Director of Construction

Aypa Power, a Blackstone portfolio company, is a leading developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable projects that power our communities and cities. Our mission is to responsibly decarbonize the grid and make North American energy markets more affordable, sustainable, and efficient. Aypa is well-capitalized and uniquely positioned to lean forward on projects with well-suited deal structures to meet our customers’ needs. We have been at the forefront of energy storage development since our first energy storage project came online in 2018. As a leader in our industry, we have over 22 GW of utility-scale energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects in development and 33 projects in operation or construction across North America. 

We are seeking a Director of Construction to oversee the construction and project management of Aypa Power’s energy storage and hybrid projects. This position will oversee the construction of multiple assets spanning several markets, each with unique commercial and contractual obligations. Must have experience managing and directing construction of utility-scale power plants, preferably with direct experience with battery energy storage systems. 

Responsibilities: 

• Construction Management: Work with internal and external stakeholders as well as vendors to lead construction management and project management for Aypa’s portfolio of energy storage and hybrid projects. Tracking & coordinating tasks & deliverables among team, suppliers, internal and external stakeholders for project construction.
• Installation & Commissioning: Coordinate, plan and execute via EPC vendors, OEM vendors and sub-contractors to ensure installation and commissioning of project equipment from OEM and HV substation. 
• Platform Development: Contribute to creating and executing the long-term project management and execution strategy for Aypa’s portfolio of energy storage and hybrid projects. Use project management standards and techniques to manage, direct, execute, and own projects.
• Reporting: Originate and report key performance indicators monthly to the broader management team, including EPC, project finance, and legal aspects.
• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with project delivery and service companies such as EPC, OEM(s), O&M service provider(s), Energy Management System (EMS) provider(s). Be the primary point of contact to direct project execution activities.
• Project Migration: As part of the EPC team, collaborate with other stakeholders to seamlessly integrate projects under construction into operations.
• Contract Enforcement: Originate, administer, and track warranty claims from Notice To Proceed to Commercial Operation. Work with project stakeholders to determine contractual deviations and mitigate risks. Manage project scope or work to ensure work completion and avoid scope creep. Monitor risk management activities for projects. 
• Transaction Support: Work closely with internal and external resources to structure, negotiate and execute construction contracts EPC vendors.
• Budgeting and P&L: In collaboration with Commercial and Finance teams, develop and track project budget for capex and construction. Work with stakeholders in engineering, procurement, and pre-construction to support project bids and proposals with capex and opex inputs.
• Project Diligence: Ensuring Aypa’s projects under construction are delivered within budget, schedule and without any lost time incidents (LTI). 
• Regulatory & Compliance: Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure compliance with Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality standards like ISO, OSHA, NEC, and NFPA for Aypa’s assets under construction. Conducting site feasibility assessments, coordinating on-site installation, and commissioning activities.
• Operational Excellence: Track project lessons learned to support continuous improvement process and ensure high quality of project delivery. Supporting documentation, operational readiness, and operational processes for the deployment of projects.
• General: Provide input into company business plan and execution strategy. 

Key Qualifications:   

• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in construction of utility-scale renewable and/or energy storage plants;
• Minimum of five (5) years in project management activities;
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field;
• A broad technical base to grasp production, process, logistics, and/or design concepts that encompass the products and services associated with renewables and energy storage systems;
• Demonstrated field experience in installation & commissioning activities as part of construction management;
• Familiarity with field operations, service and maintenance is a plus;  
• Construction experience with utility-scale power projects in California;
• Project construction experience in at least two of: ERCOT, CAISO, PJM and NYISO preferred;
• Customer focused personality, comfortable using critical reasoning and judgement to make good decisions in a fast-paced environment;
• Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, including a demonstrated proactive work ethic;
• As part of a lean and dynamic team, the candidate must be able to plan, oversee, and personally execute numerous projects simultaneously, work well under pressure, and adjust to changing priorities. 

Compensation and Location: 

Salary: A base salary commensurate with experience; 
Bonus: An annual bonus will be awarded based on individual performance and the overall success of the business;
Benefits: Aypa offers an attractive benefits package with excellent health care/dental/vision, 401k matching, unlimited vacation, paid parental leave, and other health/wellness benefits;
Location: Remote (USA). The ability to work in the United States is a requirement;
Travel: Anticipated frequent travel.

At Aypa, we nurture and support a highly diverse team and actively seek to advance fair and inclusive practices in all aspects of what we do. We hire passionate, dedicated, and forward-thinking individuals from different backgrounds and value unique perspectives and experiences. With a focus on belonging, we are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all. 

Please note: We kindly request that recruiting companies and agencies refrain from contacting us regarding this job posting. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in respecting our hiring process. Thank you.