \nThis position will begin as soon as possible, preferably in Q3 2026. Our ideal candidate will be based in our Boulder, CO office. Candidates who are open to relocation are encouraged to apply. We will consider remote arrangements for the right candidate. \n \nScout’s Values \n\n Mission-Orientation. High achievers who want to make a difference in this world and contribute to Scout’s stated mission. \n\n Teamwork. Respectful and appreciative colleagues with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to fostering positive relationships across organizational boundaries to deliver on shared team goals. \n\n Safety. Uncompromising advocates for the health and safety of fellow employees, contractors, customers, and community members. \n\n Integrity. Ethical professionals who do the right thing even when it is difficult. \n\n Initiative. Resourceful self-motivators who thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment because of their exceptional leadership, work ethic, and organizational skills. \n\n Intelligence. Problem-solving learners who can make informed decisions quickly and create innovative and pragmatic solutions to challenging problems. \n\nInvitation to Women and U.S. Underrepresented Groups \nWe encourage applications from all demographics and especially those that are traditionally underrepresented in the energy industry. Consistent with our core values, Scout celebrates the diversity of thought and experience that comes from a range of backgrounds including, but not limited to, gender, race, and ethnicity. \n\nInvitation to Veterans \nScout welcomes veterans of the United States Armed Forces to apply for this position. Scout includes veterans of all branches and a diverse set of occupational specialties. We value the independent thinking, problem solving, leadership, and teamwork that our veterans have developed through their service. We welcome applications from any service and any military occupational specialty. \nBenefits\nTarget base salary: $200,000 - $225,000. Negotiable for the right candidate. \n\nAttractive bonus potential. \n\nScout offers a full range of benefits, including medical/dental/vision insurance with attractive premiums, 401(k) match, STD, LTD, an Employee Assistance Program, and a range of optional supplemental insurance coverage.