Director of Development

Different Technologies Pty Ltd.

Houston (TX)

On-site

USD 150,000 - 230,000

Full time

5 days ago
Be an early applicant
Application generator

Stand out for this role — generate a tailored resume and cover letter in about a minute.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary & bonus
Long-term incentive plan
Health benefits
401(k)

Job summary

Grid United seeks a Director of Development to lead multi-state electric transmission projects from early evaluation through permitting and construction readiness. The role requires coordinating land, routing, environmental, regulatory, engineering, and finance teams to deliver results.

Based in Houston, TX, the Director will drive project strategy, manage budgets, and build trusted relationships with landowners, utilities, regulators, and communities while navigating complex development

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree helpful but not required.
  • 8+ years in infrastructure development with transmission/renewables exposure.
  • Experience advancing complex projects through multiple development stages.
  • Led multidisciplinary teams across internal/external partners.
  • Knowledge of land acquisition, routing, permitting, environmental review, and community engagement.
  • Experience budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and executive reporting.
  • Strong relationships with landowners, utilities, regulators, and stakeholders.
  • Familiar with state/federal permitting; NEPA knowledge preferred.
  • Excellent written, verbal, negotiation, and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead development of complex transmission projects from early evaluation through permitting and construction readiness.
  • Create and manage integrated project strategies, budgets, schedules, and risk registers.
  • Coordinate cross-functional work across land, routing, environmental, regulatory, engineering, commercial, legal, finance, and comms teams.
  • Direct permitting strategies at local, state, and federal levels, including environmental reviews.
  • Oversee land acquisition, routing, outreach, and community engagement with internal and external partners.
  • Build relationships with landowners, utilities, regulators, and project stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with commercial/technical teams on market drivers, interconnection, and project economics.
  • Identify risks, provide clear recommendations to senior leadership, and manage consultants.

Skills

Leadership
Transmission experience
Budgeting & scheduling
Regulatory & permitting
Land acquisition & stakeholder eng.
NEPA familiarity
MS Office / GIS familiarity
Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
Advanced degree helpful

Tools

GIS tools
Project controls software
Microsoft 365 (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICATION
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
The Organization

Grid United is a mission driven company aiming to solve the largest barrier to a more reliable, resilient and affordable grid by developing new long haul electric transmission lines in the United States. Established in 2021 by proven industry leaders, Grid United is developing utility-scale electric multi-state transmission projects that will provide long-term economic benefits to communities across the country, provide Americans with improved grid resiliency for our homes and businesses, and cost savings for electricity consumers.

More information about the company can be found at www.gridunited.com

The Position

Grid United is seeking an experienced Director of Development to lead the development of large-scale electric transmission projects from early-stage evaluation through permitting, commercial advancement, and construction readiness.

The Director will serve as the primary development leader for one or more projects, establishing the project strategy, driving key decisions, managing risk, and coordinating work across land, routing, environmental, regulatory, engineering, commercial, legal, finance, and communications teams. This person will be expected to independently navigate complex development challenges while creating clarity, accountability, and momentum across the project team.

This position will report to the Chief Development or Executive Officer and may be based in Houston, Texas, or near an active project area, depending on business and project needs.

