Utility BESS Services Lead

Black & Veatch; Overland Park (KS); Hybrid; USD 223,000 - 372,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP ownership

Flexible work schedules

Vacation & holidays

Job summary

Black & Veatch is seeking a Utility BESS Services Lead to drive leadership, growth, and execution of the Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Services business. You will develop and implement the strategic vision for expanding services to utility clients while delivering safe, profitable, and scalable project delivery.

The role requires building long-term client relationships with utility asset owners and operators, championing a Seller-Doer Project Manager model, and coordinating

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience in power, energy, utility infrastructure, industrial, or related markets.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing programs, portfolios, business units, or complex capital projects.
• Experience growing service-oriented businesses and client relationships.
• Understanding of utility-scale BESS projects and related advisory services.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing P&L.
• Strong commercial, contractual, and financial acumen.
• Excellent communication, leadership, mentoring, and client engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the strategic plan for growing the Utility BESS Services business.
• Lead and grow Utility BESS professional services offerings including Owner's Engineering, FEED, development support, and related services.
• Balance client commitments, staffing, and business objectives.
• Ensure staffing projections are current and coordinated with operations.
• Monitor portfolio health, utilization, schedule performance, profitability, client satisfaction.
• Lead portfolio reviews and corrective action planning where required.
• Identify emerging utility client needs and develop service offerings that address evolving market demands.
• Establish trusted advisor relationships with utility asset owners and operators.
• Direct project directors and project managers; ensure coordination with operations.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Lead development and execution of project recovery plans when necessary.
• Monitor forecasts, earned value metrics, and financial performance.
• Build and lead a high-performing services organization.
• Recruit, develop, and retain project managers.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio management

Business development

Client engagement

Project management

Commercial acumen

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Date: Aug 10, 2026

Location:

Overland Park, KS, US San Francisco, CA, US Irvine, CA, US Walnut Creek, CA, US Greenwood Village, CO, US Houston, TX, US Ann Arbor, MI, US Jacksonville, FL, US

Company: Black & Veatch Family of Companies

We believe real value is powered by the unique skills and experiences of our professionals. The interchange of ideas from a diverse group of people gives our teams an expanded perspective and the ability to find better solutions for our clients.

Company : Black & Veatch Corporation

Req Id : 116477

Job Title : Utility BESS Services Lead

Location : KCP, RGANAR, RGGREENWD, RGHOUSTON3, RGIRVINE, RGJCKSNVL, RGSANFRCO, RGWALNUT4

Business Unit Sector : COR-GMCNC-TIG DISTRIBUTED NETW

Department: BVCOR TIG - DN SOL & EXECUT PM

Opportunity Type : Staff

Relocation eligible : No

Full time/Part time : Full-Time

Project Only Hire: No

Visa Sponsorship Available: No

The Opportunity

The Utility BESS Services Lead is responsible for the overall leadership, growth, and execution of the Company’s Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Services business. This role develops and executes the strategic vision for expanding professional services with utility clients while ensuring safe, profitable, and scalable delivery across the services portfolio.

The Utility BESS Services Lead serves as the senior leader accountable for identifying and converting service opportunities, establishing repeatable execution methodologies, maintaining portfolio performance, and developing long-term client relationships with utility asset owners and operators.

A key responsibility of this position is to champion and implement a Seller-Doer Project Manager model, enabling project managers to maintain strong client engagement, recognize follow-on service needs, support opportunity development, and contribute to sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Business and Portfolio Leadership

• Develop and execute the strategic plan for growing the Utility BESS Services business.
• Lead and grow Utility BESS professional services offerings including Owner's Engineering, Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED), detailed engineering, development support, and related pre-EPC or non-construction services.
• Balance client commitments, staffing requirements, and business objectives across the portfolio.
• Ensure that staffing projections are current and coordinated with operations through the company software system.
• Monitor portfolio health, utilization, schedule performance, profitability, client satisfaction, and resource requirements.
• Lead portfolio reviews and corrective action planning where required.
• Identify emerging utility client needs and develop service offerings that address evolving market demands.
• Establish trusted advisor relationships with utility asset owners and operators.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Accountable for portfolio revenue, backlog growth, margin performance, and forecasting accuracy.
• Support proposal development, pricing strategies, and commercial negotiations.
• Review major contract terms, risk profiles, and commercial structures.
• Ensure effective management of change orders, claims, warranty matters, and commercial risks.
• Lead annual budgeting and business planning activities for the Utility BESS Services business.

Seller-Doer Project Manager Program Leadership

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Seller-Doer Project Manager model.
• Establish expectations, tools, and processes that enable project managers to support business development activities.
• Train and mentor project managers to identify, qualify, and capture follow-on service opportunities.
• Create repeatable account management and opportunity development processes.
• Coordinate with business development, other sectors and operations leadership to convert project-level relationships into broader utility client opportunities.
• Monitor effectiveness of the Seller-Doer model through backlog growth, client retention, follow-on work, and project manager engagement.

Execution Management

• Direct project directors and project managers; ensure coordination with operations such as engineering, procurement, subcontracts, quality, construction management, and commissioning leaders.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Collaborate with legal, procurement, and commercial management teams on contract administration and dispute resolution.
• Lead development and execution of project recovery plans when necessary.
• Oversee subcontractor and supplier performance management processes.
• Monitor forecasts, earned value metrics, and financial performance.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Build and lead a high-performing services organization.
• Recruit, develop, and retain project managers.
• Mentor emerging leaders and establish succession planning strategies.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and client focus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field.
• 12+ years of experience in power, energy, utility infrastructure, industrial, or related markets.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing programs, portfolios, business units, professional services groups or complex capital projects.
• Demonstrated experience developing and growing service-oriented businesses.
• Understanding of utility-scale BESS projects, including Owner’s Engineering, FEED, development support, execution planning, and related advisory services.
• Experience in business development, client relationship management, proposal development, and commercial negotiations.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing P&L responsibilities.
• Strong commercial, contractual, and financial acumen.
• Excellent communication, leadership, mentoring, and client engagement skills.

Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Typical office environment, typical construction environment, extreme weather conditions, high noise level, safety hazards (electric currents, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to chemicals), atmospheric conditions (fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation). Sitting, walking, talking, hearing, reading, writing, keyboarding, driving, filing, reaching, stooping, crouching, bending, standing for extended periods of time, lifting or carrying up to 40 pounds. Position may require travel to other Black & Veatch's offices, conferences, client’s offices and/or project sites up to 50% of the time. When not travelling, this role will be hybrid: 2 days per week remote, 3 days per week in-office out of the designated Black and Veatch office.

Salary Plan

PMT: Project Management

Job Grade

020

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Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.

Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers an array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.

To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time, and dependent sick time.

A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company-matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre-taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance-based bonus program.

We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP-owned company. As employee-owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company's long-term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of the success through stock ownership.

By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.

BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.

Notice to External Search Firms: Black & Veatch does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Black & Veatch Talent Acquisition engages with search firms directly for hiring needs.

In accordance with local law, the following compensation range is applicable for the job and location associated with this requisition: $219,063.00 - $372,398.00

Nearest Major Market: Olathe

Nearest Secondary Market: Kansas City

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