Managing Consultant​/Associate Director – Utility & Data Center Flexibility Integration

The Opportunity

impact

ECI helps energy companies/utilities, data center companies, and investors navigate the collision of AI-driven data center growth with grid constraints and the new energy landscape. We combine deep power-sector expertise with strategy consulting to turn complex grid and regulatory challenges into clear plans, business cases, and implementation roadmaps.

We’ve built one of the first comprehensive frameworks ondata center flexibility planning and integration; how large digital loads can curtail or shift to support reliability, cut system costs, and accelerate interconnections. Now we’re hiring a leader to turn that work into scaled impact with utilities and data center operators.

The Opportunity

AI and cloud are driving the biggest wave of data center growth in history, while interconnection timelines in key markets stretch toward a decade. Data center flexibility offers a way out: a small amount of coordinated operation can unlock tens of gigawatts of effective capacity and avoid hundreds of millions in new grid investment.

As Managing Consultant or Associate Director, you will:

• Lead utility and data center clients in designing flexible interconnection strategies and programs.
• Turn our flexibility framework into concrete pilots, tariffs, planning changes, and regulatory filings.
• Help shape how utilities, data centers, regulators, and technology providers coordinate over the next decade.

1. Advise utilities and regulators (≈30%)

• Build and present the business case for data center flexibility: avoided transmission/peaking capacity, faster load growth, and rate impacts.
• Work with strategy, planning, and regulatory teams to define “why” and “where” flexibility makes sense in their system.
• Help structure pilots and programs that align with evolving FERC, ISO/RTO, and state-level reforms.

2. Design flexibility programs and agreements (≈40%)

• Translate parameter “menus” (curtailable MW, event duration, call limits, notification windows, firmness, penalties, compensation) into practical constructs utilities and data centers can actually sign.
• Support changes to interconnection and planning processes so flexible loads can be modeled and approved faster.
• Develop draft tariff language, contract templates, and regulatory support materials for flexible interconnection and conditional firm service.

3. Work with data center operators and technology partners (≈15%)

• Help hyperscalers and developers understand what flexibility utilities need and what’s operationally and commercially feasible on their side.
• Collaborate with partners like Emerald AI and others bringing compute and infrastructure flexibility technologies to market.

4. Build IP and grow the practice (≈15%)

• Co-author thought leadership (Substack series, reports, conference talks) extending our data center flexibility work.
• Create repeatable tools and playbooks (business case models, parameter templates, planning-process maps) for future clients.
• Mentor consultants/associates as we scale a focused “utility × data center flexibility” practice.

What Success Looks Like (First 12–18 Months)

• 2–4 utility or grid-operator engagements launched on flexibility strategy, planning reform, or pilots.
• One or more flexible interconnection or conditional firm service constructs designed and on a regulatory path.
• Recognized by clients and industry peers as a go‑to voice on utility/data center flexibility integration.

Must‑have experience

• 5+ years total, with meaningful time in some combination of:
• Utility strategy, resource planning, interconnection, or demand-side management.
• Power & utilities consulting, energy transition advisory, or grid-focused think tank work.
• Large-load or data center power strategy is a plus.
• Comfortable engaging with VP/C‑suite at utilities and with technical/planning teams in the same week.
• Strong quantitative and conceptual skills: able to frame system value, capex deferral, and rate impacts in clear business terms.

Skills and traits

• Strategic storyteller: can connect grid constraints, regulatory trends, and data center growth into a coherent narrative and path forward.
• Systems thinker: understands how tariffs, planning…