Job Movements in Renewable Energy Sectors
Vesper Energy, a prominent player in the utility-scale renewable energy sector across the U.S., has announced the appointment of Monica Opderbeck as its new Chief Commercial Officer. In her enhanced capacity, Opderbeck will manage all commercial activities at Vesper Energy, which encompass Corporate Development, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Origination. Her role will focus on driving the company’s growth by raising capital, making strategic investments, and fostering partnerships, while also ensuring better alignment across departments to optimize asset monetization. “I’m honored and excited to step into this role and look forward to building on the momentum Vesper has created in the market with a 2+ GW near-term pipeline, out of the broader 14+ GW of solar, storage, and hybrid pipeline,” stated Opderbeck.
In another notable development, Bloom Energy, a company specializing in hydrogen and biogas, has appointed Aaron Hoover as the head of business and corporate development. He will be responsible for cultivating strategic partnerships within the energy ecosystem and spearheading corporate development initiatives, aligning with Bloom’s goal of providing reliable, clean, and cost-effective energy solutions. Hoover brings over 20 years of experience from the energy and finance sectors, most recently serving as Global Co-Head of Energy Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, where he advised major energy and infrastructure firms on strategic transactions and growth initiatives. His extensive knowledge of the energy value chain and history of establishing transformative partnerships will greatly benefit Bloom as it embarks on its next growth phase.
ESS Tech, Inc., known for its innovative iron flow long-duration energy storage systems, has strengthened its executive team by naming Jigish Trivedi as Chief Operating Officer. Trivedi comes with over 30 years of executive experience in scaling operations for technology firms. Previously at Electric Hydrogen, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Global Supply Chain, where he was instrumental in scaling the workforce from 10 to over 350 employees and played a key role in the company achieving “unicorn” status. His prior leadership roles at First Solar and Micron Technology included driving initiatives in operations, product development, and supply chain management.
Lynkwell, a provider of energy infrastructure, has welcomed Frank Kosky as its new Chief Financial Officer. Kosky brings more than 20 years of experience in executive financial leadership, specializing in corporate finance, operational transformation, and strategic growth. In his role as CFO, he will be responsible for developing financial strategies that support Lynkwell’s mission to promote clean energy through dependable and accessible EV charging solutions. Kosky is recognized for his ability to build high-performance finance teams, enhance operational efficiency, and deliver long-term value to stakeholders.
Job Opportunity of the Week
An exciting opportunity has emerged for a visionary Senior Manager in Solar PV Portfolio Management / Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead the strategy and execution of solar energy initiatives throughout North America. This individual will need to possess deep technical knowledge, commercial insight, and hands-on experience with various solar PV technologies and installations, including rooftop, ground-mount, canopy, floating solar, and community solar systems. This role is pivotal and cross-functional, suited for someone passionate about innovation, with a successful track record of managing complex projects and fostering strong industry partnerships.
The selected candidate will be tasked with leading the development and refinement of solar PV offerings across diverse customer segments, while integrating emerging designs like floating PV systems and agrivoltaics into long-term planning. They will need to stay informed about changing federal and state incentives affecting solar PV deployment and have a solid understanding of utility tariffs and net metering policies in North America. Familiarity with favorable U.S. markets for solar PV opportunities, particularly those that benefit from battery energy storage systems (BESS), will be advantageous.
In terms of project development and implementation, the expert will provide guidance on various solar project types, manage feasibility studies, and oversee permitting and interconnection planning. They will work closely with engineering teams to ensure that all designs meet necessary technical, financial, and compliance standards, while integrating solar PV into multi-distributed energy resource (DER) platforms.
The role also includes leading procurement strategies for solar components, managing relationships with equipment manufacturers, and supporting community solar program designs and subscriber management. Collaborating on strategies for integrating solar with battery storage, EV charging, and grid-interactive technologies will also be part of the responsibilities, as well as exploring opportunities for participation in Virtual Power Plants (VPP) and DER monetization.
Moreover, the candidate is expected to provide critical support to sales teams during customer engagements and proposal development, ensuring that complex technical concepts are communicated clearly and effectively to various stakeholders. This position necessitates a blend of technical expertise and strategic insight to create compelling value propositions.
Required Qualifications
Candidates must have 7 to 10 years of experience within the solar PV energy sector, with specific involvement in the design and implementation of various solar projects, community solar development, and vendor management for solar technologies. A strong understanding of utility tariffs, interconnection processes, incentive programs, and grid compliance is essential. Proficiency in solar design and modeling tools is also required, along with the ability to incorporate market considerations into strategic initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Energy Systems, or a related field is preferred, with a master’s degree being a significant advantage. NABCEP certification or other recognized credentials in the solar industry would be beneficial. Experience with municipal utilities, community choice aggregators, or renewable energy projects is a plus, as is familiarity with floating solar technologies and community solar subscriber acquisition strategies. Strong communication, negotiation, and engagement skills are also vital for success in this role.
