Strategy & Growth Development Specialist

DTE Vantage; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

DTE Energy is seeking a strategic professional to develop long-range plans and identify new business opportunities in clean energy and emerging technologies. This role focuses on structuring development transactions, evaluating acquisitions, and aligning operations with the company mission to foster growth and profitability.

The incumbent will manage complex projects, engage with senior leadership, and navigate external partners, consultants, and regulators to maximize value in rapidly evolving

Qualifications

• Education/experience pathways: 7 years in business/finance or renewable energy focus; OR 5 years with a Master’s degree.
• Proven ability to carry a deal end-to-end, manage negotiations and drive growth.
• Deep familiarity with electric utility operations, PPAs, TAs, BTAs and regulatory processes.

Responsibilities

• Identify new business opportunities to grow the portfolio.
• Screen and evaluate vendors and acquisition targets; conduct diligence.
• Maintain relationships with target customers and industry associations.
• Research industry trends to identify strategic opportunities and benefits.
• Negotiate with counterparties to structure transactions.
• Drive strategic initiatives and support long-term growth plans.

Skills

Deal negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory acumen

Portfolio management

Strategic growth

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/finance/engineering

Master’s degree in business/finance/engineering

Job description

DTE is one of the nation’s largest diversified energy companies. Our electric and gas companies have fueled our customer’s homes and Michigan’s progress for more than a century. And as Michigan’s largest source of renewable energy, we’re creating a cleaner, healthier environment to power our future. We’re also serving communities beyond Michigan, where our affiliated businesses offer renewable energy, emission control technologies, and energy services to industries in 19 states.

But we’re more than a leading energy company... and working at DTE is more than just a job. At DTE, we take great care of each other and our customers, and we use our energy to be a force for growth and prosperity in our communities. When you join us, you’ll be part of a team that welcomes, recognizes, and celebrates differences and values everyone’s health, safety, and wellbeing. Are you ready to make that kind of difference? Bring your energy to DTE. Together, we can achieve great things.

Testing Required

Not Applicable

Employment Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship currently.

Hybrid Role

This role is hybrid, with an established schedule of in-person work required at an assigned work location. Any remote work is expected to be performed from an employee’s primary residence, unless allowed (or prohibited) through the Company’s remote work guidelines.

Emergency Response

Yes - Must be available to perform a primary assignment in support of DTE’s emergency response to storms or other events that impact service to our customers.

Job Summary

Responsible to help develop the organization’s strategic and long-range goal planning and will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities and creating value in structuring development transactions, focuses on clean energy and emerging energy technology. Identifies and prioritizes growth opportunities and creates plan for implementation to senior leadership. Identifies , research, analyzes, and makes recommendations for any of the following: clean technology projects or investment opportunities and/or potential acquisitions and divestitures to support the organization’s growth objective. Responsible for strategy and planning to align business operations with the company's mission and goals. Manages financial and commercial details of complex projects and/or transactions within a team-oriented environment in rapidly evolving markets.

Span of Control: 0, Individual Contributor.

Key Accountabilities

• Identifies new business opportunities to grow the portfolio.
• Identifies, screens, and evaluates strategic vendors and/or acquisition targets and conducts diligence to ensure reliability on targets.
• Maintains target customer group relationships through direct contact with the prospective customers, and active participation in industry trade association activities.
• Researches and analyzes industry and competitive trends to identify emerging opportunities and strategic areas of interest and benefits.
• Negotiates with counterparties to successfully structure transactions.
• Drives strategic initiatives and supports the development of long-term growth plans and profitability goals.
• Initiates or follows leads as provided for new businesses, services, and customer sector opportunities.
• Analyzes emerging industry trends, and recommends expansion opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions, competitive threats, viability of outside business partners, internal business performance and business process improvement.
• Monitors progress of consultants and suppliers; establishes reporting protocol and resolves any outstanding issues.
• Analyzes the value and the risks of major capital investments.
• Participates in project and development meetings and demonstrates a supporting role relative to new business concept issues and associated resolutions.
• Forecasts or assists with project performance using internal expertise, outside consulting firms, prospective customers, and equipment suppliers as needed.
• Oversees organizational reviews, communicating results to senior management, and developing strategies based on organizational reviews.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

This is a dual-track base requirement job; education and experience requirements can be satisfied through one of the following two options:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or engineering and 7 years of experience in business or finance, or experience focused on renewable energy and/or battery storage field; OR
• Master’s degree in business, finance, or engineering and 5 years of experience in business or finance, or experience focused on renewable energy and/or battery storage field.

Other Qualifications

• Proven ability to carry a deal end-to-end - progressing negotiations through obstacles, keeping counterparties accountable to timelines, and escalating unresolved or high-risk issues to leadership and counsel with a recommended resolution rather than an open question.
• Comprehensive expertise in electric utility operations, encompassing utility-scale electric power systems, utility-scale renewable energy integration (solar and wind), and utility-scale battery storage technologies.
• Exceptional negotiation and stakeholder engagement capabilities, with demonstrated success in navigating complex discussions among Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Tolling Agreements (TAs), and Build-Transfer Agreements (BTAs) involving regulatory bodies, utility-scale renewable energy and battery developers, internal and external counsels, subject matter experts, and executive management.
• Proven experience in electric project supply chain management, including strategic sourcing, vendor performance optimization, and risk mitigation across utility-scale renewable energy and battery projects.
• Robust regulatory acumen, with deep familiarity with federal, state, and MISO electric industry frameworks; direct experience with Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) processes is highly advantageous.
• Portfolio management expertise, including oversight of executed agreements and active negotiations to ensure alignment with strategic objectives and maximize organizational value.
• Benchmarking and performance optimization expertise, leveraging industry best practices to drive operational excellence and strategic growth.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work within a dynamic team-oriented environment
• Ability to understand and analyze complex business issues
• Ability to communicate results to senior management in a clear and logical manner
• A solid understanding of the energy industry and the challenges it is facing
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong presentation skills and the ability to analyze and communicate complex transactions to senior management
• Ability to take initiative
• Ability to handle multiple assignments

Additional Information

Incumbents may engage in all or some combination of the activities and accountabilities and utilize a variety of the competencies cited in this description depending upon the organization and role to which they are assigned. This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents in this job. It is not intended as an all-inclusive list of accountabilities or responsibilities, nor is it intended to limit the rights of supervisors or management representatives to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

PRIVACY NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA JOB APPLICANTS

At DTE Energy, we are committed to providing an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and a sense of belonging. We seek individuals with a heart for service, a passion to help our communities prosper, and ideas to help shape the future of energy. We are proud to be an equal opportunity, employer that considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, citizenship, height, weight, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal and/or state laws.