Development Director, Renewable Energy And Solar

J T; Illinois City (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 35% of annual salary

Job summary

J T is seeking a Director of Development to lead regional efforts in advancing community solar, storage, and distributed generation projects across Illinois. This role combines strategic planning with hands-on execution, overseeing a team of developers and coordinating cross-functional activities from site control to NTP.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in renewable energy development, strong leadership, and a deep market understanding to drive a large portfolio (>100 MW) while optimizing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or related field.
• 10+ years in renewable energy project development or related management.
• Direct team management, coaching, and talent retention.
• Deep knowledge of power markets, permitting, interconnection, and project life cycles.
• Strong understanding of project finance and revenue stacking.
• Willingness to travel regularly across the region.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional strategy to grow the project pipeline.
• Manage and mentor development managers and associates.
• Set and monitor stage-gate criteria for capital investments.
• Report portfolio progress, budget adherence, and risk to leadership.
• Oversee full-cycle development for a large portfolio (100+ MW).
• Lead siting, permitting, interconnection, stakeholder engagement, and budgeting.
• Negotiate vendor contracts and consultant engagements.
• Build relationships with landowners, officials, regulators, utilities.
• Collaborate with Real Estate, Interconnection, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Construction teams.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Public speaking

Strategic thinking

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree or PMP preferred

Job description

Position Overview

Title: Director, Development

Supervisor: VP, Development

Location: State of Illinois

Salary Range: $140,000 – $170,000 USD

Bonus Opportunity: Up to 35% of annual salary

We are seeking a Director of Development to lead the identification, origination, and advancement of community solar, standalone energy storage, and distributed generation opportunities across the region. This role requires a blend of strategic planning and hands-on execution—managing a team of developers while collaborating cross-functionally to drive projects from initial site control through Notice to Proceed (NTP).

The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with a passion for clean energy, deep market insight, and a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Develop and execute regional strategy to grow the project pipeline in alignment with organizational goals.
• Manage, mentor, and build the capabilities of a dedicated team of development managers and associates.
• Set and monitor stage-gate criteria for capital investments, evaluating project risk and success metrics at every phase.
• Report portfolio progress, budget adherence, and risk profiles to executive leadership while optimizing internal processes for scale.

Pipeline & Project Execution

• Oversee full-cycle development for a large portfolio ($100+\text{ MW}$), managing all stages from land acquisition through NTP.
• Lead all core development functions, including siting, environmental permitting, utility interconnection, stakeholder engagement, and project budgeting.
• Ensure projects adhere to aggressive schedules, proactively identifying and mitigating potential execution risks.
• Direct negotiations for vendor contracts, service agreements, and consultant engagements.

Commercial & Market Strategy

• Leverage strong retail/wholesale market knowledge to expand opportunities across C&I (Commercial & Industrial) and MUSH (Municipal, Universities, Schools, Hospitals) sectors.
• Structure and negotiate agreements for behind-the-meter (BTM) project developments with commercial off-takers.
• Maximize federal tax incentive opportunities (e.g., ITC) while actively identifying revenue-stacking strategies and economic pathways for standalone viability.
• Analyze and integrate energy storage deployments to balance evolving regulatory and policy landscapes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain durable relationships with landowners, municipal officials, regulators, utilities, and local communities.
• Work closely with internal Real Estate, Interconnection, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Construction teams to ensure seamless project handoffs and commercial alignment.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or a related field; Master’s degree or PMP certification preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years in renewable energy project development, utility-scale/distributed generation, or related energy sector management.
• Leadership: Proven track record of direct team management, coaching, and talent retention.
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of power market dynamics, permitting protocols, interconnection processes, and project development life cycles.
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of project finance, commercial deal structuring, capital allocations, and revenue stacking.
• Soft Skills: Excellent negotiation, public presentation, strategic decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Travel: Willingness to travel regularly across the region as required by project development needs.