Director, Origination

Position Summary

The Director, Origination will lead the identification, evaluation, and execution of new business opportunities in the energy sector, with a focus on natural gas generation, carbon capture, and renewable energy. This role requires a proven leader with deep expertise in origination and contracting, project development, financial modeling, and strategic partnership building. The Director will drive growth by sourcing and closing high-value deals, advising financing and tax strategies, and fostering strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Job Functions

- Originate long-term offtake contracts for renewable energy and sustainable technology projects with an emphasis on combined cycle with carbon capture projects. Origination duties may also include solar, battery storage, and unmitigated thermal generation projects.

- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of new business opportunities and strategic partnerships.

- Lead all aspects of the transaction cycle: origination, risk analysis, financial modeling, due diligence, negotiation, and closing.

- Serve as a subject matter expert on tax credits, tax equity financing vehicles, and project finance.

- Analyze broader market fundamentals including policy drivers, financial incentives, business strategies, and industry trends

- Lead, coach, and mentor cross-functional teams, including junior staff and technical experts.

- Understand and communicate the competitive landscape to management. This includes competing products and companies, incentive opportunities, and potential new business opportunities.

- Negotiate contracts with third-parties, such as utilities and large commercial energy users, in collaboration with other functions across the organization.

- Attend industry events to represent Tenaska and enhance or initiate customer relationships.

- Create and sustain key customer relationships including material in person meetings and connections, and consistent outreach to customers to share our most recent offerings and project status

- Dependable, reliable, and predictable attendance is required.

Basic Requirements

- Undergraduate or graduate degree in Engineering, Business (Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Economics), or a related field, or equivalent work experience

- Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in energy, renewables, or related sectors

- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills

- Thorough understanding of power purchase agreements or thorough understanding of CO2 transportation and sequestration agreements

Preferred Requirements

- Fifteen or more years’ experience in electric power and related sectors

- Broad network of contacts within the industries commonly associated with carbon sequestration, particularly megacap technology companies, but also gas, electric, oil refining, ethanol production, chemicals, etc.

- Strong sales, organizational, networking, leadership, negotiating, and time management skills

- Financial acumen and ability to understand complex financial models

- Ability to build and maintain relationships with team members, internal customers, and external parties

- Capable of participating in and leading discussions with senior-level management

- Able to manage projects with limited guidance

- Openness to change and ability to adapt to rapidly changing markets, policies, and business directions

- Demonstrated ability to perform under significant time and pressure conditions

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills

- Detail-oriented, analytical mindset, and questioning attitude

- Proactive approach toward identifying and solving problems

- Strong work ethic, team attitude, and willingness to work extended hours and travel up to 50%

- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, including MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Benefits

At Tenaska we care about the wellbeing of our employees and their families. That’s why we offer our employees a comprehensive benefit package. Benefits included below:

- Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance

- Excellent 401(k) plan

- Incentive-based, competitive salary packages

- Health/dependent care flex accounts

- Tuition assistance

- Long-term disability coverage

- Adoption benefits

- Employee assistance program

- Paid vacations and holidays

- Generous sick leave

- Charitable giving program

- Paid maternity/paternity leave

- Wellness programs

Tenaska is an equal opportunity employer.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. The Company is not able to take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time for this position or commit to doing so in the future for individuals with current authorization to work via, for example, CPT or OPT, and would need sponsorship in the future.