Senior Director-Power and Transmission

Primary purpose:

Identify, develop, negotiate, evaluate, and win commercial opportunities related to the electricity business and energy infrastructure. Integrate these efforts into the Company’s near-term and long-term strategies.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Primarily responsible for developing new transactions and projects (e.g., acquisitions, joint development arrangements, and greenfield projects) that grow the company. This includes the expansion and modification of our existing assets, development of new assets and acquisition of third-party assets.
• Identify, develop, and execute opportunities related to the electricity business, most notably the long-term ownership of energy infrastructure. This involves developing, negotiating, and executing business agreements in coordination with departments such as legal, financial, engineering, projects, and operations functions.
• Develop and pursue opportunities related to the electricity business and energy infrastructure.
• Initial areas of focus include:

  • Reducing and/or offset operating cost related to power consumptions (especially for Pony Express)

    • Developing power related opportunities tied to Tallgrass existing assets

    • Development of transactions and opportunities outside of Tallgrass’s existing footprint (including renewable generation, green hydrogen, and other similar projects)

• Assess opportunities to grow earnings and value by developing electric infrastructure projects, acquiring electric infrastructure assets, and creating new markets that support other business objectives.
• To reduce and/or offset power supply costs renegotiate power supply deals, create opportunities to self-supplying electricity (including from renewable sources), assess and potentially establish connections to alternative utilities, and identify other viable strategies.
• Develop and pursue opportunities related to the electricity business and electric infrastructure including taking advantage of the expansion of organized markets (e.g., SPP)
• Originate, negotiate, and close transactions focused on reducing operating costs and capturing opportunities in the electric power sector.
• Lead Tallgrass’ efforts to influence outcomes in electric policy and planning processes, particularly at the state level.
• Financially evaluate transactions and manage rate-making processes at FERC.
• Acquire, upgrade, and build electric infrastructure and generation facilities.
• Grow the Company’s sustainability portfolio base “off footprint” by developing commercial transactions that take advantage of best practices and technologies.
• Develop the commercial support for “off footprint” energy projects (renewable and thermal) by evaluating potential investments, communicating with decision makers effectively, and negotiating value-add transactions.
• Provide general industry monitoring and analysis.
• Provide support in conducting regular evaluation of the sustainability structure for continual improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the group.
• Assess competitive threats and recommend strategies to mitigate risks to company performance.
• Identify and market/restructure Tallgrass assets that could benefit from electricity business and electric infrastructure integration.
• Analyze U.S. supply/demand fundamentals as well as pricing and market trends in various regions across the country.
• Develop a strong knowledge of business strategy, competitors, and operations.
• Maintain an awareness of changing market conditions, new developments, and competitor strategies.
• Consult with Senior Management regarding market trends and their impact on the performance of Tallgrass’ assets.
• Scrutinize activities of competitors, identifying risks to the Company’s financial performance and develop countermeasures to protect the bottom line.
• Leverage business knowledge to evaluate appropriate use of capital expenditures, budgeting and expense management, margin

Minimum requirements :

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in business, finance, engineering, or a related discipline.
A minimum of fifteen (15) years’ direct work experience in the energy sector may be considered as a substitute for a degree.

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• Executive experience in all aspects of electricity project development with a particular focus on utility space interface, ISO and RTO familiarization, development of electric generation, and knowledge of new technologies and application of same.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in the electricity sector.
• Experience in negotiating business contracts – particularly revenue-generating agreements and asset acquisitions.
• Must have working knowledge of FERC rules and regulations including Standards of Conduct and related policies.
• Working knowledge of Federal and State regulatory processes and demonstrated experience influencing those processes.
• Demonstrated experience of five (5) or more years working with written and oral proposals.
• Proficient in negotiation skills, including five (5) years’ minimum experience negotiating with outside parties and asset purchases/sales.
• Budgeting and financial reporting experience.
• Must have established contacts with transmission owning utilities and other electric companies.
• Experience in identifying and pursuing asset acquisitions.
• Experience in developing and monitoring budgets.
• Successful track record of strategic selling and managing complex and challenging negotiations.
• Excellent knowledge of the utility business and industry practices.
• Ability to confidently speak to large groups of people when required and to develop effective relationships.
• Demonstrated negotiation, contracting and economic evaluation skills.
• Excellent critical thinking, project management, communication, decision making, presentation, human relations, and organization skills.

• Intermediate proficiency level in MS Office applications that may include but are not limited to: Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.
  

• Certifications, Licenses & Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).
  

• Competencies, Skills & Abilities:
• Must be a highly motivated individual that requires minimal supervision to accomplish goals.
• Speak clearly, both in person and by telephone, using a high level of verbal skills and listen carefully.
• Solid understanding of business fundamentals and how changes may impact expected earnings and cash flow.
• Experience in negotiating agreements and other business transactions.
• Strong interpersonal skills for building client relationships.
• Proven effective conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to utilize creative communication skills while still being a leader.

• Must be able to present ideas, proposals and results to upper management and to customers.

• Ability to develop and close complex transactions.
• Effective in a team, i.e. , capable of drawing on expertise in relevant groups to structure, negotiate and implement deals.
• Innovative in conceptualizing new solutions and properly managing risk.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the clean energy industry.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Extraordinary organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Proficient accounting and financial skills.
• Excellent analytical abilities & good working knowledge of discounted cash flow principles.
• Ability to develop contractual framework for formal agreements to minimize legal time and expense.
• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
• Must be able to work with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.
• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.

• Job level commensurate with experience and skill sets; position will be filled depending on qualifications, experience and skill sets of the successful candidate.
  

• Physical Demands:
• All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.

• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
  

• Working Conditions:

• Occasional overnight travel is expected.
• May be required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.

• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.