Portfolio Executive - Energy (Battery Storage & High Voltage Infrastructure), London
About Downing
Downing is a fast-growing, entrepreneurial, responsible investment manager with headquarters in central London. We believe a great investment opportunity isn’t just financial - it’s a chance to invest in things that matter: our environment, our health, our society, our communities, and our economy. This aligns with our B CORP status. Our ability to adapt and innovate to create products for our investors is key to our growth and success, and our core values are vital to everything we do - from the businesses we invest in to the people we hire.
About the team
The Solar and Storage team is a dynamic and diverse group of professionals dedicated to advancing renewable energy solutions. The team includes asset management experts, investment specialists, and technical professionals who work together to optimize the performance and growth of our solar and storage assets. Our team members are located in key offices in London, Glasgow, and Stockholm, fostering a collaborative environment that leverages a wide range of expertise and perspectives.
Role and responsibilities
We are seeking a proactive and detail‑oriented Portfolio Executive (Energy) to join our Energy Transition team. Reporting to the Portfolio Lead, the successful candidate will support the management, optimisation, and compliance of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and High Voltage (HV) grid infrastructure, including shunt reactors. This role requires strong organisational skills, technical understanding, and the ability to collaborate across multiple internal and external stakeholders.
Portfolio Performance & Asset Management:
* Work closely with Technical Asset Managers (TAMs) to ensure optimal performance and maintenance of BESS and HV assets.
* Oversee Long-Term Service Agreements (LTSAs) with OEMs, ensuring contractual compliance and continuous improvement.
* Monitor asset performance, analyse KPIs, and identify optimisation opportunities.
* Participate in technical due diligence for new acquisitions and support onboarding into internal systems.
* Contribute to lifecycle planning, reinvestment prioritisation and long‑term asset strategy
* Support budget tracking and cost efficiency analysis for asset-level OPEX and CAPEX.
* Oversee refurbishment projects and ensure all procurement governance requirements are met.
* Monitor regulatory and market developments relevant to BESS and HV assets and provide input into strategic asset planning.
* Prepare and contribute to internal asset performance reports, including monthly dashboards, board papers, and investor updates. Support external reporting obligations, including lender reporting, Capacity Market submissions, Grid Code compliance documents, and technical summaries.
Stakeholder Relationships:
* Maintain strong working relationships with OEMs, contractors, DNOs/TSOs, and internal teams.
* Support external and internal stakeholder communication, ensuring transparent and timely updates.
* Conduct site visits to oversee asset condition, contractor activities, and operational performance.
* Act as a reliable point of contact for queries related to BESS and HV asset performance.
Operations & compliance Support:
* Manage operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements, monitoring both financial and non‑financial KPIs.
* Oversee National Grid compliance obligations, including Grid Code requirements, operational notifications, and Capacity Market commitments.
* Support safety, environmental and regulatory compliance across all assets.
* Contribute to incident tracking, contractor coordination, and issue resolution.
* Support reporting processes, governance meetings, and internal performance reviews.
* Identify and escalate operational, technical, or compliance risks, ensuring accurate updates to asset risk registers.
Additional Responsibilities:
* Support the development and improvement of internal management systems and reporting tools.
* Participate in wider digitalisation and efficiency initiatives across the Energy Transition portfolio.
* Occasionally travel to asset sites, OEM facilities, and contractor offices.
* Represent the team at workshops, conferences, and company events.
* Act as an ambassador for Downing, demonstrating professionalism, integrity, and alignment with company values.
Education, experience and skills
The ideal candidate will have the following:
* Minimum 3 years’ experience in asset management or a technical energy‑sector role, ideally with exposure to BESS, Gas Peakers, Renewables, HV Infrastructure 400KV/132KV, or DNO/TSO operations.
* Broad understanding of the power value chain, including TAM and OEM interactions.
* Strong negotiation, interpersonal, and communication skills.
* High attention to detail with the ability to balance strategic priorities and day‑to‑day operational tasks.
* Proficiency in English and competence with digital tools and asset management systems.
* Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multi‑site team.
Non-essential but desirable attributes:
* Technical awareness of HV equipment or grid‑connected assets.
* Experience in asset management, Operations & Maintenance (O&M) oversight, or engineering roles in the energy transition.
* Familiarity with monitoring systems, SCADA alarms, or Capacity Market operations.