Director of Renewable Energy Project Development

J T; Illinois City (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

J T is 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.

The role requires managing a team of developers while collaborating cross-functionally to drive projects from initial site control through Notice to Proceed (NTP). The ideal candidate has a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced clean energy environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or a related field; Master's degree or PMP certification 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 protocols, interconnection processes, 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.
• 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+ 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 and MUSH 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.
• 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.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Public speaking

Strategic thinking

Team management

Education

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

Master's degree or PMP certification preferred

Job description

J T is 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.

The role requires managing a team of developers while collaborating cross-functionally to drive projects from initial site control through Notice to Proceed (NTP). The ideal candidate has a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced clean energy environment.