Commercial Manager

Commercial Manager / Senior Commercial Manager

Location: Calgary, Alberta

About the Opportunity

Our client is a Canadian renewable energy company focused on developing wind, solar, and energy storage projects to deliver clean, cost-effective power across Canada. Backed by strong institutional investment partners, the organization is well-positioned for continued growth and expansion in the Canadian renewable energy market.

We are seeking a Commercial Manager / Senior Commercial Manager to help grow a renewable energy portfolio across Canada. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead commercial and business development strategy, analysis, and execution, evaluating and negotiating investment opportunities from early-stage development through construction and operations.

Working closely with senior leadership and investment partners, you will develop business cases and financial analyses to support RFP submissions and acquisitions, helping deliver profitable projects that meet key financial metrics.

You will join a small, collaborative team in a fast-paced renewable energy company with a start-up culture. The organization values ownership, accountability, problem-solving, teamwork, and continuous improvement. If you take initiative and manage work independently with exceptional attention to detail, this could be the right role for you.

The preferred candidate has 5–10 years of experience leading commercial activities for contracted and merchant renewable energy projects across Canada for an independent power producer (IPP), or experience within an investment bank, pension fund manager, or private equity firm developing renewable energy business cases, managing platform companies, and/or leading acquisitions.

Key Responsibilities

Project Acquisitions, Greenfield Development & Indigenous Equity Partnerships

• Evaluate renewable energy project acquisition opportunities and manage internal resources to conduct due diligence and financial analysis for multiple projects in parallel.
• Lead or support negotiations with external parties for project acquisitions at various stages of development.
• Support the strategy for greenfield development of utility-scale wind, solar, and storage assets across multiple provincial markets by providing commercial guidance to the project development team.
• Lead or contribute to the negotiation of Indigenous equity partnerships with Indigenous communities on wind, solar, and BESS projects.

RFP / PPA Bid Strategy and Preparation

• Develop strategies and supporting analysis for procurements in target Canadian electricity markets, including tracking provincial solicitations, analyzing RFP and PPA technical and financial requirements, tracking awarded contracts and competition for past and future solicitations, collecting and analyzing strategic data to support competitive analyses, and preparing summary presentations for senior management.
• Working closely with the project development team and investment partners, manage the commercial and financial preparation and evaluation of bids for provincial utility-led Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and other bids, auctions, and procurement solicitations.
• Collaborate with financial analysts and investment teams to build project pro forma models that incorporate all commercial aspects of RFPs and PPAs.
• Lead bid strategy assessments, including analyzing provincial requirements, needs, commitments, and competition through qualitative and quantitative analyses, defining bid strategies, and providing recommendations.
• Evaluate new opportunities for future provincial procurements and assess RFP and contract risks, including between active bid periods.
• Prepare responses to PPA RFPs and negotiate new PPAs with commercial and industrial customers for upcoming projects.
• Provide guidance on structuring long- and short-term PPAs, manage basis risk, and deploy hedging strategies.
• Work with legal, finance, and accounting teams to establish project-specific entities that meet RFP requirements, internal investment requirements, and joint venture requirements with Indigenous communities.

Bid Governance

• Prepare and manage reporting materials, legal reviews, peer-review materials, and senior management updates.
• Prepare for and address post-bid requests, including responding to clarification requests and questions, preparing additional materials, and supporting additional management and shareholder approvals.
• Coordinate with finance teams to prepare RFP bid security deposits, performance security deposits, Letters of Credit, and RFP submission fees.
• Prepare post-award requirements, including documenting bid commitments, award requirements, and other applicable requirements to support the transition to the project team.

Monthly Steering Committee and Annual Board Analysis and Reporting

• Work closely with the Managing Director and leadership team to prepare monthly steering committee presentations, annual and semi-annual board presentations, and project-specific acquisition analyses for investment stakeholders.
• Prepare business cases, acquisition recommendations, and project financial analyses to support strategic decision-making.

Electricity Market Outlook

• Conduct market research and gather competitive intelligence, including coordinating with the project development team to produce competitive analyses and other reporting materials.
• Continuously monitor and analyze Canadian renewable energy market trends, development conditions, and emerging opportunities.
• Provide updates to senior management on the structure and evolution of key Canadian provincial electricity markets, particularly in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, as well as provincial renewable energy procurements and policy drivers.
• Monitor, manage, and report on key policy and regulatory developments that impact project economics through industry associations such as the Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
• Develop deep industry knowledge and professional relationships, with a focus on understanding the competitive landscape to effectively develop commercial strategy and execution plans.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in business, finance, economics, engineering, or a related field. An MBA or CFA is considered an asset.
• 5–10+ years of power origination/marketing experience, renewable energy business development, and/or energy evaluation experience with a utility-scale renewable energy independent power producer, investment bank, pension fund manager, or private equity firm.
• Experience with renewable energy project RFP submissions is considered an asset.
• Experience originating and negotiating renewable energy PPAs within the past five years.
• A proven track record of originating and executing wind, solar, and energy storage investment opportunities.
• Excellent negotiation and deal-structuring skills.
• Knowledge of wholesale electricity markets and corporate/commercial bilateral power contracts, and an understanding of common PPA structures and hedging strategies.
• An understanding of Alberta and/or Ontario electricity markets is required.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct due diligence and financial analysis of wind, solar, and BESS projects.
• A strong background or previous experience in financial analysis, including project pro forma development and analysis.
• Demonstrated skills in financial modeling, including financial sensitivity and scenario worksheets.
• Experience managing financial analysts to develop project-specific pro formas that meet external and internal requirements and run sensitivity analyses is considered an asset.
• Excellent business case preparation experience, including the development of complex, detailed PowerPoint presentations.
• Experience preparing and presenting investment business cases to investment banks and private equity firms is considered a strong asset.
• Strong network of industry relationships in the Canadian renewable energy space.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to take initiative and manage work independently, with strong business development acumen and exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively and collaboratively within a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to summarize complex issues and identify opportunities, risks, and next steps.
• Ability to manage simultaneous projects and workstreams with different deadlines, establish priorities, and exercise independent judgment.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple concurrent efforts, track progress, and provide high-quality deliverables accurately and on time.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as SharePoint, Teams, and other relevant office management tools.

Additional Information

• Location: Calgary, Alberta
• Position Title: Commercial Manager or Senior Commercial Manager, depending on the successful candidate's level of experience.
• Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Managing Director.
• Travel: Occasional travel required (approximately 5–10%).
• Work Authorization: Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
• Language: Fluency in English is required.

Our Client's Values

Mission-Oriented: High achievers who want to make a difference in the energy transition.

Teamwork: Respectful and appreciative colleagues with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to fostering positive relationships across organizational boundaries to deliver on shared team goals.

Safety: Uncompromising advocates for the health and safety of fellow employees, contractors, customers, and community members.

Integrity: Ethical professionals who do the right thing even when it is difficult.

Initiative: Resourceful self-motivators who thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment because of their exceptional leadership, work ethic, and organizational skills.

Intelligence: Problem-solving learners who can make informed decisions quickly and create innovative solutions to challenging problems.

Apply Today

If you don't meet 100% of the qualifications but believe you can make a meaningful contribution, we encourage you to apply.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in this opportunity.