
Principal, Acquisitions
Generate · New York, NY
- On site
- Full-time
- $262,500 / year
- New York, NY
Job highlights
- Lead energy infrastructure investments for data centers.
- Originate and execute investment opportunities.
- Develop market insights for best developers.
- Scale data center energy platform initiatives.
- Underwrite customer energy needs and strategies.
About the role
Principal, Acquisitions
Generate Capital is seeking an entrepreneurial and driven investor with impeccable values, standard-setting empathy, and a high-speed mental clock. You are dedicated to making everyone around you better every day and committed to finding, structuring, and closing the best energy investments that deliver power to large load customers, including data centers. You are passionate about partnering with leading companies and other professionals to prove that sustainability can achieve market-leading returns, and your good judgment has been a key to your successes.
What you will be doing at Generate Capital as the Principal, Acquisitions:
- Originating energy infrastructure investment opportunities focused on powering data centers and new large loads, including behind-the-meter baseload solutions and pairing of renewables / BESS with customer load.
- Owning underwriting and investment execution for large load customer energy assets, including both third-party and Generate-developed opportunities, from initial diligence through investment committee and closing.
- Developing a differentiated market perspective by conducting market research to identify best-in-class energy developers and large load customers across priority geographies.
- Helping scale Generate’s in-house data center energy platform, working cross-functionally to translate large load customer energy needs into repeatable, investable infrastructure solutions.
- Building comprehensive coverage of large-load and data center customers as long-term offtakers, developing deep insight into their operational, commercial and credit profiles to support customer-specific credit underwriting and inform investment strategy and origination.
Candidate Qualifications & Core Characteristics
Investment Leadership
- A demonstrated passion for, or commitment to, our mission.
- Minimum 9-10 years of relevant investment experience in energy, renewables and/or digital infrastructure sectors with reputable corporates, developers, private equity or infrastructure funds.
- Deep understanding of power and/or digital infrastructure markets, technologies, and investment risk profiles – including power markets across ISOs; renewable, conventional and behind-the-meter power generation technologies; data center markets, including data center developer and underlying customer markets and objectives.
- Strong executive presence with an ability to build trusted relationships with partners, customers, lenders, service providers, and investors.
- A history of measurable achievements (i.e., track record) as an investor in the power and/or digital sectors, including an ability to generate new investment ideas to produce attractive risk-adjusted returns.
- Knowledge and track record of underwriting and structuring several types of investment, including project/sponsor equity, mezzanine debt, corporate equity, senior debt, tax equity, etc.
Strategy and Executive Team Collaboration
- Comfort with corporate strategy analysis frameworks and data-driven decision-making.
- Proven ability to work within a multifunctional organization that includes investment teams, asset management, legal, human capital, and finance.
- Ability to nimbly move between widely varying functions—analytical to creative; strategy to execution.
- Ability to adjust quickly to evolving technology and market circumstances and comfort with the inevitable uncertainties involved in leading an investment team in a pioneering, entrepreneurial firm.
- Deft communicator: listening, empathizing, and communicating well with a range of audience types, especially customers and partners, and navigating difficult, sometimes acrimonious situations to reach win-win solutions and deep, long-term business relationships.
Personal Attributes
- Established professional relationships in the power/digital infrastructure sectors and proven track record in originating successful investment opportunities.
- Demonstrated ability to guide, mentor, and oversee junior team members, including review of financial models and investment documentation.
- Ability to lead, inspire, and earn trust from others; deliver success, growth, and difficult change when necessary.
- Strong quantitative/analytical skills, knowledge of financial modelling and projection.
- Unimpeachable integrity and glowing references.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, including empathy, intuition, and listening, as well as strong writing, editing, and basic design skills.
- High level of self-awareness and humility, with excitement about confronting uncomfortable situations or new challenges.
- Intellectual agility, curiosity, and creativity; problem-solving is your default mode.
- Entrepreneurial spirit: flexibility, comfort with risk, recognition that “perfect can be the enemy of the good”.
Compensation
Generate’s compensation packages are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Salary decisions take into account a wide variety of factors including, but not limited to: skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, geographic location, and other business and organizational needs. A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is $250,000 - $275,000. In addition, the compensation package may include a discretionary bonus and other benefits, including health care benefits, retirement benefits, benefits permitting paid days off (including sick leave, parental leave, and paid time off or vacation benefits), and other benefits that must be reported for federal tax purposes. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of this range.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Generate Capital is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Key skills/competency
- Investment Banking
- Financial Modeling
- Deal Origination
- Due Diligence
- Energy Infrastructure
- Digital Infrastructure
- Renewable Energy
- Project Finance
- Underwriting
- Data Center Investments
Skills & topics
- Acquisitions Principal
- Investment
- Energy Infrastructure
- Data Centers
- Renewable Energy
- Digital Infrastructure
- Deal Origination
- Underwriting
- Project Finance
- Financial Modeling
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 9-10+ years of energy/digital infrastructure investment experience and a track record of success.
- Showcase leadership: Emphasize executive presence, relationship-building, and mentoring junior team members.
- Demonstrate passion: Clearly articulate your commitment to Generate's mission and sustainable energy.
- Quantify achievements: Provide specific examples of measurable successes in underwriting and deal structuring.
- Network effectively: Leverage established professional relationships in the power/digital infrastructure sectors.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the typical career path for an Acquisitions Principal at Generate Capital?
- While specific paths vary, an Acquisitions Principal at Generate Capital often progresses to more senior investment roles, potentially leading larger teams or new investment initiatives. Your success in originating, structuring, and closing deals, along with your ability to mentor junior staff, will be key factors in career advancement within the firm.
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for a Principal, Acquisitions at Generate Capital?
- Key performance indicators for this role would likely include the number and value of investment opportunities originated and closed, the quality of underwriting and deal structuring, the development of strategic market insights, and the successful scaling of the data center energy platform. Your ability to build and maintain strong relationships with partners and customers will also be critical.
- How does Generate Capital approach sustainability and market-leading returns in its investments?
- Generate Capital is committed to proving that sustainability can achieve market-leading returns. They achieve this by focusing on energy infrastructure investments, particularly for large load customers like data centers, and by partnering with leading companies and professionals. Their approach integrates rigorous financial analysis with a strong belief in the economic viability of sustainable energy solutions.
- What is the expected level of client interaction for an Acquisitions Principal at Generate Capital?
- An Acquisitions Principal can expect significant client interaction. This includes building comprehensive coverage of large-load and data center customers, developing deep insights into their operations, and working to establish them as long-term offtakers. Your role involves developing trusted relationships with customers, partners, and service providers to ensure successful investment outcomes.
- How important is a background in data centers for the Principal, Acquisitions role at Generate Capital?
- A background in data centers is highly important for this Principal, Acquisitions role at Generate Capital. The description explicitly mentions originating opportunities focused on powering data centers and scaling the in-house data center energy platform. Deep understanding of data center markets, developer objectives, and underlying customer needs is crucial for success in this position.