Director - Commercial Investments
We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.
For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.
Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.
Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.
Compensation: $150,000 to $175,000 annually plus a discretionary 25% on-target annual bonus.
Position must be hybrid and based out of Denver, Austin, or San Francisco. This role is not eligible for remote work.
What you’ll do
The IM Team
The Investment Management Team (IM) is the guardian of LSbp operational investments with a focus on long term value creation. Within a matrix organisation, the IM team interacts closely with
• Structured Finance (that raises debt, tax equity and leads on M&A activities);
• LSbp regions including project & business development, construction and asset management (which handles the day-to-day commercial and Operational management of the operating fleet);
• Finance, which provides Financial MI.
• Power Marketing – which provide end-to-end power monetisation from long term offtake contract to short term RECs or capacity contracts;
• Central teams (e.g. performance, legal, engineering centre of excellence etc)
Externally, IM handles relationship with Capital Providers from Financial Close or COD (depending on jurisdiction) in close coordination with Structured Finance.
The IM team is organised around three “verticals” (as below) supporting the IM Regional Heads (one for US and one for EMEA and APAC)
- Portfolio Management
- Valuation and Financial Modelling
- Insurance
The IM Regional Heads are directly in charge of managing the financial and commercial performance of existing and future PV assets and any joint ventures partners.
US Commercial Investment Director
The US Commercial Investment Director will lead alongside the US Regional Head the management of the US PV Assets Portfolio and joint venture partners. The current portfolio includes a 2.4GW Joint Venture between LSbp and its original founders (no longer in the business) across 9 portfolio and 23 projects. A further 1GW of solar and battery projects is expected to go into construction and be partnered within a 6 to 9 month horizon.
Core Responsibilities
• Reporting to the Global Head of Investment, manage capital providers and joint venture partners with the support of the wider IM team and in close conjunction with other LSbp teams – including regional asset management, structured finance, power marketing and finance
• Alongside the Global Head of Investment and in conjunction with other LSbp stake-holders, devise the joint venture strategy
• Drive the commercial agenda – including commercial optimization; efficiency initiative; capital structure reconfiguration ahead of potential exit – with the support of IM teams and by coordinating with multiple LSbp teams & stakeholders. The commercial agenda is very wide and includes a number of dimensions – without limitation:
o Contract reviews (e.g. scope, terms)
o Detailed costs analysis
o Value-accretive capex / one-off expenses
o Power monetization strategy
o Insurance strategy
o Capital planning
• Be accountable for budgeting, portfolio valuation and long term financial performance
Who we’re looking for
Knowledge
• Solid Financial and Accounting knowledge
• Able to understand and navigate through complex financial model (earlier experience as a financial modeler, whilst useful is not essential)
• Ability to navigate, understand and manage complex contracts – strong knowledge of project finance and tax equity documentation would be extremely beneficial
• Strong understanding of valuation techniques & methodologies
Qualifications
• Engineering / economic / business degree from a leading institution
Experience
• >5yrs Front office experience – ideally on the sponsor side, on the financing side (debt and tax equity if possible)
• Alternatively,
o Strong late-stage development lead (e.g. EPC, PPA or other material contracts negotiation) OR
o Hands-on corporate strategy role (including M&A / capital planning / commercial and financial diligence) combined with earlier strategy at top consultancy firm
• Prior Experience in working in an international environment within complex matrix structure is a must
• Experience in managing other team members (either as a manager or as part of project team) desirable
What challenges can you expect in this role?
• In this role, you are expected to deal with multiple stake-holders across a complex matrix environment:
o You may not have all “pieces of the jigsaw” at any one time, but will be expected to think two or three shot ahead
o You will have to manage multiple stake-holders to drive your agenda and the right decisions
• You are expected to connect the dots and focus on multi-disciplinary aspects of projects (financial, commercial, technical) – whilst not a specialist in each area, you must use your drive and intellect to gather critical information and knowledge to deliver your agenda
Why you’ll make a great member of the team
Personal qualities
• You are team player and a leader – able to coach, support and gather support from the wider team or the wider organization whilst driving your agenda and delivering value
• You are an inquisitive person, able to connect the dots within multiple areas in a complex environment
• You are able to dive into the details, come out of your comfort zone and quickly figure out the big picture
• You are collaborative and can establish deep relationship across different teams and different regions, whilst at the same time being able to raise your voice at the right time and drive the agenda
We Offer
• Competitive compensation: $150,000 to $175,000 annually plus a discretionary 25% on-target annual bonus.
• Health, dental and vision care for US team members starts on your first day of employment.
• Retention bonuses
• 11 paid holidays
• Four weeks of vacation and three weeks of sick leave annually.
• 401(k) plan, with a 3% nonelective employer contribution.
• Hybrid working environment (two days in office, three days remote).
• Monthly personal phone bill reimbursement of up to $100 and a monthly commuter benefit of up to $150.
Why you’ll want to work with us
Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.
Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.
Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.
Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation related to LSbp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us to request accommodations.