Director Development, Renewable Energy And Solar

J T; Maryland Line (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

J T in Illinois seeks a Director of Development to lead identification, origination, and advancement of community solar, standalone energy storage, and distributed generation opportunities. This role blends strategic planning with hands-on execution, managing a development team and coordinating cross-functional work from initial site control to Notice to Proceed.

The ideal leader brings deep clean energy market insight and a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in renewable energy project development or related energy sector management.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or related field; Master’s degree or PMP preferred.
• Proven leadership with direct team management and talent development.
• Deep knowledge of power market dynamics, permitting, interconnection, and project life cycle.
• Strong financial acumen in project finance, deal structuring, and revenue stacking.
• Excellent negotiation and public-speaking skills; strategic decision-making.
• Willingness to travel regularly across the region.

Responsibilities

• Develop regional strategy to grow the project pipeline in line with organizational goals.
• Manage and mentor development managers and associates.
• Set stage-gate criteria for capital investments and monitor risk.
• Report portfolio progress, budget adherence, and risk to executives.
• Oversee full-cycle development from land acquisition through NTP.
• Lead siting, permitting, interconnection, stakeholder engagement, and budgeting.
• Negotiate vendor contracts and service agreements.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Team management

Negotiation

Public speaking

Project management

Power market knowledge

Financial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree + Master’s preferred

Job description

Position Overview

Title: Director, Development

Supervisor: VP, Development

Location: State of Illinois

Salary Range: $140,000 – $170,000 USD

Bonus Opportunity: Up to 35% of annual salary

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.

Pipeline & Project Execution

• 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.

Commercial & Market Strategy

• 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.