In another move connected to Newark’s strong broadband infrastructure, Ørsted announced Thursday it will open its North American Digital Operations headquarters in Newark.

It’s hiring, too.

The new office, which will integrate with Ørsted’s other digital operations offices in Europe and Asia, will employ more than 20 Ørsted staff members, including 12-14 new information technology positions the company hopes to fill in 2021. Orsted officials said the headcount has the potential to more than double over the next several years, based on Ørsted’s offshore and onshore growth in the U.S.

Ørsted officials did not release the location of the office, saying they are still negotiating the lease. But they did say Ørsted selected Newark for its digital operations headquarters due to its proximity to IT talent pools in the region and because of its strategic location to key existing Ørsted offices and businesses.

Ørsted officials said they expect the office will open in the fourth quarter.

The digital operations headquarters will require highly trained, technical staff who will support Ørsted’s operations throughout North America for both onshore and offshore assets. New Jersey’s impressive institutions of higher education, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, will be important partners to Ørsted as it recruits personnel to fulfill the company’s onshore and offshore digital needs, company officials said.

In 2021, Ørsted will bring on staff in several key areas, including:

• Information security, risk and compliance;
• Network security;
• Application operations;
• IT service desk;
• Computer and server operations.

Ørsted, which won New Jersey’s first offshore wind solicitation in June 2019, has been growing its presence in the state since.

Among other initiatives, Ørsted is a partner with EEW Group and the state on a $250 million facility called Paulsboro Marine Terminal in Gloucester County — one that will build steel components, known as monopiles, for offshore wind turbines that will serve the entire U.S. offshore wind industry.

David Hardy, CEO of Offshore North America, said the office in Newark is another example of Ørsted’s commitment to doing business in the state.

“Our investments into New Jersey are expanding beyond our offshore wind projects,” he said. “While most of our employees will be based in southern New Jersey when our projects are operational, this headquarters ensures that the economic benefits of offshore wind will be spread across the entire state. Newark is a fast becoming a tech hub and we’re proud to play a part in its resurgence.”

Gov. Phil Murphy, who has made green energy — and, most notably, offshore wind — a key component of his energy initiatives, said he was glad to hear Ørsted was expanding its presence.

“Developing New Jersey’s offshore wind industry allows us to address climate change and also bolster the state’s economy through millions of dollars in investments and high-quality jobs,” he said. “We are thrilled that Ørsted will open their North American Digital Operations headquarters in Newark, a key city and partner in growing New Jersey’s innovation economy. Ørsted’s commitment to our state further solidifies New Jersey’s position as the leader in offshore wind in the United States.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was happy to have another company call Newark home.

“We are pleased to welcome Ørsted, a global leader in clean energy, as one of Newark’s newest corporate citizens,” he said. “In addition to providing high-tech job opportunities for our residents and helping make Newark a more attractive destination for innovative business, having Ørsted join our growing tech hub can inspire a new generation of sustainability innovators committed to tackling the climate crisis.”

Ørsted is currently finalizing lease negotiations and has already initiated recruitment for the new headquarters. This is Ørsted’s first office opening in northern New Jersey; the company previously opened a project office in Atlantic City in 2018.

Read the full article here.