Development Manager

Longroad Energy; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Longroad Energy seeks a Development Manager to advance utility-scale solar and battery storage projects in the desert Southwest from origination through financial close and commissioning.

You will lead development strategy, real estate, interconnection coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project execution with cross-functional teams and senior leadership oversight.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience with renewable energy development.
• Experience advancing projects through key milestones.
• Experience in land, interconnection, stakeholder engagement, or strategy.
• Ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience negotiating land and utility agreements.
• Strong understanding of utility-scale project economics.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Organizational, analytical, and PM capabilities.
• Ability to travel 10–20% across AZ, NM, NV, CO; occasional Boston/San Francisco.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of utility-scale solar and storage from origination to close and commissioning.
• Develop plans, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with development, engineering, finance, legal, env., interconnection and construction teams.
• Identify and manage project risks, opportunities, and critical path items.
• Present recommendations and updates to senior leadership and Investment Committee.
• Lead site origination, land agreements, and landowner relationships.
• Oversee land due diligence, title reviews, and surveys.
• Manage interconnection activities and track milestones and costs.
• Engage stakeholders; represent company at meetings and events.
• Lead permitting with internal and external teams; strong stakeholder engagement.
• Drive cross-functional alignment; ensure schedules and budgets stay on track.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis; monitor expenditures.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Project leadership

Interconnection coordination

Real estate negotiation

Budgeting & forecasting

Job description

About Longroad Energy

Founded in 2016, Longroad Energy is a U.S.-based energy company focused on developing, owning and operating energy and digital infrastructure projects throughout North America. Longroad has developed or acquired 7.6 GW of renewable energy projects and has raised $20.6 billion of equity, debt, and tax equity to support completion of its portfolio. Today, Longroad owns 5.8 GW of wind, solar, and storage projects and operates and manages a total of 7.4 GW on behalf of Longroad and third parties. Longroad is owned by the Infratil Limited, NZ Superannuation Fund, Longroad Energy Partners, LLC, and MEAG MUNICH ERGO Asset Management.

Job Purpose

The Development Manager will be responsible for advancing utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects throughout the development lifecycle in the desert Southwest, from early-stage project origination through financial close and commissioning. This role will serve as the primary project lead, driving development strategy, real estate activities, interconnection coordination, stakeholder engagement, and project execution. The Development Manager will work cross-functionally to identify and resolve project risks, align internal and external stakeholders, and advance projects through key development milestones. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong ownership, sound business judgment, and the ability to independently manage complex development activities in a fast-paced environment.

Project Development & Execution

• Lead the development of utility-scale solar and battery storage projects from origination through financial close and commissioning.
  
• Develop and execute project-specific development plans, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.
  
• Drive project advancement by coordinating activities across development, engineering, finance, legal, environmental, interconnection, and construction teams.
  
• Identify, evaluate, and proactively manage project risks, opportunities, and critical path items.
  
• Prepare and present project recommendations, development updates, and investment materials to senior leadership and the Investment Committee.
  

Real Estate & Site Control

• Lead site origination efforts, including greenfield project identification and evaluation.
  
• Negotiate land agreements, easements, amendments, and other project-related real estate documents.
  
• Manage landowner relationships and support long-term stakeholder engagement efforts.
  
• Oversee real estate due diligence activities, including title review, surveys, and property-related risk assessments.
  

Interconnection & Utility Coordination

• Manage interconnection activities and coordinate with utilities, consultants, and internal stakeholders.
  
• Track interconnection milestones, risks, and costs throughout the development process.
  
• Evaluate interconnection opportunities and constraints to support project development strategy.
  
• Support negotiations and coordination related to utility requirements and project execution.
  

Land Use Permitting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead permitting efforts in partnership with internal environmental and other subject matter experts, as well as external consulting teams. Build and maintain relationships with landowners, local jurisdictions, community stakeholders, utilities, and industry partners.
  
• Represent the company at public meetings, stakeholder events, and project-related discussions.
  
• Support community outreach efforts to advance project objectives and maintain positive stakeholder relationships.
  

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the central project lead responsible for driving alignment and accountability across internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Coordinate consultant teams and manage development-related scopes of work.
  
• Ensure development activities remain aligned with project schedules, budgets, and commercial objectives.
  

Financial & Investment Support

• Support project budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis activities.
  
• Evaluate project economics and development-related business decisions.
  
• Prepare materials supporting project approvals and investment decisions.
  
• Monitor development expenditures and consultant budgets.
  

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience working for a renewable energy developer managing utility-scale development projects.
  
• Demonstrated experience advancing renewable energy projects through key development milestones.
  
• Experience leading development activities related to real estate, interconnection, project execution, stakeholder engagement, or project strategy.
  
• Proven ability to independently manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
  
• Experience negotiating agreements and managing relationships with landowners, utilities, consultants, and external stakeholders.
  
• Strong understanding of utility-scale renewable energy development processes and project economics.
  
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
  
• Strong organizational, analytical, and project management capabilities.
  
• Ability to travel throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, or Colorado as required (approx. 10–20%). Occasional travel to company offices in Boston or San Francisco.
  
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects (experience in the western US and with state or federal land a plus)
  
• Experience with interconnection strategy and utility coordination.
  
• Experience negotiating land agreements and managing real estate workstreams.
  
• Experience presenting projects to executive leadership, investment committees, or similar decision-making bodies.
  
• Financial modeling, project finance, or budgeting experience.
  

Characteristics Necessary for Success

• Strong ownership mindset and ability to drive projects forward with limited oversight.
  
• Strategic thinker capable of balancing commercial objectives, stakeholder interests, and project risks.
  
• Collaborative leader who can influence across multiple functions and stakeholders.
  
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills.
  
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving development environment.
  
• Solutions-oriented approach with a focus on execution and results.
  

Benefits Of Working At Longroad Energy

We are dedicated to providing our employees with the support and resources they need to stay healthy, secure their future, and be successful in their careers. Benefits at Longroad include the opportunity for merit-based salary increases, incentive plan participation, eligibility for our 401(k) plan and matching, and comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Our robust time-off policy includes accrual of 18 vacation days in your first year, paid holidays, and paid volunteer time. We offer paid parental leave to help support employees as they transition into parenthood. Learn more about our employee benefits.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion matter - at Longroad, in our industry, in our communities, and in society at large. We embrace our responsibility to build and promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive working experience and drive change where we live and operate. We work to actively promote and celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. We foster a supportive space that empowers everyone at Longroad to learn about, discuss and ask questions related to embracing and honoring identity. We collaborate with our community, colleagues, and industry in the ongoing pursuit of evolving and growing an inclusive and diverse environment. Learn more about our DEI commitment.

Longroad Energy Values

At Longroad, we SHINE. We aim to be the most trusted renewable energy company on the long road to a green future. We are an experienced team of problem solvers and promise-keepers who develop sustainable solutions that meet today’s challenges and make a lasting impact on people and our planet. Learn more about our SHINE values.

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.