Sr Manager/Director, BESS Development

Sr. Manager/Director, BESS Development

The Sr. Manager/Director, BESS Development will be responsible for leading the technical and commercial development of utility-scale battery energy storage projects throughout the development lifecycle. This role serves as the technical authority within the development team, ensuring that projects are optimized, competitive, financeable, and executable.

Working closely with other members of the Development group as well as Construction, Procurement, Interconnection, Offtake teams and external OEMs/integrators, the individual will define system architectures, manage equipment selection, evaluate commercial proposals, negotiate supply and service agreements, and support project diligence through financial close. In this key role, the individual will be responsible for strategic supplier management, and ownership of technology strategy.

Technical & Project Development Leadership

• Lead technical aspects of standalone and hybrid BESS project development from early-stage through start of construction.
• Provide support during site acquisition, permitting, environmental review, financing and lender technical diligence
• Coordinate technical and commercial inputs into financial models.
• Identify project technical risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Define system configurations including AC/DC architecture, storage duration, power and energy sizing, PCS topology, EMS architecture and auxiliary systems
• Evaluate project layouts with consideration for cost efficiency, constructability, permitting, operations, fire safety, maintenance access
• Coordinate technical interface among civil, electrical, SCADA, protection, and controls disciplines.
• Support interconnection studies and optimize system configurations to maximize project value.
• Track BESS technology trends, pricing trends, supplier roadmaps, manufacturing capacity, regulatory developments and emerging technical risks.

Supplier Management and Procurement Support

• Develop relationships with leading battery manufacturers and system integrators.
• Evaluate supplier bankability, manufacturing capability, domestic manufacturing and FEOC strategy, and delivery risk.
• Develop technical specifications for equipment procurement.
• Lead / support competitive RFPs for battery systems, PCS, EMS, system integrators and associated long-lead equipment
• Perform technical and commercial bid evaluations. Review warranty structures, performance guarantees, availability guarantees, liquidated damages and augmentation strategies
• Build total cost of ownership analyses including CAPEX, degradation and augmentation, warranties, O&M and overall lifecycle costs
• Actively lead supply and service contract negotiations with suppliers and EPC contractors.

Regulatory & Incentive Compliance

• Supported by the legal team, lead equipment selection and compliance strategy for Domestic Content requirements, FEOC restrictions, Investment Tax Credit (ITC) qualification and applicable UL, NFPA, IEEE, and local code requirements
• Coordinate documentation required by tax equity investors and independent engineers.
• Monitor changes in federal and state incentive programs affecting BESS projects.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Partner closely with Construction, Commercial (offtake), Procurement, Asset Management groups to serve as the primary technical interface for executive management on BESS project development decisions.