Vice President, Solar Business Operations and Project Development

Laguna Energy is a full service renewable energy company providing green solutions that reduce energy costs and help the environment. We deliver projects and ideas that enable our customers to optimize energy savings and affirm their commitment to the environment. We have the expertise to design, build, finance and operate renewable energy systems that lay the foundation for a sustainable future.

Responsibilities:

• Strategize, plan, and implement new solar power projects and support acquisition projects.
• Will manage the development process from project inception, internal approval (i.e., obtaining project sites, permits, regulatory approvals, financing, legal contracts) and support project construction /operation.

Must be able to:

• Oversee the management of identified opportunities, analyze and evaluate competing projects, and recommend projects to develop to Senior Management.
• Manage the necessary permits and obtain regulatory approvals, working with the Environmental and Regulatory Department staff.
• Interface with local, State and Federal offices to address transmission and interconnection issues, and coordinate with the Government Affairs Department to manage community, local government and media relations on projects.
• Manage and negotiate long-term contracts with partners, vendors, and customers working with the Commercial & Plant Operations and Legal.
• Be able to obtain cost-effective financing for projects. Will work closely with the Finance Department and investment community.
• Coordinate construction plans and project schedules with Operations-Engineering partners and external vendors.
• Prepare and manage the budget forecasts for development projects.
• Will interface to the investment community to analyze acquisition opportunities, respond to public-agency bids, and provide the following:

1. Identify potential public/private bid opportunities.
2. Manage the process to maintain industry knowledge of market drivers, competitive grid, and industry trends.
3. Maintain industry and governmental business relationships/contacts.

Qualifications:

At a Minimum:

• Bachelors in accounting, engineering, finance, economics, related field or the equivalent, with 10 years of experience in the solar industry, including 5 years with power plant development experience, with preference for solar-generating power facilities. An Advance Degree is preferred.
• Strong negotiation skills and public-speaking experience.
• Knowledge of governmental/legal/environmental regulations that impact new solar business development, and in particular within the Western Region of the US.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write reports and prepare presentations appropriate for various organizational levels as well as for the Board of Directors.
• Experience with On Grid and CEI Financial Model software preferred.
• Strong business and financial ability to support a high performance organization that will deliver operational excellence and meet or exceed financial targets.
• Ability to travel throughout the US as required to support overall business development.

Key Skills:

• Knowledge of State incentives, rebates, and processes as it applies to solar project developments.
• Manage the following Companys Key Performance indicators:

1. Conduct due diligence on solar project developments.
2. Construct financial models/justifications.
3. Create/maintain master project plan.
4. Develop/maintain project documentation.
5. Drive/manage marketing plan.
6. Establish/maintain project communications.
7. Manage customer business relationships.
8. Monitor/provide project status reports.