Application Guide
How to Apply for Director of Utility Partnerships (Remote, US)
at Renew Home
🏢 About Renew Home
Renew Home is building the largest sustainable virtual power plant on the grid by aggregating residential flexible loads like smart thermostats and water heaters. Their mission to decarbonize the grid while empowering homeowners makes them a unique player in the energy transition.
About This Role
As Director of Utility Partnerships, you'll own the full sales cycle for complex, multi-million dollar deals with utilities, translating grid challenges into virtual power plant opportunities. This role is impactful because you'll directly accelerate the adoption of distributed energy resources and help utilities meet reliability and decarbonization goals.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a call with a utility VP to discuss a pilot program, followed by internal strategy to prioritize pipeline opportunities. Afternoon could involve negotiating contract terms with legal teams and preparing a presentation for an industry conference.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Renew Home Is Looking For
- 10+ years of enterprise sales or partnerships in energy, with a proven track record of closing multi-million dollar deals with utilities.
- Deep knowledge of demand-side management, DERs, and virtual power plants, including technical and regulatory nuances.
- Self-starter who can navigate ambiguity and build pipeline from scratch in a fast-moving startup environment.
- Strong executive presence and ability to establish trusted relationships with C-suite utility leaders.
📝 Tips for Applying to Renew Home
Highlight specific deals you've closed with utilities, including deal size, timeline, and the value proposition (e.g., demand response or VPP).
Show your understanding of Renew Home's technology (e.g., OhmConnect, Google Nest integration) and how it compares to competitors.
Tailor your resume to emphasize experience with grid-facing solutions like DER aggregation or demand response programs.
Include examples of how you've translated complex grid challenges into business opportunities for utilities.
Mention any experience with utility regulatory processes or state energy policies (e.g., CAISO, ERCOT, NYISO).
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your passion for the energy transition and how Renew Home's model uniquely scales residential flexibility.", 'Concrete examples of closing utility partnerships and navigating complex sales cycles.', 'Your ability to build pipeline and identify whitespace in utility markets.', 'Understanding of the value of virtual power plants for grid reliability and decarbonization.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review Renew Home's recent press releases, especially any new utility partnerships or program launches.
- → Understand the company's technology stack: how OhmConnect, Google Nest, and other devices integrate into their VPP.
- → Study the utility market landscape: which utilities are leading in demand response and VPP programs (e.g., PG&E, Con Edison, etc.).
- → Familiarize yourself with FERC Order 2222 and state-level policies enabling DER aggregation.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing too much on residential solar or EV sales instead of grid-facing solutions like demand response.
- Not showing specific knowledge of the utility sales cycle, including regulatory and procurement timelines.
- Being too generic about energy experience—this role requires deep utility and VPP expertise.
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!