Director of Strategic Load - Military veterans preferred

2025-09-16
Ava Community Energy
Other

/yr

  employee   contract


Oakland
California
94612
United States

Director of Strategic Load

About Ava Community Energy

Ava Community Energy (Ava) is a Joint Powers Authority comprising Alameda County and its incorporated areas, and the cities of Lathrop, Stockton, and Tracy. Ava's charter is to provide its customers with low carbon, cost-effective electricity that integrates innovative energy products and maximizes local benefits through the development of local solutions, ranging from increasing access to rooftop solar to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles.

Culture and Commitment to Diversity

Ava believes in a vibrant culture that supports and nurtures a workplace that offers every individual the opportunity to attain professional goals and contribute to accomplishing our mission. We foster a culture of open communication, responsibility, curiosity, accountability, and teamwork. We want creative problem solvers that are excited to work in an entrepreneurial environment and grow our organization!

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce that is reflective of our service area's rich culture and communities. We welcome a diversity of experiences, perspectives, and skills.

We strongly encourage people of all characteristics to apply and prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any type based on age, religion, color, gender identity or expression, race, ancestry, or national origin, religion or creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or characteristics, and those with a disability as protected by federal, state and local laws.

Position Summary

Ava is seeking to hire a full-time Director of Strategic Load, reporting to the SVP of Power Resources with matrixed reporting to the Senior Director of Account Services. Ava is looking for experienced candidates that have a history of success in highly cross-functional, individual contributor roles to serve as Ava's liaison with data centers and other strategic large-load customers. The Director will be accountable for strategy, market development/engagement activities, product development, and structuring tariffs to serve these customers.

Position Details

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Market Strategy & Pipeline: Develop and maintain a segmented pipeline, qualify opportunities, develop pursuit strategies and account plans. (Intended focus is on strategy and process development, not on generating sales.)
  • Competitive Intelligence. Benchmark IOUs/CCAs and out-of-state peers on tariffs, programs, and service levels; translate learnings into Ava positioning and offer refinements.
  • Customer Pursuits & Dealmaking. Lead RFI/RFP responses, pricing requests, and executive briefings; negotiate term sheets/LOIs and special contracts in coordination with Power Resources, Account Services, Legal and Finance; manage handoffs from contracting through energization.
  • Tariff, Product & Service Development. Work with Ava Power Resources, Account Services and Finance teams to design compliant, revenue-adequate offerings (e.g., large-load options, flexible structures, 24/7 clean-energy reporting), avoiding cross-subsidy and aligning with CPUC/CCA rules. Develop the approach and playbook for managing and serving data center customers, including securing approval from Ava's Board of Directors.
  • Governance, Reporting & Communications. Establish KPIs (pipeline MW/MWh, cycle time, win rate); maintain CRM hygiene; prepare materials and updates for executive leadership/Board committees as needed.
  • Risk, Compliance & Community. Identify and mitigate risks (regulatory, procurement, delivery, reputational); ensure claims (renewables, 24/7 CFE) are supportable; if relevant, coordinate community/press messaging with Marketing team and Chief Customer Officer.
  • Other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Energy Management, Business, or related field.
  • 10+ years in the energy sector, data center industry, or management consulting; with a strong track record in power utility operations, commercial/industrial account management, or regulation.
  • Communication: Excellent communicator who can market Ava's value proposition to C-level executives in the data center industry and explain technical details in clear terms.
  • Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of electric utility system markets and tariffs.
  • Leadership & Collaboration: Proven ability to lead projects and experience in a matrixed organization, with skill in coordinating between technical and commercial teams.
  • Strategic Thinking: Able to develop long-range plans to position Ava competitively for data center growth. Use market analysis to identify opportunities and innovative solutions that differentiate Ava in attracting large loads.
  • Analytical & Financial Acumen: Highly analytical, capable of interpreting demand forecasts and complex cost modelling. Comfortable evaluating large capital investments or tariff impacts, and distilling insights to guide decision-making.
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Influence: Diplomatic and adept at building trust-based relationships, both internally and externally. Can effectively interface with regulators and policymakers, articulate Ava's positions, and influence outcomes.
  • Execution & Project Management: Operationally oriented, hands-on, and results-driven. Capable of setting direction while being closely involved in day-to-day execution. Drives multiple workstreams in parallel, establishes clear milestones, proactively solves problems, and adapts quickly as conditions evolve to deliver tangible outcomes (e.g., new contracts signed).
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
  • Ability to work independently on projects with minimum supervision.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Working knowledge of basic software programs including Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Data Center Experience: Knowledge of data center development processes and timelines to better anticipate client needs. Understanding of trends like AI-driven demand growth and data center sustainability goals will enable alignment of Ava's offerings with customer expectations.
  • Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with California's energy regulatory environment (CPUC tariffs, CCA operations, resource adequacy, etc.) and renewable energy procurement. Adept in tariff design and cost-of-service analysis for large customers.
  • Negotiation: Skilled in negotiation to craft win-win agreements that meet customer needs while protecting Ava's financial and regulatory interests.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary for this position is $223,740 or $248,351, with a Total Compensation of up to $246,114 to $278,154 annually based on performance.

Ava offers a generous benefits package which includes:

  • Zero cost Individual, family, and domestic partner health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
  • Life and AD&D, EAP, STD, and LTD
  • Retirement with Employer Matching
  • Social Security deferment plan
  • Paid Time Off and Holidays
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Fertility & Adoption Benefits
  • Pet Insurance
  • Mental Health Support
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care accounts)
  • Paid Volunteer Days
  • And More!

Location and Working Conditions

This position will be based in Ava headquarters in Oakland, near BART. Ava's team has a hybrid approach inclusive of in-office and remote work. This role is expected to go into the office Tuesdays, Thursdays and the first Wednesday of the month.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Ava is dedicated to reasonably accommodate an applicant for known physical or mental disabilities so that the applicant may participate in the application process. We will engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with any employee with a known physical or mental disability to identify potential reasonable accommodations, if any, to enable the employee to perform the essential functions of their position.

  • General office environment is primarily sedentary work which requires the following physical activities: standing, sitting, walking, reaching, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, repetitive motions, talking, hearing and visual acuity.
  • The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
  • The noise level is usually moderate.

Licenses/Certificates

  • Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license or the ability to provide alternate transportation and a safe driving record.

Working at Ava Community Energy

Ava is committed to complying with applicable laws, including the Americans with Disability Act and Fair Employment and Housing Act, ensuring equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. Ava prohibits unlawful discrimination based on age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), genetic information or characteristics, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Ava strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment (exemptions will be evaluated by legal counsel).

The information contained herein has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The information also does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change.





Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

PI278029279

 

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