Datacenter Power & Utilities Lead

Nava; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Nava is building hyperscale-ready data center campuses across India. This role owns the end-to-end power lifecycle, from load sanction to energization, and leads negotiations with DISCOMs and utilities to secure favorable terms.

You will influence site selection by evaluating grid access and tariff economics while coordinating with design, construction and finance teams. The ideal candidate has 5–10 years of relevant experience with grid connectivity and power approvals for large data centers,

Qualifications

• 5 to 10 years of relevant experience securing grid connectivity, load sanctions and power approvals for hyperscale or large data center projects in India.
• Direct, hands-on experience dealing with DISCOMs, state transmission utilities, CTU/PGCIL, SLDCs and SERCs.
• Knowledge of Indian open-access and captive regulations, connectivity and GNA rules, tariff structures and charges for large industrial/data center consumers.
• Experience with power procurement, including renewable PPAs and open-access transactions.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering; an MBA or equivalent is a plus.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects, states and stakeholders in a fast-moving environment.
• Willingness to travel frequently across India on short notice.

Responsibilities

• Own the full power approval and grid connectivity lifecycle for each campus: load sanction, feasibility studies, connectivity and open-access applications with STUs/CTU, DISCOM agreements, bay allocation, dedicated feeder and substation approvals, through to energization.
• Lead negotiations with DISCOMs, state transmission utilities, CTU/CEA, SLDCs and state electricity regulatory commissions, and secure favourable terms on tariff category, contract demand, connectivity charges and timelines.
• Build and maintain relationships with power departments, utility officials, regulators and industrial development bodies across key states, starting with Karnataka.
• Structure and execute power procurement: grid supply, group-captive and open-access renewable PPAs, banking arrangements, energy storage and behind-the-meter options with visibility on related charges.
• Contribute to site selection by assessing grid availability, substation proximity, capacity constraints, tariff economics and approval risk.
• Track state electricity policies and tariff orders and translate them into commercial/timeline implications.
• Collaborate with design, construction and finance to lock in power capacity, schedule and cost before capital is committed.

Skills

Power approvals

DISCOM liaison

Regulatory knowledge

Open-access regulations

Renewable PPAs

Grid connectivity

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

MBA or equivalent (plus)

Job description

Nava is building a portfolio of hyperscale-ready data center campuses across India. Power is the single biggest gating item for every one of these projects, and this role owns it end to end. You will be the person who gets our campuses energized: on time, at the right capacity, and on the right commercial terms

Responsibilities

• Own the full power approval and grid connectivity lifecycle for each campus: load sanction, feasibility studies, connectivity and open-access applications with STUs/CTU, DISCOM agreements, bay allocation, dedicated feeder and substation approvals, through to energization.
• Lead negotiations with DISCOMs, state transmission utilities, CTU/CEA, SLDCs and state electricity regulatory commissions, and secure favourable terms on tariff category, contract demand, connectivity charges and timelines.
• Build and maintain working relationships with power departments, utility officials, regulators and industrial development bodies across key states, with an initial focus on Karnataka and expanding to other Nava markets.
• Structure and execute power procurement: grid supply, group-captive and open-access renewable PPAs, banking arrangements, energy storage and behind-the-meter options, with clear visibility on cross-subsidy surcharge, additional surcharge, wheeling and transmission charges.
• Contribute to site selection by assessing grid availability, substation proximity, upstream capacity constraints, tariff economics and approval risk for each prospective location.
• Track state data centre and electricity policies, open-access regulations, green energy rules and tariff orders, and translate them into commercial and timeline implications for our projects.
• Work closely with our design, construction and finance teams so power capacity, schedule and cost assumptions are locked in before we commit capital.

Required

Skills required

• 5 to 10 years of relevant experience with a demonstrated track record of securing grid connectivity, load sanctions and power approvals for hyperscale or large data centerprojects in India.
• Direct, hands-on experience dealing with DISCOMs, state transmission utilities, CTU/PGCIL, SLDCs and SERCs. You should be able to name the approvals you have personally driven to closure.
• Working knowledge of Indian open-access and captive regulations, connectivity and GNA rules, tariff structures and the charges that apply to large industrial and data centerconsumers.
• Experience with power procurement, including renewable PPAs and open-access transactions.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline. An MBA or equivalent is a plus.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects, states and stakeholders in parallel in a fast-moving environment.
• Willingness to travel frequently across India on short notice.

Good to have skills (Not mandatory)

• Prior experience at a hyperscaler or leading data center operator (e.g. AWS, Microsoft, Google, STT GDC, NTT, Equinix, CtrlS, Yotta, AdaniConneX, Nxtra).
• Background at a DISCOM, transmission utility, open-access aggregator or power advisory firm.
• Exposure to energy storage, captive generation or 24/7 clean energy structuring for data centers.
• Existing relationships with power sector officials in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana or Uttar Pradesh.

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