Associate, Growth Strategy

AES Corporation; California; On-site; USD 110,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth opportunities

Career development

Job summary

AES Corporation is seeking an Associate (Regional), Growth Strategy to advance US Renewables & Power growth in West markets (CAISO, non-CA WECC). You will identify high-value opportunities, lead due diligence, and translate market signals into actionable recommendations across solar, storage, and related opportunities.

Collaborate with Development, Interconnection, Policy, and Commercial partners to define diligence plans, coordinate stakeholders, and develop go/no-go recommendations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, engineering, public policy, environmental science, or related field.
• MBA, MPA, or MS preferred.
• 4–8 years of experience in development, commercial, strategy, consulting, market research, investment banking, or related analytical role.
• Experience in clean energy, infrastructure, or regulated industries required.

Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of project origination strategies that create competitive advantage.
• Own site-level evaluation of greenfield opportunities across land, transmission access, interconnection, permitting, offtake potential, and market fit.
• Analyze U.S. power markets, policy developments, and interconnection trends to prioritize opportunities.
• Develop market growth plans that translate research into clear priorities and execution plans.
• Prepare regulatory briefs and position recommendations to market operators and regulators.
• Apply GIS tools to evaluate opportunities, transmission infrastructure, and market trends.
• Present strategic insights and recommendations to leadership with clear assumptions and risks.
• Lead initiatives to improve pipeline quality and forward origination.
• Build subject matter expertise in assigned markets and topics.
• Identify and frame emerging strategic questions for leadership decisions.

Skills

Market intuition

Strategic deliverables

Cross-functional communication

Initiative leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, engineering, public policy, environmental science, or related field

MBA / MPA / MS preferred

Tools

GIS tools (QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth)

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Are you ready to be part of a company that's not just talking about the future, but actively shaping it? Join The AES Corporation, the largest US-based global power company with a team of 8,300 employees across 12 countries. AES has been ranked #1 by BloombergNEF in renewable energy sales to corporations in the US and Americas for five consecutive years, providing electricity for millions of people worldwide. We are proud to foster a strong workplace culture, earning prominent positions in Great Place to Work™ rankings across the markets where we operate. AES was also named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 13th consecutive year in 2026, highlighting our dedication to integrity, transparency, and responsible business practices. Our spirit of innovation continues to earn industry recognition. AES is the only seven‑time winner of the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Awards in the twenty‑first century, a distinction honoring global leadership in advancing the electric power industry. If you're ready to be part of a company that's not just adapting to change, but driving it, AES is the place for you. We're not just building a more sustainable future, we're powering it.

The Associate (Regional), Growth Strategy advances AES US Renewables & Power growth West Regional markets (CAISO, non-CA WECC) by identifying high-value opportunities, leading project diligence, and translating market signals into actionable recommendations. This role owns complex projects and assigned strategic initiatives that support regional Market Strategy and Action Plans to strengthen the development pipeline. The Associate supports the development and execution of project origination approaches aligned with regional priorities across solar, storage, and powered land, including complex and infrastructure‑constrained opportunities. Working with regional Development teams and Interconnection, Transmission Strategy, Land Acquisition, Policy/Regulatory, and Commercial partners, the Associate defines diligence plans, coordinates stakeholders, resolves key uncertainties, and develops go/no-go recommendations. The role also leads analyses supporting regional market intelligence, M&A targeting, and evaluation of inbound opportunities. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical judgment with initiative and project ownership. They anticipate challenges, navigate ambiguity, and build expertise in assigned markets to connect policy, infrastructure, and commercial insights to practical development decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of project origination strategies that create competitive advantage and identify new growth opportunities.
• Own site-level evaluation of greenfield opportunities across land, transmission access, interconnection, permitting, offtake potential, and market fit; lead cross‑functional diligence and develop go/no-go recommendations.
• Analyze U.S. power markets, policy developments, and interconnection trends to prioritize opportunities and assess implications for project siting, economics, and development timelines.
• Develop market growth plans that translate research into clear priorities, origination approaches, and execution plans.
• Prepare regulatory briefs, impact assessments, and position recommendations to support engagement with market operators, regulators, and industry working groups.
• Apply GIS tools to evaluate and communicate project opportunities, transmission infrastructure, interconnection queues, pipelines, and market trends.
• Present strategic insights and recommendations to leadership, clearly communicating assumptions, tradeoffs, risks, and proposed actions.
• Lead initiatives that improve pipeline quality, M&A targeting, and forward origination; develop repeatable tools and processes that strengthen decision‑making.
• Build subject matter expertise in assigned markets or strategic topics and serve as a resource for cross‑functional partners.
• Identify and frame emerging strategic questions, conducting targeted analyses to support leadership decisions.

Qualifications

• Strong market intuition and ability to turn complex inputs (queue, policy, IX data) into clear strategic insights.
• Track record of owning high‑impact deliverables with minimal supervision.
• Excellent cross‑functional communication skills, including experience working with M&A, Policy, or Interconnection teams.
• Ability to lead initiatives that span tools, analysis, and stakeholder coordination.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Economics, Engineering, Public Policy, Environmental Science, or a related field required.
• Advanced degree (MBA, MPA, MS) preferred.

Work Experience

• 4–8 years of experience in development, commercial, strategy, consulting, market research, investment banking, or a related analytical role.
• Experience in clean energy, infrastructure, or regulated industries required.

Skills

• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint proficiency; strong modeling and storytelling skills.
• Proficient in GIS tools (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth).
• Experience with queue data, interconnection mapping, or policy overlays a strong plus.
• Familiarity with visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and cloud‑based datasets preferred.

Licenses and Certifications

None required; certifications in GIS, data analytics, energy policy, strategy, or financial modeling are a plus.

Training

Role‑specific onboarding provided. Strategic exposure and development opportunities aligned with career goals.

Physical Demands

Primarily desk‑based work with standard computer use; Occasional travel for offsite meetings or conferences.

Working Environment

A fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment focused on innovation and business growth. Collaborative and cross‑functional, with high exposure to senior leadership and strategic initiatives.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AES is an Equal Opportunity Employer who is committed to building strength and delivering long‑term sustainability through diversity and inclusion. Respecting all backgrounds, differences and perspectives enables us to improve the lives of our people, customers, suppliers, contractors, and the communities in which we live and work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or expression, race, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

E‑Verify Notice

AES will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.

Salary & Benefits

The expected salary for this position, at commencement of employment, is between $110,000 and $137,700/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position also includes annual bonus. The benefits offered for this position are: medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) eligibility, and paid time off (including vacation, sick leave time, and parental leave). Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an 'at‑will position' and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

Accelerating the future of energy, together Our people are our energy and have transformed AES into the type of energy company that the world needs today and in the future. Coming from all walks of life, our people share a passion for improving lives by advancing the energy sector through innovation, collaboration and action. We are working in an industry that requires new thinking and ways of working together to create solutions that are both economically and environmentally viable, not just one or the other. We are looking for passionate people to join us in our mission to accelerate the future of energy. Are you ready to join us? www.aes.com/careers