Vice President, BESS Operations

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Salary Range: $240,000 - $265,000 plus bonus and incentive stock options

Reports to: Chief of Staff

Location: Brooklyn, NY (Hybrid)

About The Company:

NineDot's name derives from the classic mathematical puzzle for sparking out-of-the-box solutions. As a leading community-scale, clean energy developer with a growing portfolio of projects across a range of technologies, NineDot Energy is creating innovative energy solutions that support a more resilient electric grid, deliver economic savings, address environmental justice and reduce carbon emissions. We plan to develop, build and operate more than 400 MW of clean energy systems by 2026 that will strengthen the local power grid infrastructure and provide clean, reliable and resilient power to tens of thousands of New York households and businesses. This is all in support of New York State’s mission to achieve 100% clean energy by 2040.

With the backing of Manulife Investment Management and The Carlyle Group - two of the world’s leading infrastructure investors - NineDot is continuing to expand its core battery energy storage pipeline, deliver enhanced products and services, explore new regions and consider potential acquisitions all to advance the decarbonization of New York’s grid. This is an exciting opportunity to build a platform from the ground-up with a world-class team of developers and innovators. NineDot is committed to building a company that exemplifies diversity, equity and inclusion values in its team culture, as well as business practices and community engagement.

Job Summary

The Vice President, BESS Operations will be a strategic and hands-on leader, responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of NineDot’s Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) portfolio. Leading a team, this person will ensure seamless collaboration between network operations, asset management, and site maintenance to optimize the performance, reliability, and efficiency of our energy storage assets.

This individual will shape and execute operational strategy, drive continuous improvement, and establish a scalable operations framework as NineDot continues its rapid growth. The VP will also be responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, vendor management, budget management and cross-functional alignment to support NineDot’s business objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive BESS operations strategy to support NineDot’s expansion and performance objectives.
• Lead the scaling of NineDot’s BESS operational framework, ensuring systems, tools, and processes evolve alongside company growth.
• Drive the adoption of best practices in BESS fleet operations, asset management including offseason system testing, preventive maintenance, site cleanliness, and emergency response.
• Establish KPIs and reporting mechanisms to track system performance, downtime, and maintenance efficiency, ensuring regular updates are shared with investors and the leadership team to inform strategic decision-making.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Define and implement a preventative maintenance program with outside contractors for all BESS assets to ensure optimal uptime and longevity.
• Optimize battery energy storage performance, troubleshooting issues, and implementing corrective actions with outside vendors. 
• Leverage data-driven insights to improve system reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
• Lead budget planning for operations and maintenance, ensuring cost-effective solutions without compromising performance.
• Ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements, including utility interconnection, FDNY, and local permitting.
• Define and ensure adherence with safety standards and emergency response protocols, developing plans for critical situations (e.g., power outages, equipment failures, environmental risks).
• Lead the company’s risk management strategy pertaining to BESS operations, including warranty compliance, contractual obligations, and insurance matters.
• Manage and optimize relationships with OEM providers, EMS providers, O&M service partners, utilities, and regulatory agencies.
• Ensure that NineDot’s operational systems and various providers adopt best practices in data security, e.g. SOC2 and other standards relevant to energy asset data.
• Negotiate and oversee long-term service agreements (LTSAs), warranties, and performance guarantees with BESS OEMs and contractors.
• Work closely with internal teams—including Engineering, Construction, Finance, and Project Development—to ensure operational priorities align with company growth strategies.
• All other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies:

• Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Drives Results - Constantly achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
• Interpersonal Savvy - Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Cultivates Innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Financial Acumen - Interpreting and applying understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions.
• Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Optimizes Work Processes - Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Business Insights - Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.
• Develops Talent - Developing people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
• Directs Work - Providing direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.
• Ensures Accountability - Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.

Required education and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 10+ years of leadership experience in operations, asset management, or maintenance within the renewable energy or power sector.
• Expertise in battery energy storage systems (BESS), power electronics, grid integration, and energy management systems.
• Proven track record of building and scaling operational teams and infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of SCADA, control systems, data analytics, and real-time monitoring technologies.
• Hands-on experience with contract negotiations, vendor management, and regulatory compliance in the energy sector.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

At NineDot Energy, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation and are the foundation of our success. As such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender expression, gender identity, age, or any other status of an individual or that individual’s associates or relatives that is protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

 If you're passionate about this role but don’t meet every qualification listed, we still encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other opportunities with us. We’re committed to building a team that reflects a broad range of experiences, backgrounds, and skills.

NineDot Employee benefits include but are not limited to:

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• 5% employer match on your 401k retirement account
• 20 paid vacation days off, plus 7 sick days, 9 federal holidays and 3 personal floating holidays
• 12 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for both the primary and secondary caregiver within the first year of birth or adoption
• Wellness initiatives including a $1,000 stipend
• 16 volunteer hours plus two planned company-wide volunteer outings per year