Global Head of Large Load and Grid Transformation Research

WOOD MACKENZIE INC.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Wood Mackenzie is seeking a Global Head of Large Load and Grid Transformation Research to lead research on data centers, electrification, and grid interconnection. You will set the research agenda, drive commercial growth, and shape products with cross-functional teams across the company.

You will mentor analysts, translate complex data into actionable insights, and represent the firm publicly as a thought leader in large load topics, including data centers and grid technologies.

Qualifications

• Ten+ years in the power industry with emphasis on data centers (data center development, interconnection)
• Strong written and verbal communication; public speaking
• Experience driving commercial strategies across marketing, sales, product or similar teams
• Proven analytical and numerical abilities with problem-solving mindset
• Ability to distill complex ideas into clear, provocative concepts
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the large load research agenda across data centers, EV charging, and grid assets
• Identify emerging themes shaping energy transformation and ensure data quality, actionable answers
• Develop thought-provoking research, linking datasets across the company
• Lead modeling efforts for cost and revenue and standardize methods across regions
• Champion AI adoption to improve research accuracy and efficiency
• Own the commercial development of large load intelligence offerings
• Collaborate with research and product owners to align with customer needs
• Serve as the primary contact for large load research with sales, marketing and leadership
• Contribute to product strategy, resourcing and marketing priorities
• Establish industry presence as a speaker and thought leader
• Support consulting engagements related to large load sectors

Skills

Large load research

Data centers

AI-forward thinking

Public speaking

Writing

Analytical skills

Numerical skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Job description

Wood Mackenzie is the global leader in analytics, insights and proprietary data across the entire energy and natural resources landscape.For over 50 years our work has guided the decisions of the world’s most influential energy producers, utilities companies, financial institutions and governments.Now, with the world’s energy system more complex and interconnected than ever before, sector-specific views are no longer enough. That’s why we’ve redefined what’s possible with Intelligence Connected.By fusing our unparalleled proprietary data with the sharpest analytical minds, all supercharged by Synoptic AI, we deliver a clear, interconnected view of the entire value chain. Our trusted team of 2,700 experts across 30 countries breaks siloes and connects industries, markets and regions across the globe.This empowers our customers to identify risk sooner, spot opportunities faster and recalibrate strategy with confidence – whether planning days, weeks, months or decades ahead.Wood MackenzieIntelligence ConnectedWoodMac.comWood Mackenzie Brand VideoWood Mackenzie ValuesInclusive – we succeed togetherTrusting – we choose to trust each otherCustomer committed – we put customers at the heart of our decisionsFuture Focused – we accelerate changeCurious – we turn knowledge into actionWe are looking for a Global Head of Large Load and Grid Transformation Research to join Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables team. The Power & Renewables research team is a highly respected group of analysts producing market-leading research and analytics on the entire power industry value chain.The Global Head of Large Load and Grid Transformation Research is responsible for setting our research agenda for data centers, electrification, and other emerging sources of power demand. The Lead will work with the broader team to drive high quality research and thought leadership, serve as the public face of Wood Mackenzie on these key areas of industry growth, lead product initiatives, and drive commercial success.This position works closely with research analysts across our technology, supply chain, and regional power teams, as well as cross-functionally across our sales, marketing, and product teams.About you and how you can excel in this roleSuccessful analysts in Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables practice are thoughtful, intellectually curious, creative and comfortable presenting to public audiences and interacting with small and large groups of executives.As our Global Head of Large Load and Grid Transformation Research, you have already developed a reputation as an industry thought leader and have deep expertise on large load growth, in particular data center development, its resource needs, and both the market and technology factors that will govern its evolution. You have excellent verbal and written communication skills and can engage an audience and mentor your team members. You have an analytical mindset and an eye for detail, which has been proven in your work experience to date. You are therefore comfortable taking complex, disparate ideas and distilling them into simple, provocative concepts.You are also effective at translating research content into compelling research products, influencing changes and initiatives within the sales, marketing, and product teams. As the company’s main point of contact for our large load research and product offerings, you are comfortable responding to requests from department leadership on product roadmaps, plans for commercial success, and strategic initiatives that will result in commercial growth for the company’s product offerings.Main ResponsibilitiesDefine and drive the large load research agenda, encompassing the financial, technological, supply chain, and commercial dimensions of sectors ranging from data centers to EV charging, to BTM generation and microgrids. This extends to grid interconnection, load flexibility, and virtual power plant participation.Anticipate and identify emerging themes that shape energy transformation, while ensuring our datasets and written research meet the highest quality standards, drive commercial success, and deliver clear, actionable answers to our customers' most pressing questions.Develop thought-provoking research that challenges conventional wisdom and generates new insights for industry participants, while interconnecting relevant research and data within other parts of the company.Lead modeling efforts around these topics, ranging from cost and revenue modeling to bankable long-term load forecasts, ensuring methodology standardization across regional teams.Drive AI adoption across research teams to continuously improve accuracy, efficiency, and overall research quality and ensure that WoodMac research always stays ahead of the curve.Take commercial ownership of large load intelligence research within existing and new offerings, ensuring our research aligns with customer needs, maintaining and building new sources of competitive advantage, and identifying and pursuing growth opportunities.Collaborate closely with other research and product owners, ensuring our research aligns with customer needs, maintaining and building new sources of competitive advantage, and identifying and pursuing growth opportunities.Serve as the main point of contact for our large load research, helping to drive, administer and communicate changes and initiatives to sales, marketing, product, and leadership teams.Collaborate with leadership on product strategy, resourcing, marketing priorities, and support analysis for commercial performance.Establish an industry presence as an influential speaker and thinker and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in the data center industry.Identify the datasets and sources of data necessary to support our underlying analysis and ensure we have proper quality control in developing those datasets.Support consulting engagements related to large load sectors, as needed.QualificationsKnowledge, Experience and Skills10 plus years of experience in the power industry, with at least three focused on data centers. The ideal candidate will have a mix of experiences in research or consulting, as well as hands-on experience working at a data center company, utility, or another entity close to large load project development and interconnection.Deep understanding of data center industry trends, challenges, and opportunities and a strong network of industry contactsExperience successfully executing commercial strategies across teams such as marketing, sales, product, or othersStrong problem-solving skills and AI-forward thinkingA passion to make a difference in the way we power our planetAn excellent writer and public speakerStrong analytical and numerical skillsAn entrepreneurial mind setEffective at working across a highly matrixed organizationThe salary range for this position is $200K - $250K, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term incentive compensation or commission. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. This base salary maps to the Primary Metropolitan Location.Equal OpportunitiesWe are an equal opportunities employer. This means we are committed to recruiting the best people regardless of their race, colour, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability or protected veteran status. You can find out more about your rights under the law at www.eeoc.gov