Senior Associate, O&M Cost Strategy and Contracting

What The Role Is

The Senior O&M Cost Strategy and Contracting analyst is responsible for developing, negotiating, and implementing Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Agreements across the company’s renewable energy portfolio. This role ensures that all O&M contracts align with corporate objectives for safety, performance, cost efficiency, and compliance. Additionally, the analyst will be involved in the development of robust cost models, data analytics frameworks, and performance benchmarks to support operational and financial decision-making.

The ideal candidate brings O&M contracting experience, knowledge of renewable energy asset operations (solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems), proven analytical acumen, and strong communication and cross-functional coordination skills to deliver best-in-class operational outcomes for utility-scale assets.

- This hybrid job posting is open to Scottsdale, San Diego, Houston, Denver, and San Francisco offices.

What You'll Be Doing

Contract Development and Negotiations

- Lead the creation, review, and negotiation of O&M Agreements for wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects.

- Collaborate with Legal, Finance, and Operations teams to ensure all agreements reflect risk tolerance, lender requirements, and insurance standards.

- Partner with internal O&M teams, procurement, engineering, asset management, and finance to ensure smooth contract implementation and adherence.

- Benchmark and analyze O&M costs across projects to identify efficiency opportunities and competitive pricing.

- Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and commercial terms, including availability guarantees, liquidated damages, and bonus/penalty structures, in conjunction with other functional teams.

- Translate technical maintenance requirements into clear contractual obligations.

- Ensure alignment between O&M agreements, EPC warranties, and asset performance expectations.

- Identify and mitigate contractual and operational risks across the O&M portfolio.

- Ensure all O&M agreements comply with environmental, safety, and regulatory standards.

- Support asset management as needed with change orders, renewals, and extensions as projects evolve.

- Support M&A and due diligence activities by providing O&M commercial insights and contract summaries.

- Recommend updates to contract templates and commercial strategies based on operational learnings and market evolution.

- Contribute to the development of long-term O&M strategy and technology-specific best practices.

O&M Cost Estimating and Analytics

- Develop and maintain bottom-up cost estimating models for wind, solar, and storage assets across all project phases (greenfield, operating, repower, and M&A).

- Use statistical and forecasting tools to model maintenance spend and equipment risk profiles.

- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (O&M, engineering, procurement, FP&A) to validate O&M cost assumptions.

- Support internal teams (business development, procurement, O&M, capital market, etc.) with data requests, cost breakdowns, and scenario analysis.

- Assist in preparing cost assumptions for annual budgeting and long-range planning processes.

- Analyze historical O&M costs to identify trends, cost drivers, and opportunities for efficiency.

- Develop and enhance Power BI dashboards to connect multiple data streams and visualize key model inputs and outputs.

- Use AI tools to automate routine data processing tasks and extract key commercial data from contracts.

What You'll Bring

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, or other applicable field.

- 5+ years of experience in renewable energy, power generation, or infrastructure.

- Experience with renewables O&M agreements and contracting.

- Understanding of renewable energy plant operations (solar, wind, or BESS).

- Demonstrated experience in an operations support role in the development of creative solutions to operating challenges.

- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across technical, legal, and financial disciplines.

- Strong analytical and project management capabilities; attention to detail and risk awareness.

What Would Be Nice

- Master's degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, or other applicable field.

- Familiarity with Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Agreements (EPCs), and other project contracts.

- Familiarity with renewable project finance and typical counterparty and Independent Engineer requirements

- Familiarity with lifecycle cost analysis and predictive maintenance modeling.

- Advanced Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint skills. Proficiency in data analytics tools (Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or Python).

Clearway will not sponsor non-immigrant visas for this position (H-1B, TN, E-3, etc.).

The pay rate for the successful candidate will depend on geographic location, skills, relevant and demonstrated experience, education, training and certifications, and other factors permitted by law. This role is eligible to earn an annual cash bonus, subject to personal and company performance goals.

Salary Range Across all U.S. Locations

$119,000—$163,000 USD

Clearway Energy Group

is leading the transition to a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., our portfolio comprises approximately 11.6 GW of gross generating capacity in 26 states, including 9.1 GW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage assets, and over 2.5 GW of conventional dispatchable power generation providing critical grid reliability services. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new energy projects for the future, Clearway’s operating fleet generates enough reliable electricity to power more than 3 million homes today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Clearway Energy Group’s vision is a world powered by clean energy. Along with our public affiliate Clearway Energy, Inc., our portfolio comprises approximately 11.8 GW of gross generating capacity in 26 states, including 9.1 GW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage assets, and over 2.8 GW of flexible dispatchable power generation providing critical grid reliability services. As we develop a nationwide pipeline of new energy projects for the future, Clearway’s operating fleet generates enough reliable electricity to power more than 2 million homes today. Clearway Energy Group is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Princeton, and San Diego. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.

Working at Clearway, Hybrid Together

Here at Clearway, we’re committed to balancing flexibility while fostering strong relationships with our teammates. We do this by prioritizing new hires based near one of our offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Scottsdale, Houston, Denver, & Princeton. Our office-based employees typically work together from fabulous spaces on Tuesdays & Thursdays to collaborate & learn, build community, get to know one another, & enjoy company-provided meals & events.

Clearway Energy is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience & expertise. We intentionally foster a culture of inclusion that empowers our employees to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities & protected veterans to join the team. Clearway is a proud promoter of employment opportunities for our Military & Veterans.

What We Provide Clearway offers all eligible employees working 20+ hours per week a comprehensive menu of benefits: generous PTO, medical, dental & vision care, HSAs with company contributions, health FSAs, dependent daycare FSAs, commuter benefits, relocation, & a 401(k) plan with employer match, a variety of life & accident insurances, fertility programs, adoption assistance, generous parental leave, tuition reimbursement, & benefits for employees in same-sex marriages, civil unions & domestic partnerships. For more on Clearway benefits, visit our Benefits Website.

Notice to Applicants

Clearway Energy is strongly committed to a philosophy of equal opportunity and fully complies with equal employment laws, ordinances, and regulations for all applicants and employees. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to apply and compete for employment opportunities for which they are qualified. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@clearwayenergy.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Notice to California Applicants

Clearway Energy is strongly committed to a philosophy of equal opportunity and fully complies with equal employment laws, ordinances and regulations for all applicants and employees.