Delivering four executive leaders to drive a national T&D expansion
Objective
Support a rapidly expanding US Independent Power Producer (IPP) and utility in building a senior leadership team capable of advancing a nationwide high-voltage transmission expansion strategy. The client required four executive hires with deep regulatory knowledge, grid expertise, and proven experience delivering large-scale T&D infrastructure.
Scope
Four critical national leadership roles:
- SVP, Transmission Development
- VP, T&D Construction
- Right-of-Way & Land Acquisition Manager
- Director of Engineering – Grid & Substation Systems
Positions demanded niche expertise in transmission development (230–500kV), multi-state EPC delivery, ROW acquisition, grid engineering, permitting, and system operator engagement.
Strategy
To secure rare, high-impact T&D leaders in a highly competitive national market, we launched four parallel executive searches using our nationwide Transmission & Distribution network.
Our strategy focused on:
- Mapping senior T&D, EPC, and utility leaders across the US
- Discreetly approaching passive candidates with proven large-scale grid delivery experience
- Conducting rigorous technical and cultural assessments
- Providing compensation benchmarking and market insights to support competitive offers
- Managing a streamlined, coordinated interview and selection process
This approach ensured only the most qualified, strategically aligned leaders were presented.
Implementation
- Activated our specialist US T&D executive search team to run four simultaneous national searches.
- Engaged extensively with passive senior leaders leveraging long-standing industry relationships.
- Conducted in-depth technical evaluations across transmission development, HV engineering, construction execution, regulatory processes, and ROW strategies.
- Facilitated interview logistics, stakeholder alignment, and offer negotiation to secure all four hires within a tight project timeline.
All hires were passive candidates - secured through deep market knowledge and strategic engagement.
Outcomes
Four Executive Hires Delivered in Three Months
SVP, Transmission Development
- Nationally recognised leader in 345kV–500kV grid development
- Now shaping the client’s long-term national transmission expansion strategy
- VP, T&D Construction
- Extensive EPC oversight across transmission, substations, and grid-modernisation programs
Right-of-Way & Land Acquisition Manager
- Specialist in multi-jurisdiction ROW acquisition, permitting, and landowner negotiations
Director of Engineering – Grid & Substation Systems
- Expert in HV design, protection & controls, and grid integration
These four leaders now form the core of the client’s T&D expansion leadership team.
Accelerated delivery of the client’s national T&D portfolio
With senior leadership in place, the client enhanced its capabilities across:
- Transmission siting, permitting & right-of-way acquisition
- Grid and substation engineering
- Transmission & substation construction
- Interconnection, regulatory approvals, and RTO/ISO coordination
This has enabled the client to pursue new transmission corridors and major grid-capacity projects with confidence.
Samuel Knight appointed strategic recruitment partner
Following the success of these pivotal hires, the client selected Samuel Knight as their long-term recruitment partner for:
Our ability to deliver rare, high-calibre utility-grade talent reinforced our value as a trusted partner.
- Executive & senior leadership
- Transmission & substation engineering
- EPC & construction management
- Regulatory, interconnection, and ROW specialists
