Interconnection Lead

Wood is currently recruiting for a talented Interconnection Lead to join our diverse team of professionals.

Ideally, the role will be seated in Austin, TX office, but we will consider qualified applicants in any US city where Wood has a presence.

The Interconnection Lead will have overall responsibility for the delivery of transmission and interconnection activities, regularly interfacing with clients, project managers, senior operations and technical staff, and provide training for entry-level professionals. Whilst this role will have a particular focus on solar and energy storage project developments it may also include involvement in wind, power-to-X, transmission and hybrid projects.

This role will play a key part in growing our Project Development & Engineering team who is supporting clean energy project developers across the Americas and will support both private and public clients. Our team is on the leading edge of innovative project designs, novel technology implementation, and new markets. Our clients include some of the largest players in the space, from multi-national Independent Power Producers to regionally-focused niche developers.

The Wood team provides the following services in all renewables including onshore and offshore wind, solar PV, energy storage and microgrid, and high voltage transmission: Owner's engineering, including preliminary design, and third party design review of electrical plans, specifications, calculations, and studies; interconnection services including grid interconnection studies and applications, technical due diligence of new construction and repowering, including construction monitoring, in support of project financing, for developers, lenders, investors, and buy/sell mergers and acquisitions. Our teams apply significant experience in regulatory issues as applied in interconnection, grid operations, and transmission planning.

• Manage interconnection activities for large generator projects in coordination with multi-disciplinary teams consisting of internal technical staff, as well as subcontractors.

• Acting as advisor and first escalation path on the interconnection team's projects, coordinating and supervising work by junior personnel, other company divisions, and subcontractors.

• Be point person for all interconnection requests and hold overall responsibility for tracking procedures, updates and announcements from all ISO/RTOs and major utilities.

• Lead project staff to advise, collaborate, and solve complex issues related to Client's interconnection strategy.

• Work closely with ISO/RTOs, utilities, clients and Wood's design team to ensure timely completion of interconnection tasks.

• Provide QA/QC for associated deliverables performed by team members and/or outside consultants.

• Contribute to business development activities and assist in securing new opportunities for the company including preparation of proposals and client interaction.

• Manage and utilize internal and external modelling and analysis tools and systems for project deliverables.

• Prepare technical documents including specifications, reports, proposals, and calculations.

• Act as an interface and point of contact for clients on interconnection activities, supporting the development of client relationships.

• Disseminate knowledge and experiences to other team members and supporting the development of the team and team members.

• Develop, grow and manage procedures and operating systems to support the efficient delivery of interconnection tasks to the high standards required by Wood and our clients.

• Support business development and client engagement with a primary focus but not limited to interconnection and transmission scopes of work.

• Regularly and accurately reporting the status of projects to senior management.

• Act as the main interface and manage the relationship with clients and contractors.

• Ensuring health, safety and environmental considerations are integral to the delivery of projects and project tasks.

• Add value, avoid/resolve issues, mitigate risks and manage project's finances and contracts by applying robust project management practices and experience from previous projects.

• Participation at site visits and meetings in the USA and abroad.

• Independently, train and develop junior staff, manage sensitive and confidential customer information, and ability to understand when to delegate and escalate tasks and issues as they arise

• Disseminate knowledge and experiences to other team members and supporting the development of the team and team members.

• Wood is looking for a dynamic individual with great communication skills, ability to develop strong relationships with internal Project Managers as well as with Customers to solve their technoeconomic challenges when designing and constructing a project.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business preferred; Master's degree an asset.

• Demonstrated understanding of FERC, NERC, and various ISO/RTO/regulated utilities.

• Experience working on projects greater than 10MW in size.

• Demonstrated expertise in the electric utility industry (transmission and/or distribution systems).

• Demonstrated understanding of the key technical and commercial aspects of renewable energy project interconnection.

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in delivery of multiple interconnection scopes simultaneously.

• Business development skills with a proven track record of developing project opportunities and maintaining successful client relationships; strong existing client relationships and professional contacts are highly desirable.

• Established experience coordinating with clients, regulatory agencies, and technical staff required.

• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, and identify the most effective solutions to accomplish objectives of assigned projects.

• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by Wood's health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.

• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical work week.

• Working knowledge of utility scale generation and interconnection; including process, requirements, and implementation.

• Excellent time management and organizational skills.

• A flexible and proactive approach to completing work.

• Valid driving license for use within USA.

• Willingness for occasional domestic travel (up to 20%).

• Must be a US Citizen or authorized to work lawfully in the US, without sponsorship from Wood.