VP Renewable Energy Operations & Strategy

Position Overview

The Vice President of Renewable Energy Operations & Strategy will be accountable for the operational and financial performance of Deriva Energy’s renewable fleet while also shaping strategic initiatives that expand the company’s market presence and integrate emerging technologies. This role blends day-to-day execution with forward-looking strategy, requiring a leader who can optimize asset performance today while positioning the portfolio for tomorrow’s opportunities.

This position is based at Deriva Energy’s corporate headquarters in Charlotte, NC.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Financial Performance

• Promote a culture where Safety is encouraged and supported in every aspect of daily work.

• Provide executive oversight of wind, solar, and storage operations, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective performance.

• Own full P&L accountability for the renewable fleet, delivering on financial, operational, and contractual commitments.

• Establish and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), work order management (Maximo), and governance processes to ensure accountability across assets and teams.

• Lead resource allocation, outage planning, and performance improvement initiatives to maximize availability and efficiency.

• Drive predictive and preventative performance initiatives collaborating with internal Asset Management teams and external Tax Equity and Cash Equity partners.

• Collaborate with the Construction/EPC team to continuously improve project performance.  Provide feedback regarding equipment selection, engineering design, construction quality and handover to Operations and Asset Management.

Strategic Growth & Market Positioning

• Partner with corporate development, M&A, and commercial teams to evaluate, acquire, and integrate new assets.

• Lead the development of accurate OPEX budgets for new Wind, Solar and Storage projects based on predicted main component failure rates including realistic capacity augmentation strategies for battery storage projects.

• Develop strategies for hybrid and co-located projects (e.g., wind+storage, solar+storage) to enhance portfolio value.

• Represent Deriva Energy in industry organizations, regulatory forums, and policy discussions, advocating for favorable market rules and advancing the company’s leadership position.

• Build relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturers and Engineering and Procurement Contractors.

• Identify opportunities for innovation, digital transformation, and emerging technologies to strengthen long-term competitiveness

• Oversee the development of a data strategy that leverages real-time analytics, IoT and AI to optimize asset performance and inform strategic decision making.

• Organize and coach the performance engineering team to develop predictive diagnostics and drive predictive O&M main component replacement/repair activities in the field.

• Integrate ESG principles into operational strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate sustainability goals and stakeholder expectations.

Compliance, Risk & Stakeholder Engagement

• Ensure compliance with NERC, FERC, ISO/RTO requirements, environmental standards, and financing/contractual obligations.

• Oversee risk management frameworks to safeguard operational reliability, financial outcomes, and company reputation.

• Build trusted relationships with regulators, lenders, cash equity partners, customers, and community stakeholders to support ongoing operations and future growth.

• Develop and maintain business continuity and crisis response plans to ensure operational resilience.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a geographically dispersed team of directors, managers, technical experts, wind, solar and storage technicians.

• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, inclusion, performance and innovation.

• Build organizational capacity to support portfolio growth and evolving technology needs.

• Drive succession planning, leadership development, and employee engagement to retain top talent.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering; MBA or advanced technical degree strongly preferred.

• Experience: 15+ years of progressive leadership in renewable energy with direct experience managing multi-site, multi-technology operations (wind, solar, and/or storage).  Experience working for both Original Equipment Manufacturing and Independent Power Producing companies preferred.  Demonstrated Six Sigma, Lean and other quality experience preferred.

• Operational Acumen: Deep knowledge of O&M strategies, asset optimization, technical asset management and compliance frameworks across multiple renewable technologies.  Strong skills in data analytics and performance management using data-based methods.

• Strategic Expertise: Proven ability to lead long-term planning, market strategy, and new technology integration while delivering short-term results. 

• Financial Leadership: Demonstrated success managing large-scale budgets while achieving financial, time and operational targets.

• Executive Presence: Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills with the ability to engage stakeholders at board, regulatory, and industry levels.