Vice President, BESS Investments | PE Backed BESS Platform

Company:

Our client is a Japan-based energy storage and battery (BESS) development platform entering its next phase of growth. In its initial phase, the business operated with a lean team and successfully developed multiple large-scale BESS projects, including a flagship project exceeding 100MW developed on behalf of co-investors.

The platform has now secured significant, long-term backing from a leading global infrastructure investor, providing strong institutional capital support and a mandate to scale a long-term BESS portfolio in Japan. The investor has a proven track record across APAC, including multiple investments in the Japanese infrastructure and energy transition markets.

Aiming for 1-1.5GW by 2031, they will be needing to further build out the team.

Role:

This is a senior-level investment and development role within a Japan-focused BESS platform, backed by a global infrastructure investor, reporting directly to the CEO and senior platform leadership. The role will play a central part in originating, evaluating, and executing battery energy storage investments in Japan, while supporting the broader build-out of the platform.

The position is intentionally broad and hands-on, combining investment analysis with close involvement in development and execution. You will work closely with internal development, commercial, and technical teams, as well as external developers and advisors, to progress projects from early-stage origination through investment approval and delivery.

Key responsibilities include working with the CEO and the platform’s institutional investor to shape and execute the BESS investment strategy in Japan, covering site origination, land acquisition support, bid preparation, development structuring, and transaction execution. You will actively drive projects forward, coordinating with developers, EPCs, legal advisors, lenders, utilities, and other stakeholders, with an initial focus on building a scalable BESS portfolio (circa 300MW+) for long-term ownership.

While the role is investment-oriented, it requires strong commercial instincts and a willingness to engage directly in development and execution details, particularly in a competitive and fast-moving storage market.

Company advantages:

• Japan-focused renewable energy and storage development platform with a clear mandate to scale BESS assets.
• Backed by a leading global infrastructure investor, providing long-term capital, strategic support, and international best practices.
• Flexible capital deployment across development-stage and operational assets, including both merchant and contracted storage strategies.
• Lean, entrepreneurial environment with direct access to decision-makers and rapid execution compared to large utilities or conglomerates.
• Hybrid working style and start-up culture, combining institutional backing with a high-ownership local team.

Ideal candidate profile:

• Proven experience in renewable energy or infrastructure investment and/or project development in Japan, ideally across solar, wind, or energy storage.
• Strong experience evaluating development-stage projects, merchant risk, revenue structures, and investment returns; direct BESS experience preferred but not essential.
• Fluent Japanese required, with business-level English communication skills.
• Entrepreneurial, hands-on mindset, comfortable operating in a lean platform environment and taking ownership across a broad scope of responsibilities.