Associate Director, Power Market Analysis

As the Associate Director of Power Market Analysis, you will be charged with enhancing, elevating, and driving our in-house power market analysis and power price forecasting capabilities. This role is more than running analyses; it is about shaping the future of our projects by leveraging historical pricing data to inform future strategies, which may include scenarios where limited information is available. You will have the opportunity to implement industry software tools, hire and mentor a team of analysts, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure our analyses are robust, accurate, and actionable. 

As the driving force behind our market analysis efforts, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of Scout's greenfield projects and acquisitions. Your expertise in electric generation cost modeling, stochastic dispatch analysis, and transmission congestion assessment will be instrumental in providing insights that drive key decisions across our greenfielding, commercial, M&A, financing, and asset management teams. By implementing industry-leading software and ensuring our team stays at the forefront of technological advancements, you will empower us to forecast market trends with accuracy and efficiency. You will report to the Chief Commercial Officer.  

You will launch this group as a manager-doer and will build out the team in the coming years as our company’s growth dictates. Your prior experience building and/or leading a team, in addition to the ability to delegate effectively once internal staff are in place, will serve as an important factor in your success in this role. 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Direct and/or conduct analysis of locational marginal price (LMP) risk in ISO/RTO markets: 

• Use/improve existing tools to conduct historical pricing analysis that informs project location, pricing strategy, and due diligence for M&A. Optimize the amount, quality, and level of data used to produce results. 
• Over time, you will develop and implement a tool to forecast future covariance and basis risk. 

2. Work closely with third-party consultants and internal teams to analyze power flow price forecast studies based on the dynamics of the electricity marketplace influenced by the effects of transmission congestion, fuel costs, generator availability, bidding behaviors, and load growth on the system.  

• Optimize the design of each study to reflect the project-specific context. 
• Validate and challenge 3rd party assumptions to ensure the accuracy of the study results. 
• Support the design of contract solutions to address the risks identified in forward-looking analysis reports. 

3. Provide expert insights on the trends in ISO/RTOs and other regions that are influencing power pricing and project development.  

• Enhance Scout’s understanding of capacity markets in ISO/RTO regions to support offtake RFP response. 
• Support greenfielding and acquisition due diligence efforts by prioritizing markets based on pricing and other market factors. 

• Provide insight into abnormal congestion values near operating assets to inform our day-ahead and real-time trading efforts. 

4. Develop and/or select tools that will enhance Scout’s ability to conduct in-house power market price analysis over time and then use or direct the use of those tools 

• Consider appropriate software options, make a business case for using them or continuing to use consultants to use them, and maximize the value of the approved approach within Scout. 
• Use relevant tools that are used by transmission consultants in order to conduct the analysis in house (e.g., mainly PROMOD, also consider EnCompass, Probe LT) 
• Open to exploring and implementing new technologies and methodologies to enhance forecasting accuracy and efficiency. 

5. Develop a Scout-specific view of LMP, congestion, and basis in power markets to shape project development and financial results, and to inform our response to counterparties with different views. 

6. Over time, develop the capability to support day-ahead and real-time trading for our operating assets. Develop the capability to provide forecasts on the order of one year to inform internal budgeting. 

Requirements

Our ideal candidate possesses a balanced blend of technical and commercial skills, a proactive and analytical mindset, a collaborative approach, and an openness to exploring new technologies and methodologies to enhance forecasting accuracy and efficiency. You will be a forward-thinking individual who can anticipate market shifts and proactively advise on strategic decisions. 

More specifically, we anticipate that you will have the following experience and work style: 

• Bachelor’s degree in in Economics,