Director, Operations

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Salary Range: $190,000 - $210,000 plus bonus and incentive stock options

Reports to: Chief of Staff

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

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Director, Operations will play a critical role in ensuring the efficient and reliable operation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This individual is responsible for overseeing various aspects of BESS operations, maintaining communication with stakeholders, and optimizing system performance. The individual in this position must possess a deep understanding of control systems, technical specifications, vendor requirements, and industry standards to successfully manage BESS operations and contribute to the company's overall success. Initially this will be an individual contributor position but the expectation is that this person will build a high impact team of Operations professionals.

Roles and responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the BESS, ensuring optimal performance and adherence to safety protocols.
• Monitor and control BESS operation through comprehensive understanding of control systems, technical specifications, and requirements provided by the BESS vendor.
• Collaborate with technical teams to troubleshoot and resolve any operational issues promptly.
• Familiarize themselves with the contracts between the company and customers (e.g., Con Edison), ensuring that operational requirements are met as stipulated in the agreements.
• Coordinate with legal and business development teams to address any contractual obligations related to BESS operation.
• Build and manage a Network Operations Center (NOC) that serves as the central hub for monitoring and controlling BESS operations in real-time.
• Develop NOC protocols, procedures, and staffing plans to ensure continuous monitoring and response capabilities.
• Gather operational data from various sources, including control systems, sensors, and monitoring equipment.
• Analyze performance metrics, trends, and anomalies to identify optimization opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Prepare regular reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, highlighting system performance and key operational insights.
• Foster strong relationships with BESS vendors, control system providers, and other relevant partners to ensure seamless communication and collaboration.
• Coordinate with vendors to implement software updates, enhancements, and improvements to optimize BESS performance.
• Stay up-to-date with industry regulations and standards related to energy storage and ensure BESS operations comply with all relevant safety guidelines and requirements.
• Work closely with product, engineering and technical teams to identify opportunities for improving the efficiency and performance of the BESS.
• Collaborate on the implementation of advanced control strategies and energy management techniques.
• Develop and maintain emergency response plans to handle critical situations, including power outages, equipment failures, or other unforeseen events.
• Coordinate with internal teams, external partners, and authorities to ensure swift and   effective responses during emergencies.
• Support the Preventive Maintenance Process and other ongoing work necessary to ensure sites remain operational

Competencies for Success

• Problem Solving - Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; conducts excellent and honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn’t stop at the first answer.
• Interpersonal Savvy - Able to relate well to all individuals within and beyond the organization; builds appropriate rapport along with constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact.
• Perseverance - Pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish; seldom gives up before finishing, especially in the face of resistance or setbacks.
• Dealing With Ambiguity - Can effectively cope with change and shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture.
• Creativity - Capable of coming up with new and unique ideas; easily makes connections among previously unrelated notions.
• Technical Learning - Picks up on technical things quickly, capable of learning new skills and knowledge, good at learning new industry, company, product, or technical knowledge.
• Intellectual Horsepower - Demonstrated ability to deal with concepts and complexity comfortably; described as intellectually sharp, capable, and agile.
• Developing Direct Reports and Others - Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.
• Building Effective Teams - Creates strong morale and spirit in his/her/their team; shares wins and successes; fosters open dialogue; lets people finish and be responsible for their work; creates a feeling of belonging in the team.
• Innovation Management -  Is good at bringing the creative ideas of others to market; has good judgment about which creative ideas and suggestions will work; has a sense about managing the creative process of others; can project how potential ideas may play out in the real world.
• Planning - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets objectives and goals; breaks down work into the process steps; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; measures performance against goals; evaluates results.
• Drive for Results - Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
• Strategic Agility - Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future-oriented; can articulate and paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
• Managing Through Systems - Can design practices, processes, and procedures that allow managing from a distance; is comfortable letting things manage themselves without intervening; can make things work through others without being there; can impact people and results remotely.
• Managing Vision and Purpose - Communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; talks beyond today; talks about possibilities; is optimistic; creates mileposts and symbols to rally support behind the vision; makes the vision shareable by everyone; can inspire and motivate entire units or organizations.

Required education and experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree is a plus.
• Extensive experience in the renewable energy industry; a focus on battery energy storage systems is strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of proven operations management skills, including planning, scheduling, budgeting.
• In-depth understanding of battery technologies, energy storage systems, power electronics, control systems, and grid integration is crucial.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Proven knowledge of various battery chemistries (e.g., lithium-ion, flow batteries) and their applications are also beneficial.
• Proven experience in EPC contract negotiations and management.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines.

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

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and committed to leveraging the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experience of our workforce to create opportunities for our colleagues and our business. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender expression, gender identity, sex, age, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran and military status, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status of an individual or that individual’s associates or relatives that is protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Covid 19 Protocol

NineDot continues to monitor local COVID-19 protocols mandated by state and federal governments. For those who will be joining events in person, you may be required to test before meetings.