Interconnection & Transmission Regulatory Manager

Job description

At **AKS**, we are growing and building for the future. We bring together multidisciplined experts across the land development, energy, and infrastructure markets to take on bigger challenges and deliver solutions that make a real difference. Our teams combine creativity, technical excellence, and a collaborative, hands-on approach to solve complex problems and deliver results our clients and communities can count on. We take pride in our work and our ability to provide opportunities for our teams, support each other’s growth, and look ahead to what’s next. When you join AKS, you will find opportunities to take ownership of meaningful projects, learn, lead, and make an impact from day one. We're looking for an **Interconnection & Transmission Regulatory Manager** to support a growing portfolio of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Puerto Rico. This role will lead interconnection strategy, transmission planning coordination, and regulatory engagement across multiple projects, working directly with utilities, regulators, engineering teams, and project stakeholders. This is an opportunity for an experienced power systems professional who understands the technical side of grid interconnection and can navigate complex utility and regulatory processes to keep projects moving forward. The ideal candidate brings hands-on interconnection experience, strong stakeholder management skills, and fluency in both Spanish and English. ## What You’ll Do - **Lead Interconnection Strategy:** Manage the interconnection process across a portfolio of utility-scale solar and BESS projects, from initial applications and feasibility assessments through system studies, interconnection agreements, and commissioning. - **Manage Utility Relationships:** Serve as a primary point of contact with LUMA Energy, PREPA, and other relevant utility stakeholders. Coordinate technical discussions, resolve outstanding issues, and keep interconnection activities moving forward. - **Review Technical Studies:** Evaluate scoping studies, system impact studies, facilities studies, and other interconnection deliverables for technical accuracy, cost reasonableness, and alignment with project requirements. - **Coordinate Transmission Planning:** Assess transmission constraints, required network upgrades, interconnection costs, queue positions, and schedule risks. Evaluate transmission service options and their potential impact on project economics and delivery. - **Manage Interconnection Agreements:** Coordinate the negotiation and administration of interconnection agreements with support from legal counsel. Track key milestones, security requirements, upgrade costs, and commercial operation obligations. - **Support Regulatory Engagement:** Monitor Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) proceedings, utility tariff filings, regulatory requirements, and grid modernization initiatives. Coordinate with external legal and regulatory advisors as needed. - **Coordinate Technical Requirements:** Work with utilities, EPC contractors, and engineering consultants to address protection and control, metering, SCADA, telemetry, and other grid interconnection requirements. - **Support Project Development:** Provide early-stage interconnection assessments, preliminary upgrade cost estimates, feasibility input, and schedule considerations to support project siting, development, and investment decisions. - **Manage Project Reporting:** Maintain interconnection trackers, monitor critical milestones, identify potential risks, and communicate project status and recommendations to leadership and other stakeholders. - **Collaborate Across Teams:** Work closely with development, engineering, construction, legal, and finance teams to align technical requirements, manage risks, and advance projects through development and execution. - **Build Stakeholder Relationships:** Represent the project owner in utility meetings, technical working groups, stakeholder discussions, and regulatory workshops related to interconnection and transmission access. ## Who You Are - Fluent in both Spanish and English, with the ability to lead technical discussions, negotiate issues, and communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking stakeholders. - You have a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related technical field. - 7+ years of experience in electric utility interconnection, transmission planning, power systems engineering, or energy regulatory affairs. - Hands-on experience managing interconnection for utility-scale generation projects, preferably solar PV and battery energy storage systems. - Strong understanding of power systems fundamentals, including power flow, short-circuit analysis, dynamic stability, transmission constraints, and protection and control. - Experience reviewing interconnection studies, evaluating network upgrades, and managing or negotiating interconnection agreements. - Strong understand transmission planning processes, utility requirements, interconnection procedures, and applicable regulatory frameworks. - You can navigate complex technical issues and translate findings into practical recommendations for project leadership and other nontechnical stakeholders. - Experience coordinating across utilities, engineering consultants, EPC contractors, legal counsel, and project development teams. - You are organized and analytical, with the ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and critical deadlines. - You communicate clearly, build strong stakeholder relationships, and take ownership of moving projects forward. - Comfortable working remotely while traveling to Puerto Rico for meetings, site visits, and regulatory or utility engagements as needed. ## Nice to Have - Direct experience working with LUMA Energy, PREPA (AEE), or the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB). - Experience navigating Puerto Rico's transmission infrastructure, utility interconnection processes, and local energy regulatory environment. - Experience with utility-scale solar PV and BESS projects involving system impact studies, dynamic modeling, transmission upgrades, and interconnection agreements. - Background working for an independent power producer, renewable energy developer, electric utility, engineering consultancy, or other organization managing generation interconnection. - Familiarity with NERC reliability standards, transmission tariffs, FERC policies where applicable, and other relevant grid reliability requirements. - Experience with transmission service requests, generation-tie facilities, and interconnection queue management. - A Professional Engineer (PE) license or advanced degree in electrical engineering or a related field. - Experience supporting project finance, development strategy, or investment decisions through interconnection cost, schedule, and risk assessments. - A professional network within Puerto Rico's energy and utility sector. ## Why AKS? At AKS, we believe your work should support your life, not the other way around. Here's what you can count on when you join our team: - **Meaningful Growth:** Whether you're just starting out or looking to advance, we offer hands-on training, mentorship, and clear paths for professional development so you can grow with purpose. - **Real Collaboration:** Join a team that brings diverse perspectives together to solve complex challenges with creativity, curiosity, and a shared commitment to quality. - **Respect for Your Time:** We value work-life balance and offer generous PTO and a supportive environment that helps you manage both personal and professional responsibilities. - **Benefits That Care:** You’ll have access to health coverage that supports your total well-being, plus a 401(k) match, paid holidays, and more resources to help you thrive. - **Weekly Team Lunches:** Take a break and recharge with your teammates, we believe food brings people together. - **Culture That Connects:** We invest in experiences that build strong teams and strong communities. - **A Place People Love to Work:** We’ve been named one of the Top Workplaces year after year. **Join us and be part of a team that values your contributions, celebrates initiative, and is committed to doing things the right way for our employees, clients, and communities.**