Director, Grid Strategy & DER Modernization

NextGenEnergyJobs; Asbury Park (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Solar Landscape is the leading commercial rooftop solar developer in the U.S. We are seeking a Director to lead grid strategy and utility planning initiatives in support of scalable distributed energy resources integration.

The role requires deep utility planning expertise and collaboration with cross-functional teams to advance DER integration and grid modernization. You will engage with utility planners, engineers, regulatory teams, and industry groups to influence hosting capacity, DERMS

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or a related field.
• 10–20+ years of experience in electric utility planning, transmission or distribution engineering, grid modernization, or DER integration.
• Deep understanding of utility planning methodologies, system constraints, reliability, infrastructure development, and capital planning.
• Experience with distributed energy resources, renewable energy, battery energy storage, or advanced grid technologies.
• Strong familiarity with utility planning studies, hosting-capacity analysis, interconnection impacts, and grid-modernization initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence utility stakeholders and advance new technical or operational approaches.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex grid issues into actionable business recommendations.
• Experience within a major electric utility, ISO/RTO, grid consulting firm, or adjacent energy organization strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with PJM, NYISO, CAISO, ERCOT, MISO, or other major U.S. power markets preferred.
• Experience advancing DERMS, dynamic hosting capacity, flexible interconnection, non-wire alternatives, or related pilots preferred.
• Professional Engineer license or an advanced degree in power systems, energy policy, or a related discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engage utility planning and engineering teams to identify and advance opportunities to increase hosting capacity on constrained circuits.
• Build strong relationships across utility planning, asset management, engineering, operations, regulatory, and innovation teams.
• Develop technically credible, data-driven proposals that align distributed energy deployment with utility reliability and planning objectives.
• Identify, develop, and advance DERMS, dynamic hosting capacity, flexible interconnection, non-wire alternative, and other grid-modernization pilot opportunities.
• Analyze hosting-capacity maps, load forecasts, infrastructure plans, capital programs, and system-planning studies to inform market and siting strategy.
• Interpret integrated distribution plans, integrated resource plans, long-range transmission plans, and other utility planning filings.
• Monitor feeder and substation constraints, system-upgrade programs, load growth, electrification trends, and planned utility investments.
• Identify circuits and substations where targeted operational changes, grid technologies, or infrastructure investments could unlock additional DER capacity.
• Provide strategic guidance on integrating distributed solar and battery energy storage systems within utility distribution networks.
• Evaluate how operating requirements, export controls, tariffs, system limitations, and utility planning assumptions affect DER deployment.
• Support interpretation of feasibility studies, system-impact studies, facility studies, and related utility planning data.
• Provide input on point-of-interconnection strategy and system-integration considerations.
• Track emerging grid technologies, including ADMS, DERMS, advanced inverters, digital twins, VPPs, microgrids, and grid-enhancing technologies.
• Participate in utility working groups, regulatory forums, industry organizations, and technical conferences related to grid modernization and DER integration.
• Support development, interconnection, policy, and New Markets teams with early-stage grid intelligence and utility-planning insight.
• Translate utility planning information into clear recommendations for leadership and cross-functional teams.

Skills

Grid strategy

DER integration

Stakeholder influence

Power systems

Communication

Hosting capacity analysis

Utility planning

Regulatory interfaces

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering/Power Systems

Tools

DERMS

grid modeling software

Job description

Solar Landscape is the leading commercial rooftop solar developer in the U.S. We are seeking a Director to lead grid strategy and utility planning initiatives in support of scalable distributed energy resources integration.

The role requires deep utility planning expertise and collaboration with cross-functional teams to advance DER integration and grid modernization. You will engage with utility planners, engineers, regulatory teams, and industry groups to influence hosting capacity, DERMS