Development Manager I

Vestas group; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Vestas in Portland, OR is seeking a Development Manager to lead regional developers in renewable energy project development, coordinating with origination, due diligence, advancement and commercialization teams.

You will manage land acquisition campaigns, environmental permitting, stakeholder relations, budgeting, and schedules while guiding cross-functional teams through the development lifecycle. Travel within US/Canada required; strong communication and problem-solving needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 2+ years in project development, real estate, permitting, policy or project finance in US energy.
• Knowledge of land acquisition, permitting, interconnection, and financial analysis.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead land acquisition campaigns and negotiate energy leases and easements.
• Coordinate with internal teams on site layouts, interconnection and permits.
• Manage environmental studies, consultants, budgeting, and schedules.
• Support financial analysis, project expenditures, and key agreements.
• Liaise with stakeholders and regulators to secure milestones.

Skills

Land acquisition

Stakeholder management

Project budgeting

Cross-functional collaboration

Environmental permitting

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Development Manager works with a team of regional developers and reports to the Associate Director of Development or a Senior Development Manager. The Development Manager shall be responsible and accountable for project development efforts for renewable energy development projects under their purview, and collaborating with cross-functional teams responsible for the origination, acquisition, due diligence, advancement, and commercialization of renewable energy projects.

Responsibilities

Development and Project Management

• In coordination with the real estate managers, manage and support land acquisition campaigns, including identification of landowners, initiating contact, and negotiating land agreements, including but not limited to energy leases, purchase and sale contracts, collection and transmission line easements, access road easements, and right of way easements
• Maintain existing landowner communications with project update phone calls and letters, newsletters, project update meetings, and presentations
• Establish and manage relationships with stakeholders, including elected officials, regulators, utilities, and community leaders, to support project development
• Collaborate with engineering team and external consultants to evaluate site layouts and constraints, technology options, schedule implications, interconnection applications and studies
• In coordination with internal and external subject matter experts, manage the environmental study and permitting process
• Manage consultants - for example, environmental, engineering, aviation, and biological consultants on projects - including engagement, contracting, scope management, invoice review and approval, and discontinuation of efforts
• Support the financial analysis and modeling of the projects
• Manage project level expenditures and invoice processing
• Develop project budgets and schedule highlighting key milestones
• Support the negotiation of key project agreements such as Road Use Agreements, Conditional Use Permits, and Tax Abatements

Management, Communication and Reporting

• Lead and facilitate all reporting through consistent project information tracking via internal tracking systems and reports
• Identify, manage, and mitigate project risks while maintaining development budget and schedule and anticipating upcoming major decisions
• Liaise with all internal stakeholders as required to facilitate decision approval at appropriate milestones
• Manage external consultants, including budget, deliverables and quality control; evaluate proposals from consultants and make recommendations on scopes of work and final selection
• Maintain strong working relationships and communication with internal business development, engineering, wind resource, construction, sales, service, legal, finance, and other subject matter teams

Support

• Prospecting of investment opportunities, in collaboration with business development team
• Provide valuable support to the diligence process for acquisition opportunities, including evaluating developer capabilities and project level risks

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering or related discipline; MBA or related Masters' degree preferred
• At least 2 years of experience in project development, real estate, permitting, regulatory policy or project finance in the U.S. energy/power sector, preferably in wind energy development
• Has knowledge in key aspects of project development, including commercial markets, pre-construction, permitting, transmission, land acquisition, and financial analysis
• Working knowledge of interconnection processes
• Experience in project greenfield evaluation and feasibility analysis.
• Understands financial models, risks, rewards, and what drives value for portfolio projects, greenfield, and acquisition opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and interface effectively with cross-functional employee groups and external stakeholders
• Can be an effective spokesperson and public representative for Vestas Americas.
• Comfortable multi-tasking and prioritizing competing demands in a fast-paced work environment
• Tenacious and creative problem-solver who is excited to assess, solve, communicate and implement strategic solutions to complex, multifaceted challenges
• Has a high attention to detail
• Capable of making sound strategic and operational decisions through analyzing data, focusing on customers and commercial awareness.
• Possesses strong communication and presentation skills
• Willing to travel regularly within the US and Canada (expected 30-50%)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, and Teams)
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Ability to interact frequently with others in a professional, courteous manner
• Ability to travel to job sites as needed

Our commitment to a fair hiring

At Vestas, we evaluate all candidates solely based on their professional experience, education, and relevant skills. To support a fair recruitment process, we kindly ask that you remove any photos, dates of birth or graduation, gender pronouns, marital status, or other personal information not relevant to the role before submitting your CV/resume. Your CV/resume should focus on your professional and educational background, along with the necessary contact details (email and phone number). We train our hiring teams in inclusive evaluation and regularly review process outcomes to ensure fairness.

DEIB Statement

At Vestas, we recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who may hesitate due to their identity or feel they do not meet every criterion. As our CEO states, "Expertise and talent come in many forms, and a diverse workforce enhances our ability to think differently and solve the complex challenges of our industry". Your unique perspective is what will help us powering the solution for a sustainable, green energy future.

About Vestas

Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We are specialised in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wind turbines, both onshore and offshore.Across the globe, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. We consider ourselves pioneers within the industry, as we continuously aim to design new solutions and technologies to create a more sustainable future for all of us. With more than 200 GW of wind power installed worldwide and 40+ years of experience in wind energy, we have an unmatched track record demonstrating our expertise within the field.With 39,000 employees globally, we are a diverse team united by a common goal: to power the solution – today, tomorrow, and far into the future.Vestas promotes a diverse workforce which embraces all social identities and is free of any discrimination. We commit to create and sustain an environment that acknowledges and harvests different experiences, skills, and perspectives. We also aim to give everyone equal access to opportunity.To learn more about our company and life at Vestas, we invite you to visit our website at www.vestas.com and follow us on our social media channels. We also encourage you to join our Talent Universe to receive notifications on new and relevant postings.