Manager, Digital Utility Energy Transition - Grids of the Future, India

The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (Global Energy Alliance) works for a world where everyone has access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity and the means to use it to improve their lives. Our Alliance builds transformative public, private, philanthropic partnerships to end energy poverty and accelerate green economic opportunity. Founded in 2021 by The Rockefeller Foundation, IKEA Foundation, and Bezos Earth Fund, we design innovative projects/programs, unlock finance, strengthen institutions and transform markets, delivering progress anchored in deep community engagement. By uniting actors across the value chain, from households to heads of state, we go beyond individual projects to drive lasting systems change. With work in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, our Alliance aims to reach 1 billion people with clean electricity, prevent 4 billion tons of carbon emissions and create or improve 150 million jobs. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Manager, DUET will be a pivotal role in advancing our innovations regarding digitization of utilities and leveraging machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to optimise power sector operations, enable intelligent micro-grids/Battery storage, and scale emerging technology applications. This position requires deep technical expertise in the power sector, strong data/ML/AI credentials, and preferably international experience in energy transition environments. The successful candidate will work collaboratively across programmes, technology teams, and regional offices to lead the design, delivery and scaling of advanced solutions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategy & Innovation
• Support in the digitization of utilities and identification of use cases that arise out of the digitisation initiatives including - micro-grids, battery energy storage systems (BESS), e-mobility and other emerging technologies.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities with utilities for ML/AI integration in power sector assets: generation, distribution, grid-edge, storage, demand-side management.
• Stay abreast of global and regional trends in decentralised energy systems, digitalisation, AI in power systems, and emerging business models.
• Technical Leadership & Delivery
• Oversee project development and implementation of ML/AI-driven pilots in the power sector (e.g., predictive maintenance, load forecasting, optimisation of micro-grid operations).
• Coordinate with regional teams of GEAPP and technology partners for scalable deployment aligned with regulations and stakeholder needs.
• Support alignment of technology deployment with power sector regulations, grid requirements, and local stakeholder needs.
• Data, Analytics & Scaling
• Manage data pipelines and ML/AI model development, ensuring performance monitoring, key technical and commercial KPI reporting, and continuous improvement
• Develop business cases for scaling solutions: quantify ROI, risk, market potential, partnerships, and funding requirements.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
• Act as technical lead with technology vendors, utilities, regulators, donors and international partners.
• Build partnerships with research institutions, universities, AI/ML labs, and power utilities to co-develop or adapt solutions.
• Capacity Building & Team Leadership
• Mentor and/or lead a team of engineers/data scientists/analysts across regions, strengthen internal ML/AI capabilities for energy optimization.
• Build internal capabilities in ML/AI for energy, data-driven decision-making and operations optimisation.
• Promote a culture of innovation, experimentation, learning-by-doing, and knowledge sharing across the organisation.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Master’s/Bachelor’s degree (with strong honours) in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Energy Systems, Computer/Data Science, or a related field. Preferably with a specialisation or coursework in the energy sector.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the power sector with at least 2–3 years in roles involving ML/AI, data analytics or digitalisation of energy systems.
• Preference for candidates with consulting experience, especially from Big 4 firms or boutique power-sector consulting firms and international exposure preferred.
• Demonstrated international experience (projects or work in multiple countries) is a plus.

Technical & Sector Knowledge

• Deep understanding of power systems (grid operations, micro-grids, BESS, DERs, demand-side management) and decentralised utilities business models.
• Proven experience in applying machine learning/AI techniques to energy/power applications (e.g., forecasting, optimisation, anomaly detection).
• Familiarity with data platforms, analytics tools, cloud or edge computing, IoT integration in power systems.

Skills & Competencies

• Cultural adaptability & international mindset: experience working in diverse countries/regions, adapting to local power sector regulation, market dynamics and institutional contexts.
• Project management: strong organisational skills, ability to manage multiple deliverables, monitor timelines, budgets, and team performance.
• Strategic planning, technical leadership, and project management.
• Strong analytical and business acumen; ability to build techno-economic models.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills; cultural adaptability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Existing network of contacts within utilities, technology providers, research labs and the international energy/AI ecosystem.
• Proven track record of scaling or commercialising decentralised utility solutions or AI-driven energy innovations.
• Experience living or working in developing markets (Asia, Africa, Latin America) is desirable.

We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without our team members' diverse perspectives and experiences. We expect all Global Energy Alliance employees to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.  

Global Energy Alliance is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the organization ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, or liability for service in the United States Armed Forces.  

Global Energy Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.