Vice President, Origination

Vice President, Origination 

Company

Orenda is on a mission to make the grid more efficient with renewable energy projects and proprietary asset management technology. We currently develop, build, own and operate battery energy storage projects in dense urban environments to bridge the gap between renewables and electricity consumption.

We are a dynamic, NYC-based startup at the forefront of a new industry. We are seeking highly motivated and incredibly talented individuals who wish to contribute to our important mission.

Role

Orenda’s Origination division is responsible for all aspects of early-stage greenfield development, including market entry, site control, interconnection engineering and site diligence. Once binary risk has been removed, the fully vetted projects are handed off to Orenda’s Execution division for engineering, procurement and construction.  The departments within the Origination division include Prospecting, Business Development, Origination Engineering, and Origination Project Management.

This senior leadership role will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

What you’ll do

• Team Leadership & Development: Build organizational capacity by leading, mentoring, and scaling a high-performing team of A-players across the Origination departments. Set clear objectives, develop KPIs, and foster a process-oriented culture of independence, accountability, and high performance.
• Strategic Portfolio Leadership: Provide leadership and strategic oversight for all early-stage projects, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and the successful hand-off of quarterly project portfolios, taking full accountability for the site control, interconnection engineering, and site diligence. Ensure the Origination division delivers a consistent volume of de-risked megawatts to the Execution team.

Prospecting - Scalable Site Acquisition: Architect and oversee a systematic site acquisition engine. This includes developing proprietary GIS-based prospecting tools, refining a high-conversion "sales playbook" for closing landowners and ensuring a robust pipeline of qualified leads to drive consistent opportunity.Business Development - Strategic Partnerships & Market Expansion: Drive institutional-level partnerships with REITs, industrial portfolio owners, and public agencies. This role is responsible for negotiating complex master agreements and "programmatic" partnerships that unlock dozens of sites simultaneously, rather than one-off deals.

• Interconnection Engineering Oversight: Direct the strategy for utility interconnection applications. Work closely with the engineering team to interpret data, optimize system sizing against constraints, and support in the management of the technical relationship with the utility/ISO to minimize upgrade costs.
• Rigorous Origination Project Management: Standardize the diligence process, including title, environmental, and zoning reviews. Lead the negotiation of complex site control instruments (Ground Leases, Easements, etc.) to ensure long-term project bankability.
• Cross-Functional Optimization: Act as the primary bridge between Strategy, Origination and Execution. Compile "Lessons Learned" to refine site selection criteria and work plan implementation, ensuring that feedback from the design and construction phases inform the Origination strategy to reduce future "attrition" of projects.
• Continuous Improvement: Compile and analyze lessons learned from the Origination departments into a consolidated quarterly report, identifying key trends and driving actionable recommendations for process and design improvements.

What we are looking for

• Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science, business administration, or a related field. Advanced degrees are a plus.
• Project Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in renewable energy project development, with a focus on business development, engineering, or project management. 
• Leadership Experience: At least 5 years of experience in a direct leadership role, with a proven ability to manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
• NYC Familiarity: Deep familiarity with NYC-specific complexities of land use, FDNY energy storage requirements, and ConEd’s interconnection processes.
• Financial Literacy: Ability to understand project finance models and how origination decisions (lease rates, interconnection costs) impact the Project IRR and long-term asset value.
• Proven ability negotiating and executing ground leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and professional services agreements.  
• Demonstrate experience coordinating and managing external consultants.

• Experience in a high-growth startup environment, demonstrating a high degree of flexibility and a track record of building new processes from the ground up.

• Extremely organized, process-oriented, and capable of leading multiple projects concurrently in a fast-paced environment.
• An ability to translate high-level corporate goals into actionable project plans.
• A deep passion for clean energy and the company's mission.
• A positive and solutions-oriented mindset, strong work ethic, and a sense of humor.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, in-office position requiring work from our headquarters (Brooklyn, NY) five days a week, with regular travel to project sites as needed.

Compensation

Orenda Inc. offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain top talent.

• Base Salary: The anticipated base salary range for this full-time position in New York City is $250,000 - $300,000 per year. The final base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the successful candidate's relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
• Bonus: In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for a significant annual performance-based bonus.
• Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with 3% Employer Match
• LifeTime Fitness corporate membership
• Monthly commuter stipend
• Learning and education stipend
• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy

Orenda Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

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