Head of Commercial

3 months ago
Full time role
In-person · Oakland, CA, US... more

About The Role

The Head of Commercial will scale Planted Solar to global deployments with project developer and IPP portfolio partners, including distributed generation, utility-scale, and Power-to-X applications. You will be responsible for commercial strategy, origination, business development, and partner relationships. Successful candidates will possess market expertise, strong leadership and communication skills, energy and infrastructure financial acumen, an entrepreneurial and analytical mindset, and a desire to build the business from the ground up.

This position will be vital in unlocking scalable and abundant clean energy resources and require close collaboration with product, engineering, and service delivery teams. We prefer candidates in the Bay Area but will consider great candidates elsewhere (regular travel to Oakland and elsewhere will be required).

The salary range for this full-time position is $210,000 - $280,000 plus incentive pay, stock options, and benefits. Pay within the range is based on candidate experience, job-specific skills, education, and work location. The target experience for the position is 10+ years.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Leverage market knowledge to lead origination and commercial strategy focused on advancing renewable energy projects
  • Originate, structure, and negotiate key partnership agreements from the initial project proposal through diligence, contracting, and closing
  • Manage and support key commercial relationships with external counterparties
  • Identify insights from techno-economic analysis to inform commercial strategy
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, and other teams to inform project development and market offering
  • Communicate and support product, process, and contracting recommendations to the senior management team 
  • Travel to attend conferences and meet with customers and partners
  • Build a global, high-achieving team to help drive pipeline momentum and close deals

QUALIFICATIONS

  • 10+ years experience in energy infrastructure development, financing, or deployment
  • Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to develop and execute long-term commercial strategies and drive significant business growth
  • Ability to negotiate and structure commercial agreements including, but not limited to: letters of intent, joint venture agreements, and master supply contracts
  • Extensive experience managing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including investors, regulatory bodies, and key industry players, ensuring alignment and support for commercial initiatives
  • Hands-on ownership mentality and ability to drive results with curiosity, humility, and  resourcefulness in dynamic and ambiguous environments
  • Strong communication, organization, and relationship management skills
  • Advanced financial and technical modeling expertise
  • Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing commercial teams, including experience with recruitment, training, and development of team members across multiple time zones and countries
  • Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in business, economics, engineering or related field

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience with utility-scale solar project origination, development and M&A

Many people only apply for jobs if they believe they can perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and will consider equivalent combinations of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

  • Mostly desk work using standard office equipment
  • The position requires some travel for customer and business meetings and company-wide meetings

About Planted

First, the good news: The world now has over 1.7 terawatts of cumulative solar capacity and solar PV is the lowest-cost source of energy generation worldwide.

The challenge: The world needs 3 terawatts of new solar capacity every year for the next 25 years.

Planted Solar has reinvented the solar power plant from design to installation with a rapid solar deployment platform to generate 2x more energy per acre, complete projects 3x as fast, and dramatically accelerate solar development throughput. Planted Solar uses development software and construction robots to build flexible, all-terrain, high-density power plants on previously unviable land. Backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Khosla Ventures, we're expanding our team of ambitious, curious, and hands-on engineers and operators. Come own large parts of product, company, or business development and help rapidly power the world with 100% clean and abundant energy.

What We Offer

  • 11 paid company holidays and flexible Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Company-paid in-office lunches
  • Stock options
  • Medical, vision, dental, and other benefits
  • Pre-tax commuter benefits
  • 401(k)
  • A chance to have an empowered, meaningful, and early role in climate

This will be a great fit if:

  • You want to solve challenging problems
  • You are biased toward action and focus on the vital work that drives the most impact
  • You prioritize the physical and psychological safety of yourself and those around you
  • You are humble, embrace change, and deliver and receive candid feedback
  • You are optimistic about the future and can make tough decisions to help get there
  • You have high expectations and coach, develop, and make time to help others

Planted Solar is an equal opportunity employer committed to growing inclusively, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, medical condition, age, or veteran status. However you identify, or whatever background you bring with you, please apply. We look forward to hearing from you.