Manager or Director, Transmission & Interconnection

Avantus; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 127,593 - 190,643; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Medical and dental plan options

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Avantus is seeking a Manager or Director, Transmission & Interconnection in San Diego, CA, to lead interconnection strategy for utility-scale solar and storage projects. You will guide processes from inception through Commercial Operation within multiple ISO markets, coordinating across teams and external stakeholders.

The role requires deep knowledge of ISO/RTO tariffs, interconnection processes, and project development, with a focus on timely, cost-effective outcomes and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Ten (10) years minimum of related experience in interconnection & project development or transmission planning at a utility, ISO/RTO, or project developer.
• Deep understanding of ISO/RTO & vertically integrated utilities tariffs, interconnection processes, transmission service processes, transmission planning processes, and late-stage resource implementation processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously at a dynamic pace, manage multiple milestones, and prioritize several projects simultaneously.
• Ability to summarize interconnection processes, results, milestones, and statuses for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to read and negotiate long legal contracts (Interconnection Agreements, PPAs, Financing Documents).
• Experience building relationships with utilities, consulting firms, ISO/RTOs, and regulators.
• Strong capability in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Adobe Acrobat, and Google Earth.
• Preferred: Bachelor's and/or master’s degree in Engineering and/or MBA.

Responsibilities

• Lead interconnection projects from inception to Commercial Operation across ISO’s (CAISO, ERCOT, SPP, MISO, PJM) and markets.
• Evaluate interconnection strategies, tariffs, and processes; provide strategy to project teams.
• Coordinate interconnection applications, studies, agreements, and post-IA milestones.
• Negotiate interconnection study results and agreements with utilities for favorable outcomes.
• Maintain communication with utilities/ISOs and track interconnection progress.
• Identify optimal interconnection locations based on cross-functional criteria.
• Track changes to tariffs, manuals, and upgrades in markets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on milestones and design/construction.
• Monitor milestones, security postings, and meetings with utilities for project execution.

Skills

Interconnection

Transmission planning

ISO/RTO tariffs

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Engineering degree

MBA

Tools

OASIS/OATI

PowerWorld

PSSE

AutoCAD

Job description

ABOUT AVANTUS

Avantus develops, owns, and operates utility-scale clean energy projects across California and the Desert Southwest. Our development pipeline represents one of the nation's largest portfolios of solar with integrated storage, capable of providing dispatchable power to 17 million Americans, day and night. With over a decade of industry leadership and strategic investment from KKR and EIG, Avantus delivers affordable, reliable clean energy solutions that meet America’s growing energy demand.

ABOUT THE POSITION

We are seeking a highly motivated and organized candidate for a Manager or Director, Transmission & Interconnection position. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound industry knowledge, superior communications, and detail-oriented organizational skills. This role reports to SVP, Transmission. Avantus’ Transmission & Interconnection team is responsible for providing interconnection strategy of all utility scale solar & storage projects, performing analysis on the transmission system to identify capacity for potential projects, and leading the company through the necessary transmission & interconnection processes of utilities and ISO’s. Avantus is active in multiple ISO’s and vertically integrated markets across the country, with multiple projects at various stages of development.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead projects through the interconnection process from project inception though Commercial Operation for Avantus’ projects in ISO’s (CAISO, ERCOT, SPP, MISO, PJM) and vertically integrated markets.
• Evaluate transmission & interconnection strategies, tariffs, integrated resource plans, costs, timelines, queue, wheeling rates, and processes for a variety of markets and provide strategy to the project teams
• Coordinate efforts to meet all interconnection requirements including interconnection applications, interconnection studies, interconnection agreements, and post-IA project execution milestones
• Negotiate interconnection study results and interconnection agreements with utilities toward favorable project outcomes
• Lead communication and build relationships with utilities/ISO’s and track interconnection progress to ensure projects are complete in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Identify optimal interconnection locations in target markets based on multiple cross-functional siting criteria
• Track changes to interconnection tariffs, business practice manuals, and key transmission upgrades in target markets
• Collaborate on interconnection milestones with cross-functional team including Development, Origination, Accounting, Finance, Treasury, Legal, Land Acquisition, Land Entitlement, Procurement, HV Engineering, Optimization Engineering, Construction, & Operations.
• Track milestones in interconnection agreements, security postings, coordinate meetings with utilities for project design, engineering, procurement and construction

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Ten (10) years minimum of related experience in interconnection & project development or transmission planning at a utility, ISO/RTO, or project developer. 10+year experience is a plus and will be considered for senior levels.
• Deep understanding of ISO/RTO & vertically integrated utilities tariffs, interconnection processes, transmission service processes, transmission planning processes, and late-stage resource implementation processes
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously at a dynamic pace, find creative solutions, track major milestones, and prioritize several projects simultaneously
• Ability to provide verbal and written summaries of interconnection processes, results, milestones, and statuses for both a technical and non-technical audience
• Ability to read and negotiate long legal contracts (Interconnection Agreements, Power Purchase Agreements, Independent Engineer Reports, Financing Documents)
• Experience developing lasting relationships with utilities, consulting firms, ISO/RTOs, and regulators
• Required: Strong capability in Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word, Adobe Acrobat, & Google Earth
• Preferred: Ability to use OASIS/OATI, GE PSLF, PSSE, TARA, PowerWorld, UPLAN, ASPEN, PSCAD and/or AutoCAD
• Preferred: Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in Engineering and/or MBA

Avantus offers competitive compensation with an excellent benefits package.

• 401(k) matching
• comprehensive medical and dental plan options
• flexible PTO

We are an equal-opportunity employer.

Pay Range: $127,593—$190,643 USD

The base salary range for this full-time position is listed below (plus bonus and benefits). Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position in California. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the applicable location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus and benefits.

Manager or Director, Transmission & Interconnection (Hybrid) San Diego, CA, USA