Job Description
The Vice President of Origination at Orenda leads early-stage renewable energy project development, overseeing site acquisition, business development, interconnection engineering, and project management to ensure a steady pipeline of de-risked projects for execution, while managing teams and strategic partnerships in a fast-paced startup environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and scale the high-performing team across the Origination departments.
- Provide strategic oversight for all early-stage projects, ensuring successful hand-off to the Execution division.
- Develop and oversee a systematic site acquisition process, including proprietary prospecting tools and sales playbook.
- Negotiate and establish strategic partnerships with institutional entities to unlock multiple sites simultaneously.
- Direct utility interconnection strategies, optimize system sizing, and manage relationships with utilities and ISOs.
- Standardize project diligence processes and negotiate site control instruments like leases and easements.
- Coordinate between Strategy, Origination, and Execution to incorporate lessons learned and refine site selection criteria.
- Analyze lessons learned to improve processes and reduce project attrition.
- Manage external consultants and coordinate project development activities in a fast-paced environment.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, business administration, or a related field. Advanced degrees are a plus.
- A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in renewable energy project development, with a focus on business development, engineering, or project management.
- At least 5 years of experience in a direct leadership role, with a proven ability to manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
- Deep familiarity with NYC-specific complexities of land use, FDNY energy storage requirements, and ConEd s interconnection processes.
- Ability to understand project finance models and how origination decisions such as lease rates and interconnection costs impact the Project IRR and long-term asset value.
- Proven experience negotiating and executing ground leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and professional services agreements.
- Experience coordinating and managing external consultants.
- Experience in a high-growth startup environment, demonstrating flexibility and a track record of building new processes from the ground up.
- Extremely organized and process-oriented, capable of leading multiple projects concurrently in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to translate high-level corporate goals into actionable project plans.
- A deep passion for clean energy and the company's mission.
- A positive and solutions-oriented mindset, strong work ethic, and a sense of humor.
Benefits & Perks
Base salary range of $250,000 - $300,000 per year, determined on a case-by-case basis
Significant annual performance-based bonus
Health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) plan with 3% employer match
Lifetime Fitness corporate membership
Monthly commuter stipend
Learning and education stipend
Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy
Full-time, in-office work at Brooklyn, NY headquarters with regular travel to project sites
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