Head of Power Congestion Trading & Optimization

SaltHill Group Inc. seeks a Head of Power Congestion Trading & Optimization in Chicago, IL. The role involves leading a congestion trading team for a renewable energy portfolio, focusing on strategy, analytics, and performance across U.S. power markets. Candidates need a Master's or PhD and 10+ years in U.S. power markets. The position offers a salary range of $240k-$300k with performance-based bonuses.
Our client is a Chicago-based renewable energy supply and trading platform that operates a multi-gigawatt portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage assets across major U.S. power markets.

They are seeking a Head of Power Congestion Trading & Optimization to lead and scale a high-performing team responsible for congestion strategy across the portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, this senior leadership role owns congestion positioning, analytics, and performance across nodal markets, translating structural grid inefficiencies into sustained, risk-adjusted returns aligned with enterprise-wide commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

-Lead and scale an established congestion trading team supporting a large renewable generation portfolio

-Reinforce a culture of ownership, accountability, and rigorous risk management

-Demonstrate an entrepreneurial, value-creation mindset grounded in strong governance

-Own end-to-end congestion strategy, analytics, and P&L across major U.S. ISOs (including ERCOT, MISO, NYISO, PJM, SPP, and others as relevant)

-Manage nodal positions in the short-, mid-, and long-term horizons

-Define and execute auction strategy (FTRs/CRRs/TCCs), PTPs, and DART products

-Direct portfolio construction, capital allocation, and risk deployment across hedging and proprietary strategies and positions

-Translate complex transmission dynamics and market design into a scalable commercial opportunity

-Advance systematic analytical capabilities, including grid topology modeling, constraint forecasting, and auction optimization

-Identify opportunities to expand congestion activity consistent with portfolio growth

-Integrate congestion positioning with broader asset optimization, structured transactions, and portfolio risk strategies

-Serve as a senior internal subject matter expert on transmission, market design evolution, and structural congestion shifts affecting renewable asset value

Qualifications

-Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or related quantitative discipline

-10+ years of U.S. power market experience with demonstrated ownership of congestion or nodal P&L

-Proven ability to generate sustained, risk-adjusted returns in complex and evolving markets

-Deep expertise in congestion dynamics and market design, transmission constraints and grid topology modeling, FTR / CRR / TCC auction mechanics, day-ahead vs. real-time congestion spreads, and nodal basis risk management

-Track record of building and leading high-performing trading teams

-Entrepreneurial leadership style balanced with disciplined risk governance

-Advanced quantitative capability (Python or R, SQL, modern data environments)

-Experience with power flow analysis and production cost modeling tools (e.g., PowerWorld, PSSE, PROMOD, PSO, PLEXOS, DAYZER, UPLAN, etc.)

Additional Information

-Base Salary range: $240k-$300k

-Final base salary will depend on experience, skills, education, and market factors

-Eligibility for a discretionary, performance-based annual bonus