Project Developer

Distributed Sun; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus compensation plan

Equity option award

401(k) plan with company match

Health, dental, and vision benefits

Job summary

Distributed Sun seeks an experienced renewable energy developer to focus on origination and permitting for portfolios of community solar, solar and battery storage projects. The Senior Project Developer will lead site origination, interconnection, budgeting, and financing while representing the company with stakeholders.

Based in Illinois with emphasis on New York and New Jersey experience, the role requires collaboration across the development team and frequent stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, public policy, or related field, or 6+ years progression in renewables.
• 5+ years in renewable energy project development; distribution-level experience preferred.
• Collaborate with local governments in rural locations for mutually agreeable outcomes.
• Frequent travel to project sites, often rural and on short notice.
• Proven track record delivering complex renewables projects across the development cycle.
• Deep understanding of renewable tech, project finance, permitting, and regulatory frameworks.
• Familiarity with mapping tools is useful; documentation management and legal structuring welcomed.
• Tenacity and problem-solving ability in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; strong organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Deliver development milestones on time, within budget, and compliant with regulations.
• Build relationships with utilities, landowners and vendors; conduct community outreach when required.
• Represent projects at public meetings and hearings.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to overcome challenges.
• Understand zoning, environmental policies; advocate for policy change if needed.
• Manage compilation of application materials through permitting stages.
• Maintain accurate records; contribute to budgeting and forecasting.
• Be a team player and foster accountability, innovation, and collaboration.

Skills

Project development

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Permitting

Budget management

Financing understanding

Schedule coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/environmental science/public policy

Job description

Position Overview We have some awesome development plans for Illinois – and we’re looking for someone ready to step up and make them happen! Distributed Sun seeks an experienced renewable energy developer to focus on the origination permitting processes - and associated discovery and reporting - for portfolios of established, early-stage projects. Current efforts include Community Solar and Battery Storage projects; while the focus for this role is New York, New Jersey experience would be a bonus.

The Senior Project Developer will collaborate with other members of the Development Team taking responsibility for all aspects of project development. This may include site origination, design, interconnection, project budget management and financing. Critically, they will frequently represent the company and project, often alone, in front of various stakeholders and governing bodies.

About The Distributed Sun Group

About Distributed Sun group

Distributed Sun (DSUN) is a clean energy infrastructure provider, proudly independent since 2009, that develops, finances, owns, and operates solar and battery storage projects across the community solar, commercial & industrial, and utility-scale markets. We’ve delivered groundbreaking systems – many the first of their kind – in 17 states. Being nimble, forward-thinking, creatively bold, and constructively challenging is in our DNA, and we look for those same qualities in our team. It’s how we’ve led and thrived for over 15 years. Join us, and you’ll be part of a curious, committed team accelerating the clean energy transition through smart infrastructure and bold ideas.

DSUN is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. Employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.

Core Responsibilities

• Ensure key development milestones are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including utilities, landowners and vendors. Where required, perform community outreach.
• Represent projects at public meetings and hearings.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to assess and overcome challenges.
• Understand and track zoning, environmental and other policies impacting the projects you represent. As needed, advocate for policy change and/or adoption.
• Manage the compilation of application materials and all stages of relevant permitting processes.
• Support the operations of the business by maintaining accurate and timely records. Contribute to budgeting and planning elements for company forecasting and sales.
• Be a team player: participate in continually enhancing a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with focus in engineering, environmental science, real estate, public policy, or related field, or a minimum of 6 years of additional demonstrable progression within the wider renewable energy industry, beyond the experience described below
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in renewable energy project development, with distribution-level experience preferred. Must have experience of solar PV and/or battery energy storage systems.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with local governments in rural locations, resulting in mutually agreeable outcomes.
• Availability to undertake frequent travel to existing or potential project sites, often in rural locations and sometimes on short notice
• Proven track record of successfully contributing to the delivery of complex renewable energy projects, with a deep understanding all aspects of the development cycle from origination to COD.
• Detailed understanding of renewable energy technologies, project finance, permitting processes, and regulatory frameworks. Familiarity with mapping tools is useful. Understanding of real estate and energy project development documentation and documentation management and legal structuring welcomed.
• Demonstrated tenacity, resilience, and problem-solving ability to overcome challenges and produce results in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with education and experience
• Bonus compensation plan
• Equity option award
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Health, dental, and vision benefits plan