Director Development, Renewable Energy And Solar

J&T Business Consulting; Illinois City (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 35%

Competitive compensation

Job summary

J&T Business Consulting is seeking a Director of Development to lead the identification, origination, and advancement of community solar, storage, and distributed generation across the region. You will manage a team of developers and drive projects from land control through NTP.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in renewable energy development, deep market insight, and a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years in renewable energy project development, utility-scale/distributed generation, or related energy sector management.
• Proven track record of direct team management, coaching and talent retention.
• Deep knowledge of power market dynamics, permitting, interconnection, and project development life cycles.
• Strong understanding of project finance, commercial deal structuring, capital allocations, and revenue stacking.
• Excellent negotiation, public presentation, strategic decision-making, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional strategy to grow the project pipeline in alignment with organizational goals.
• Mentor and build capabilities of development managers and associates.
• Set and monitor stage-gate criteria for capital investments and risk metrics.
• Report portfolio progress, budgets, and risk to executives; optimize processes for scale.
• Oversee full-cycle development for a large portfolio (100+ MW) from land control to NTP.
• Lead siting, permitting, interconnection, stakeholder engagement, and budgeting.
• Direct negotiations for vendor contracts, service agreements, and consultants.
• Build relationships with landowners, regulators, utilities, and communities.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Public speaking

Organizational skills

Education

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

Master's degree

PMP certification

Job description

Director Development, Renewable Energy And Solar

Illinois City, United States | Posted on 09/23/2026

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.