Key Responsibilities & Outcomes
  • Lead the development of one or more complex transmission projects from early-stage evaluation through permitting, commercial advancement, and construction readiness.
  • Develop and manage integrated project strategies, budgets, schedules, risk registers, priorities, and executive reporting.
  • Coordinate cross-functional work across land, routing, environmental, regulatory, engineering, commercial, legal, finance, and communications teams.
  • Direct local, state, and federal permitting and regulatory strategies, including environmental review and public utility commission processes.
  • Oversee land acquisition, routing, stakeholder outreach, and community engagement activities in partnership with internal teams and external consultants.
  • Build trusted relationships with landowners, utilities, customers, regulators, public officials, community leaders, and other project stakeholders.
  • Partner with commercial and technical teams to evaluate market drivers, customer needs, interconnection requirements, project economics, and development opportunities.
  • Identify and mitigate project risks, resolve complex development challenges, and provide clear recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Select and manage consultants while coaching project managers and contributing to the continued improvement of Grid United’s development processes and capabilities.
Behaviors – which are essential to success of this team
  • Be exemplars of the Grid United values of humility, tenacity, ingenuity and grace.
  • Build, maintain and value broad, and deep stakeholder relationships, plus have a personal commitment to making a difference in the community.
  • Proactively work with stakeholders to solve problems in a calm and no blame way.
Desired Experience and Skills
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. An advanced degree is helpful but not required.
  • 8+ years of relevant professional experience, with substantial experience in electric transmission, renewable energy, or other linear infrastructure development.
  • Demonstrated experience advancing complex infrastructure projects through multiple stages of development.
  • Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating work across multiple internal functions and external partners.
  • Working knowledge of land acquisition, routing, permitting, environmental review, engineering, regulatory, commercial, and community engagement activities.
  • Experience developing and managing project budgets, schedules, risk registers, consultants, and executive reporting.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with landowners, utilities, public officials, regulators, community leaders, customers, and other external stakeholders.
  • Experience with state and federal permitting processes. Familiarity with NEPA and public utility commission proceedings is strongly preferred.
  • Strong judgment and the ability to recognize, assess, communicate, and mitigate project risks.
  • Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and facilitation skills.
  • Ability to absorb complex information quickly and communicate the most important issues clearly and concisely.
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment with ambiguity, changing priorities, and multiple competing deadlines.
  • Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
  • Familiarity with GIS tools, mapping platforms, project controls, and stakeholder or land-management systems is preferred.
  • Willingness and ability to travel regularly to project regions and stakeholder meetings.
What the Right Candidate Will Love about this Opportunity
  • An organization dedicated to solving the ever-changing Rubik's cube of high voltage transmission development in a fast paced, dynamic and innovative culture
  • Working with a core group of dedicated and thoughtful colleagues.
  • Working on a day-to-day basis with highly experienced and proven industry leaders
  • Being empowered to play a leading role in delivering large-scale projects that will materially change the energy future of America
  • Working in an organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and having a positive social impact
  • Excellent financial backing from a leading energy investor with long term commitment, passion for energy, and an understanding and appetite to tackle the challenges of transmission development

Grid United is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any basis prohibited by applicable law.

Grid United offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a competitive base salary and bonus incentive plan, long term incentive plan, health benefits, 401(k), and more.

  • competitive base salary and bonus incentive plan
  • long term incentive plan
  • health benefits
  • 401(k)
  • and more
Get your free, confidential resume review.
or drag and drop your file here.
Similar jobs

Similar jobs worth comparing

Director of Development
Director of Development

Grid United LLC. • Houston (TX)

On-site
USD 180,000 - 280,000
Health benefits
401(k)
Sr. Manager/Director of Engineering (TLine)
Sr. Manager/Director of Engineering (TLine)

Grid United LLC. • Houston (TX), Northern (KY)

Hybrid
USD 170,000 - 190,000
Sr. Manager/Director of Engineering (TLine)
Sr. Manager/Director of Engineering (TLine)

Grid United • Houston (TX)

On-site
USD 150,000 - 210,000
Competitive base salary
Bonus incentive plan
Long-term incentive plan
+2
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Director, Regulatory Affairs

Grid United • United States

Hybrid
USD 100,000 - 130,000
Comprehensive benefits package
401(k) plan
Competitive base salary and bonus incentive plan
Substation Engineering Manager
Substation Engineering Manager

Different Technologies Pty Ltd. • Houston (TX)

Hybrid
USD 140,000 - 190,000
Open Requisition - Environmental Manager (Arizona)
Open Requisition - Environmental Manager (Arizona)

Different Technologies Pty Ltd. • Tucson (AZ)

Hybrid
USD 80,000 - 100,000
Comprehensive benefits package
Health benefits
401(k)
+1
Finance Senior Associate
Finance Senior Associate

Grid United LLC. • Houston (TX)

On-site
USD 80,000 - 110,000
Competitive base salary
Bonus incentive plan
Health benefits
+1
Sr. Commercial Analytics Associate
Sr. Commercial Analytics Associate

Grid United • Houston (TX)

On-site
USD 120,000 - 180,000
Health benefits
401(k)
Bonus incentive plan
Sr. Commercial Analytics Associate
Sr. Commercial Analytics Associate

Grid United LLC. • Houston (TX)

On-site
USD 90,000 - 150,000
Substation Engineering Manager
Substation Engineering Manager

Grid United • Houston (TX)

Hybrid
USD 120,000 - 190,000
Bonus incentive plan
Long term incentive plan
Health benefits
+1