M&A and Strategy Associate (m/w/d)

FirstLight is a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company serving North America. With a diversified portfolio that includes over 1.65 GW of operating renewable energy and energy storage technologies and a development pipeline with 4+ GW of solar, battery, hydro, onshore wind and offshore wind projects, FirstLight specializes in hybrid solutions that pair hydroelectric, pumped-hydro storage (including Northfield Mountain, the largest energy storage facility in New England), utility-scale solar, large-scale battery, and wind assets. The company's mission is to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid by supporting the development, operation, and integration of renewable energy and storage to meet the world's growing clean energy needs and deliver an electric system that is clean, reliable, affordable, and equitable. Based in Burlington, MA, with operating offices in Northfield, MA, New Milford, CT, Oshawa, ON and Montréal, QC, FirstLight is a steward of more than 14,000 acres and hundreds of miles of shoreline along some of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in North America.

In Canada, FirstLight operates through its subsidiaries H2O Power and the recently acquired Hydroméga which is headquartered in Montréal. We operate 18 hydroelectric generating stations located in Ontario and Quebec and we are one of the largest providers of hydroelectric power in these provinces. FirstLight is wholly owned by PSP Investments, one of Canada's largest pension investment managers and we have over 200 employees in Canada and the US.

We proudly serve our host communities and beyond through our clean energy assets, the recreation spaces we steward, the jobs we produce, and the economic benefit we deliver through our operations and charitable actions.

We are a team of caring, passionate professionals who are driven to deliver positive climate impact and to have fun while doing it! We value diversity, equity and inclusion and encourage people with diverse perspectives, skills and experiences to apply.

Position Detail

We currently have an opening for an experienced M&A and Strategy Associate for this remote role based in Montreal, Québec. We will also consider Ontario as work location.

Reporting to the Director, M & A & Strategy, the M&A and Strategy Associate is responsible for supporting FirstLight's growth through acquisitions, joint ventures, greenfield development, and strategic divestitures. Will contribute to all aspects of the transaction lifecycle-from financial modeling and valuation to market analysis, diligence, and Investment Committee presentations.

Our ideal candidate possesses the experience, passion and energy to be a driving force in FirstLight's continued evolution to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid to meet the clean energy needs of tomorrow.
Salary range: $80,000-100,000/annually PLUS competitive bonus

Key Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Financial Modeling & Valuation

  • Build and maintain financial modeling tools to evaluate potential M&A opportunities, joint ventures, greenfield projects development and asset dispositions, assessing project valuations in line with FirstLight's investment criteria
  • Adapt existing models to reflect transaction-specific terms, financing structures, and commercial assumptions
  • Structure and execute sensitivity and scenario analyses

• Transaction Execution & Due Diligence

  • Collaborate with subject matter experts (project development, finance, accounting, tax, engineering, construction, legal, operations) to reflect diligence findings in financial models
  • Support the due diligence process by collecting and analyzing financial, operational, and market data from target companies and potential partners
  • Work with external advisors, including investment banks, legal counsel, and consultants, on deal execution and closings

• Market & Strategic Analysis

  • Conduct market research to assess trends, risks, and opportunities in North American power markets and evaluate FirstLight's competitive positioning
  • Provide strategic insights into key sectors (e.g., renewables, storage, transmission) to inform deal strategy and prioritization

• Investment Committee & Bid Support

  • Assist in the preparation of materials for Investment Committee review and present recommendations to senior management
  • Support bid submissions, transaction execution, and deal closings across various transaction types
  • Contribute to the refinement and automation of internal financial models and tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy

• Complies with all Corporate policies and IT procedures

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Job Qualifications / Skills

• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, engineering or related field;
• CFA (or progress towards CFA), MBA or other advanced designation preferred;
• Bilingual - English and French, strongly preferred;
• 3+ years of relevant experience in financial modeling within power, utilities, renewable energy, M&A, or project finance; ideal experience in investment banking, corporate development, management consulting, or other transaction-related roles;
• Demonstrated fluency in financial modeling techniques, with advanced Excel skills; strong understanding of valuation techniques and project finance structures;
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Ability to present complex financial structure and models to both internal and external audiences;
• Experience working on large projects with multiple stakeholders under tight timelines;
• Passion for the energy transition and understanding of regulatory and market dynamics in Canada and the US;
• Experience reading, interpreting, reviewing and presenting terms and conditions within complex legal and technical documents;
• Experience working independently with a strong sense of accountability;
• Outstanding organizational and written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to travel within Canada and the US on occasion; must have a valid driver's license;

Why Work for FirstLight?

We consider our employees to be our most valuable resource and we strive to provide a challenging, collegial, and rewarding workplace. FirstLight embraces a company-wide commitment to recruit, develop, and retain a dedicated, diverse, and engaged workforce that is motivated to be ever better both professionally and personally.

Joining the FirstLight Team is an opportunity to experience a unique and exciting culture. We offer a competitive benefits package.

FirstLight/Hydroméga is an Equal Opportunity Employer; promoting accessibility and inclusivity at work and offering accommodation for applicants as required and requested.

FirstLight's values are:

Respect - Integrity - Safety - Excellence - Innovation - Team