Director Development, Renewable Energy And Solar

Zohorecruit; Illinois City (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 35%

Job summary

Zohorecruit is seeking a Director of Development to lead community solar, energy storage, and distributed generation opportunities across the region, from site control to Notice to Proceed.

You will manage a development team, set stage-gate criteria for investments, report progress to executives, and collaborate with Real Estate, Interconnection, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Construction teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or a related field.
• 10+ years in renewable energy project development or related management.
• Leadership with direct team management, mentoring and retention.
• Deep knowledge of power market dynamics, permitting, interconnection, and project lifecycles.
• Strong financial acumen in project finance, deal structuring, and revenue stacking.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation, and strategic decision-making skills.
• Willingness to travel regionally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional strategy to grow the project pipeline.
• Manage and mentor a team of development managers and associates.
• Set stage-gate criteria for capital investments and monitor risk.
• Report portfolio progress, budget adherence, and risk to executive leadership.
• Oversee full-cycle development for a large portfolio (100+ MW) from land to NTP.
• Lead siting, environmental permitting, interconnection, stakeholder engagement, and budgeting.
• Negotiate vendor contracts and service agreements.
• Collaborate with Real Estate, Interconnection, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Construction teams.
• Identify and maximize ITC and other tax incentives; revenue stacking strategies.
• Balance storage deployments with regulatory landscape.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team management

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Financial acumen

Project development

Market knowledge

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or related field

Master’s degree or PMP certification preferred

Job description

Director Development, Renewable Energy And Solar

Illinois City, 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.