Application Guide

How to Apply for Chief of Staff

at Avantus

🏢 About Avantus

Avantus is a leader in utility-scale solar and storage solutions, uniquely positioned at the intersection of renewable energy innovation and infrastructure investment. The company's partnership with major investors like KKR/EIG provides both financial backing and strategic influence in the competitive U.S. power market. Working here offers the opportunity to directly impact America's transition to zero-emission energy while operating within a sophisticated investment-backed structure.

About This Role

This Chief of Staff role serves as the strategic right hand to the CEO and executive team, specifically focused on driving Avantus's 5-year business plan and annual operating plan execution. You'll be the central orchestrator for high-stakes meetings with the Investment Committee, Board, and Operations Committee while ensuring cross-functional alignment across the organization. The position directly influences how Avantus scales its solar and storage projects while maintaining investor confidence.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your morning might involve reviewing materials for the upcoming Operations Committee meeting while coordinating with department heads on their quarterly execution updates. Afternoon could include a strategy session with the CEO about the 5-year business plan refresh, followed by preparing briefing documents for the KKR/EIG Board meeting. You'll likely end the day tracking follow-up actions from various committees and ensuring cross-functional workplans remain on schedule.

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🎯 Who Avantus Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of experience directly supporting C-suite executives or boards, ideally from management consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain) or corporate strategy roles in energy/infrastructure
  • Possesses 3+ years of specific knowledge about U.S. power markets, PPA structures, and utility-scale solar development economics
  • Demonstrates exceptional project management skills with experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives under tight deadlines
  • Combines strategic thinking with meticulous attention to detail, able to both develop high-level plans and ensure flawless execution of Board materials

📝 Tips for Applying to Avantus

1

Quantify your experience with Board materials preparation - specify how many Board decks you've created, for what size companies, and what feedback you received

2

Highlight specific knowledge of California/San Diego energy markets and regulatory environment given the location

3

Demonstrate understanding of KKR/EIG's investment approach by referencing their recent infrastructure investments in renewable energy

4

Show examples of how you've managed cross-functional workplans for annual planning cycles in previous roles

5

Include metrics around meeting efficiency or process improvements you've implemented for executive committees

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience bridging strategic planning with operational execution in renewable energy or infrastructure', 'Specific examples of managing Board relationships and preparing materials for investment committees', "How you've driven annual planning processes that required input from multiple departments", 'Your understanding of utility-scale solar economics and U.S. power market dynamics']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → KKR's Global Infrastructure Fund portfolio and their specific investments in renewable energy
  • → Avantus's current project pipeline and recent announcements about solar+storage developments
  • → California's SB 100 clean energy mandate and its implications for utility-scale solar
  • → EIG's investment thesis for energy infrastructure and their partnership approach with portfolio companies

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would prepare materials for the Quarterly Execution Review with the KKR/EIG Board
2 Describe your approach to managing conflicting priorities between the Annual Operating Plan and 5-year Business Plan refresh
3 How would you ensure cross-functional alignment when developing workplans for solar project execution?
4 What metrics would you track to demonstrate value creation to the Investment Committee?
5 How do you stay current on California's renewable energy policies and their impact on utility-scale solar development?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic application materials that don't reference Avantus's specific solar+storage focus or investor-backed structure
  • Overemphasis on administrative support rather than strategic partnership with the CEO
  • Lack of specific examples demonstrating experience with Board materials or investment committee processes

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

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Good luck with your application to Avantus!

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