Managing Director Investment Banking

Renewables and Clean Energy Investment Banking | US, Location Flexible | Confidential Search

Our client is a leading Clean Energy Finance platform. Backed by institutional capital, it advises developers, sponsors and corporates on transactions, and invests alongside them. It is now building a dedicated M&A advisory practice, and this is the hire that will lead it.

This is a mandate to build and lead an M&A function from the ground up. It is not a deal-execution seat within an existing team. You will define the firm's M&A advisory practice and lead its most significant client mandates as clients navigate consolidation and capital formation across the renewables landscape.

The role is origination-led. You will spend your time with clients and prospects: developing relationships, carrying ideas into the market, and converting them into mandates. Supported by an AI-native dedicated execution team, that owns financial modelling, teasers, information memoranda and process management under your direction. Our client is looking for a senior originator.

The near-term aperture is mid-market: independent power producers, solar, battery storage and advanced manufacturing. The practice is renewables-focused.

• Originate. Build and work a proprietary pipeline across corporate executives, boards, developers, IPPs and financial sponsors, and convert relationships into advisory mandates
• Carry ideas to clients rather than respond to processes, using the firm's market insight and its ability to bring capital as well as advice
• Own the M&A advisory strategy, including where M&A creates value for clients, which segments to focus on, and the thesis to win them
• Serve as senior relationship owner from initial engagement through close, leading negotiations, management presentations and board-level discussions
• Direct the execution pod's work across live mandates, setting standards for deal process, transaction materials and risk management without owning the production yourself
• Use the firm's own tooling to put specific, modelled proposals in front of clients faster than a bank can, and shape what gets built next for the advisory practice
• Provide independent counsel on valuation, deal structuring and capital allocation, and give final senior review before materials or terms go to counter parties
• Partner closely with the firm's coverage, capital markets, legal and finance teams so M&A activity is integrated with the wider business
• Grow the team as the pipeline justifies it, with support from the firm on structure, hiring and day-to-day team management
• Represent the firm externally and contribute to its published reports

• 20+ years in investment banking or M&A advisory, at an energy-focused boutique or a larger institution, with deep, direct coverage of renewables and clean energy
• A demonstrated record of winning mandates through idea generation and client advisory rather than balance sheet commitment
• An established network among corporate decision-makers and financial sponsors in renewals, with relationships that could translate into near-term pipeline
• A genuine appetite for new technology in deal work. Our client runs its advisory practice on proprietary tooling, including AI applied to deal production. This role is not a fit for someone settled in a fixed way of producing models, teasers and information memoranda. Curiosity here is a requirement, not a nice to have
• A proven track record of independently leading complex transactions to close, whether sell-side, buy-side, joint venture or otherwise, including senior-level negotiation and board-level presentation
• A strong interest in building a practice from the ground up, and comfort operating with less structure than a bank or large platform provides
• Experience leading deal teams, and a willingness to develop the people around you. Our client will build structure around the right originator, so a long record of formal people management is welcome but not a prerequisite
• Strong commercial drive combined with a collaborative, team-oriented style. This is a high-ownership environment, not a traditional bulge-bracket floor
• Sound judgment on financial, legal and reputational risk, and the ability to make senior decisions independently under time pressure
• Strong conviction about the clean energy transition
• FINRA SIE, Series 79 and Series 63 required, or a willingness to obtain them under the firm's broker-dealer sponsorship

• Above-market cash…