Central Region Director, Utility-Scale Development

Center for Energy Education; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Short-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability

401(k) match

Flexible Spending Accounts

EAP

Education Assistance

Parental Leave

Paid time off

Holidays

Short-term incentives

Job summary

RWE Americas, LLC is seeking a Development Director for Utility-Scale projects in the Central Region. This senior role leads complex solar, wind, and storage developments from greenfield to construction, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and external consultants to deliver on time and on budget.

The candidate will drive strategy, budgeting, and risk management, with strong negotiation and analytical skills, and travel up to 50% to support sites and meetings across the region.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee utility-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects from greenfielding through start of construction, with accountability for schedule, budget, risk, and project value
• Lead complex or high-priority projects with large cross-functional teams without direct people-management authority
• Manage full project lifecycle including land control, permitting, interconnection, preconstruction, energy yield, financing support, and readiness for construction
• Define project strategy and critical-path priorities by integrating market, permitting, land, technical, commercial, financial, and stakeholder considerations
• Establish and manage project budgets, schedules, forecasts, and deliverables; prioritize development spending based on economics, risk, and market attributes
• Lead cost-estimating and EPC-bidding activities to improve cost certainty and support investment decisions
• Drive optimization of engineering design and commercial structure to strengthen project returns
• Identify and resolve high-complexity issues involving land, grid access, permitting, and stakeholders
• Lead negotiations with landowners, utilities, regulators, and strategic partners
• Assist in due diligence for acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures with M&A teams
• Prepare executive presentations and investment recommendations for senior leadership
• Support power marketing, tax equity, and financing processes with project inputs
• Provide strategic mentorship to Development Managers and associates
• Shape Central Region development strategy and improve processes, governance, and portfolio execution
• Support construction phase to ensure successful commercial operation

Job description

RWE Americas, LLC is seeking a Development Director for Utility-Scale projects in the Central Region. This senior role leads complex solar, wind, and storage developments from greenfield to construction, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and external consultants to deliver on time and on budget.

The candidate will drive strategy, budgeting, and risk management, with strong negotiation and analytical skills, and travel up to 50% to support sites and meetings across the region.