Flex Gen Project Dev Manager

RWE Gruppe; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 138,000 - 208,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

RWE Americas, LLC is expanding its Project Development team to originate and develop sites for data center load customers, combining gas generation with renewable assets. You will manage development activities from origination through feasibility assessments and interconnection planning, working with internal teams and external stakeholders to accelerate project delivery.

The role requires hands-on experience in energy infrastructure project development, with a focus on natural gas assets and

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in engineering, business, economics or related field.
• Master's degree is a plus for the role.

Responsibilities

• Site selection for data center and flexible generation projects.
• Create project budgets and development schedules.
• Coordinate environmental studies, engineering, and permitting with external teams.
• Represent RWE in engagements with transmission providers and permitting bodies.
• Mentor Project Associates and ensure timely, quality deliverables.
• Develop strategies including market entry, partnerships, and risk mitigation.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Development

Analysis

Prioritization

Internal communication

External representation

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s in engineering, business, economics

Master’s degree a plus

Tools

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

ArcGIS

Job description

RWE Americas, LLC

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Project Development

Remuneration: Exempt

Who is RWE? RWE is a global energy company and one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies with the goal of investing billions of dollars in the U.S. in the next decade.

We are expanding our Project Development team to serve the growing demand for energy from large load customers in the United States. This includes originating and developing sites for data center load customers, and combining gas-fired power generation with our core business of power generation through solar, wind, and battery storage. RWE develops, owns, and operates all generation assets, while pursuing development steps only for the data center site, including land, electrical interconnection, utilities and permits, thereby accelerating the customers’ speed to interconnection and power. The Project Development team closely collaborates with other internal functions (e.g., utility-scale renewable development) and external stakeholders to identify and develop the best sites for our expanding project portfolio. The Flex Gen Project Development Manager oversees project development activities from project origination and will support in taking financial investment decisions for data center sites and natural gas generation assets.

We are looking for individuals with experience in energy infrastructure project development, specifically natural gas development expertise, while other experience, e.g. in renewables, data center or other conventional generation is a plus. If you’re excited about helping RWE to expand its portfolio to serve new market needs, we look forward to speaking with you.

Role Responsibilities

• Leadership:
  • Site Selection for a regional or technology-specific pipeline of data center and flexible generation projects from early-stage development to FID.
  • Creation of project-level and portfolio-level capital budgets and development schedules.
  • External consultant teams performing support including: environmental studies, engineering work, and permitting.
  • Representation of RWE in formal engagements with transmission providers, state and local permitting bodies, and utility commissions.
  • Competitive intelligence and market analysis efforts to shape project origination priorities, directing internal support teams around project and team specific goals.
  • Act as a regional or functional point of contact for resolving major permitting or interconnection challenges.
  • Recommendations to senior leadership on project viability, strategic pivots, and investment decisions.
  • Mentoring of Project Associates, providing oversight on deliverables, timelines, and quality control.
• Collaboration:
  • Monitoring with internal teams policy and regulatory changes relevant to load and flexible generation applications (e.g., tax incentives, interconnection rules, etc.) and translate them into project strategy.
  • Creation and implementation of development strategies including market entry, partnership opportunities, and risk mitigation approaches.

Job Requirements and Experience

• Bachelor degree in engineering, business, economics, or other relevant field; Master's degree a plus.
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in the development of large infrastructure projects, ideally in natural gas assets, renewables, data centers, other conventional power generation or the broader energy industry, with a proven track record.
• Expertise in land owner negotiation, real estate agreement creation and management.
• Market knowledge:
  • Sophisticated understanding of technical, economic, and regulatory considerations for data center and/or flexible generation projects.
• Development expertise:
  • Deep knowledge of technology-specific development, including interconnection, land, utility needs (gas, water, fiber) and permitting.
• Analysis & Decisions:
  • Leads evaluation of complex trade‑offs (e.g., site vs grid capacity, permitting delays vs redesign).
• Prioritization:
  • Proactively addresses challenges in a cross‑functional context.
• Internal Communication:
  • Primary point of contact for internal stakeholders regarding project work.
• External Representation:
  • Acts as primary development contacts in external engagements with consultants and permitting agencies.
• Other considerations:
  • Pragmatic and solution‑oriented attitude. Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office and other project management tools such as Salesforce and ArcGIS for project portfolio management.
  • Willingness to travel based on project‑related necessities.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $138,000 - $208,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125‑year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors – Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.