Development Director, Renewable Energy And Solar

Zohorecruit; Maryland Line (MD); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunity up to 35%

Job summary

Zohorecruit is seeking a Development Director to lead renewable energy and solar projects in the Maryland/Delaware region. You will drive strategy, build and coach a development team, and manage cross-functional workstreams from site control through Notice to Proceed (NTP).

Qualifications include 10+ years in renewable energy project development, strong leadership, regulatory know‑how, and excellent stakeholder management. Travel across the region is required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in renewable energy project development.
• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree or PMP preferred.
• Leadership with direct team management experience.
• Strong knowledge of power markets, permitting, interconnection, and project life cycles.
• Willingness to travel regionally across the Mid-Atlantic

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional strategy to grow the project pipeline.
• Lead development teams and mentor staff across functions.
• Oversee full-cycle development from land control to NTP.
• Coordinate with Real Estate, Interconnection, Engineering, Finance, Legal and Construction teams.
• Negotiate vendor contracts and ensure schedule adherence.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Team management

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Negotiation

Public speaking

Project management

Regulatory understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree

PMP certification

Job description

Development Director, Renewable Energy And Solar

Maryland Line, United States | Posted on 10/01/2026

Bonus Opportunity: Up to 35% of annual salary

Position Overview

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.

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.

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.