Advisory Project Lead, US East

Aurora is a dedicated power market analytics and forecasting firm. Our Advisory team runs client-specific projects for developers, power producers, utilities, grid operators, policymakers, and the financial institutions that fund the energy system. The work builds on Aurora’s proprietary market forecasts and dispatch models, and the team works in tandem with the Research team that produces our quarterly forecast reports.

As a Project Lead in our Austin office, you will join as a senior member of our US East Advisory team, reporting to our Head of Advisory. You will lead client engagements end to end, from scoping the question and directing the analysis to forming the recommendations and presenting it to senior client stakeholders. You will also lead and develop project teams across different levels of experience and contribute to the continued growth of Aurora’s US East business, covering PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, and SERC.

This is a role for someone who enjoys combining rigorous quantitative analysis and a passion for the energy industry with the fundamentals of strong consulting: understanding a client’s problem, structuring an effective approach, leading a team through the work, and communicating a clear and compelling answer.

What projects look like
The work is hypothesis-driven and moves quickly. You will build lasting expertise in your domain, and your analysis draws on models and forecasts that Aurora builds and maintains rather than on frameworks assembled for each engagement. You will own your projects and your team from the start, with the latitude to decide how the work gets done. Example projects include:
- Leading the valuation of a power generation portfolio – wind, solar, storage, and conventional generation – to support buy- or sell-side M&A.
- Authoring strategic reports on market design and energy policy. Recent examples from our team include the value of offshore wind for New York (https://auroraer.com/resources/aurora-insights/market-reports/meeting-new-yorks-energy-needs-reliability-offshore-wind), analysis of market reforms in PJM, (https://auroraer.com/resources/aurora-insights/market-reports/pathways-for-pjm-resource-adequacy-market-evolution) the world’s largest competitive power market, and the value of competitive transmission (https://auroraer.com/resources/aurora-insights/market-reports/texas-competitive-transmission-study-prepared-for-the-texans-for-affordability-transmission).
- Helping an international developer prioritize among US power markets for battery storage development, using Aurora’s proprietary market forecasts and asset dispatch analysis.
- Analyzing transmission and congestion impacts on local generator development using Aurora’s proprietary security-constrained economic dispatch modeling.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery
- Lead client engagements from initial scoping through final delivery and presentation
- Set the analytical direction for projects, ensuring the quantitative work is rigorous and translating complex results into clear, actionable recommendations
- Apply strong consulting fundamentals to structure ambiguous problems, test hypotheses, synthesize findings, and communicate a compelling answer
- Manage several projects simultaneously, keeping clients and internal teams aligned through critical phases of delivery
Team Leadership
- Lead project teams of Analysts, Senior Analysts, and Associates, setting clear direction and ensuring teams remain focused on the questions that matter most to the client
- Coach and develop team members, providing regular feedback and creating opportunities for them to build their analytical, consulting, and client-facing capabilities
- Balance high-quality project delivery with the longer-term development of the people you lead
Client and Business Development
- Build lasting client relationships that establish you as a trusted advisor on US power markets
- Lead responses to requests for proposals (RFPs), helping develop compelling approaches that address prospective clients’ needs
- Identify opportunities to deepen existing client relationships and contribute to the growth of Aurora’s US East Advisory business
- Build an external profile through published work, conferences, client events, and other opportunities to share Aurora’s insights with the market

What we are looking for

Required attributes:
- 5+ years of full-time professional experience at a consultancy, energy company, financial institution, or other analytically driven organization
- Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., economics, engineering, mathematics, physics) with a strong academic record
- Demonstrated success leading project teams and managing client relationships
- Strong consulting fundamentals, including the ability to structure ambiguous problems, develop and test hypotheses, synthesize complex findings, and turn analysis into clear recommendations
- Ability to analyze complex quantitative data, draw conclusions from it, and communicate those conclusions to technical and non-technical audiences, in writing and in person
- Strong data analytics skills, including experience with tools such as Python and advanced Excel
- Strong interest in power markets and the energy transition. Prior power market experience is not required. We train the right candidate in the subject matter
- Self-starter with the drive to build client relationships and contribute to the growth of the business
Desirable attributes:
- Relevant master’s degree or PhD
- Working knowledge of at least one major US power market
- Familiarity with renewables and/or flexible energy technologies (e.g., batteries)
We strongly encourage women and candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. There is evidence that people from under-represented groups may be less likely to apply unless they meet virtually every selection criterion. We urge candidates who meet at least some of the criteria to consider applying, especially if you are passionate about climate, energy, economics, data analytics, software, strategy, or consulting – there’s a role that’ll fit you at Aurora.

What we offer

- A fun, informal, collaborative, and international work culture
- A competitive salary package
- Access to regular coaching & mentoring sessions and the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals
- A brand-new office space in the vibrant and culturally rich East Austin area
- Access to the Aurora Academy, our training program designed to develop your skills both within your role and across the wider energy industry
- Influence on investment, operation, and policy decisions across the US power sector
- Direct client engagement through bilateral meetings, Aurora conferences, workshops, and webinars
- A path to becoming a publicly visible industry expert, with the publishing and speaking opportunities that come with it
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offering a complete support network that offers expert advice and compassionate guidance 24/7/365, covering a wide range of personal and professional aspects
The Company is committed to the principle that no employee or job applicant shall receive unfavorable treatment on grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.