Project Finance Associate

Zanskar; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Relocation packages

15 days PTO

Paid sick leave

Medical and dental coverage

401k

Job summary

Zanskar in Salt Lake City is seeking a Project Finance Associate to help build robust financial models and evaluate the economic viability of geothermal projects.

You will work closely with the Head of Finance and cross‑functional teams across land acquisition, development, and exploration to structure debt and equity financings and guide strategic capital allocation.

This career-level role offers relocation support, paid holidays, PTO, sick leave, and benefits as the company scales.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of project finance experience in energy/renewables.
• Ability to build complex financial models.
• Experience with debt and equity financing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform financial analyses to guide investment decisions on geothermal projects and across the portfolio (valuation, capital allocation, financing, deal structure).
• Work with cross-functional teams (land acquisition, development, exploration) and the Head of Finance on structuring, negotiation, and execution of project finance transactions.
• Translate inputs from internal/external teams into financial models and communicate impacts to non-financial stakeholders.

Skills

Financial modeling

Reliability

Flexibility

Cross-functional comms

Job description

Role Overview

Title: Project Finance Associate

Hours: Full-time; Salaried

Location: Salt Lake City, UT- Hybrid

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Reporting to: Head of Finance

Mission – Why we exist and why we need you

Geothermal energy is the most abundant renewable energy source in the world. There is 2,300 times more energy in geothermal heat in the ground than in oil, gas, coal, and methane combined. However, historically it’s been hard to find and expensive to develop. At Zanskar, we’re using better technology to find and develop new geothermal resources in order to make geothermal an affordable and vital contributor to a carbon-free electrical grid. We’ve set new industry standards for discovery rates, finding new prospects at an unprecedented scale and revolutionizing the exploration process.

The Project Finance Associate will be crucial in supporting the Head of Finance in financial modeling and analysis and strategic decisions focusing on the economic viability of geothermal projects. This is a career-level role, and we expect the Project Finance Associate to grow and find new ways to impact our organization, contributing to Zanskar’s broader financial and capital allocation strategy.

Outcomes - Problems you’ll solve

In the first six months, there will be a concentrated emphasis on performing different financial analyses to guide key investment decisions on individual geothermal projects and across the portfolio including valuation, capital allocation, financing, and deal structure. This will require becoming intimately familiar with potential capital permutations, structure sensitivities, and value levers. You will work closely with cross-functional experts in various groups such as land acquisition, development, exploration, etc. You will work directly with the Head of Finance and senior management in the structuring, negotiation, and execution of project finance transactions, including debt and equity financings for infrastructure projects.

Competencies – What we’re looking for

• Industry-specific modeling knowledge: Can develop and maintain complex financial models for project and infrastructure financing that may include construction financing, back leverage, tax equity financing, and project offtake, among others. Capability should be equivalent to 2-4 years of experience in project finance, specifically in energy and renewables (geothermal energy is a plus)
• Reliability: Ability to deliver impressive results in a cross-functional, high-growth, and fast-paced environment
• Flexibility: Can perform analysis on a variety of projects with different project or transaction deadlines with potentially shifting priorities. Feels comfortable structuring and resolving ambiguity in order to come up with an actionable answer
• Cross-functional communicator: Able to translate various internal and external teams’ input into financial models as well as communicate the impact of those with non-financial stakeholders

Location, Salary, and Benefits

• The position is based out of our headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Full-time position
• Paid holidays
• Generous Relocation Packages
• 15 days PTO + Accrual increase based on tenure
• Paid Sick Leave
• Medical and dental coverage401k
• A direct impact in displacing carbon emissions
• Growth opportunities in a growing startup environment

Equal Opportunity Employer

Zanskar is an equal-opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practice laws