Project Developer – Solar & Storage | Illinois (Remote)

talisman; Illinois; Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

talisman is seeking a Project Developer for its expanding Illinois portfolio. The role is remote with regular in-state travel, focusing on early-stage development from site identification through lease execution and stakeholder engagement.

You will work with an established team and represent the business to local authorities, governing bodies, and community stakeholders, building a strong project pipeline across solar and storage.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in energy project development with solar PV and/or battery storage.
• Degree in engineering, environmental science, real estate, public policy, or related field.
• Willingness to travel frequently to rural project sites.
• Strong knowledge of permitting, regulatory frameworks, and real estate development documentation.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with landowners, officials, and teams.

Responsibilities

• Own early-stage development for distributed generation projects from site identification to lease execution.
• Lead landowner outreach campaigns and lease negotiations from first contact to execution.
• Serve as primary contact with AHJs, planning bodies, and community stakeholders.
• Monitor zoning, environmental, and regulatory policy across portfolio and advocate for favorable policy.
• Keep milestones on track and maintain accurate project records for forecasting.
• Collaborate with development team to foster a responsible, accountable culture.

Skills

GIS proficiency

Stakeholder engagement

Landowner outreach

Pipeline management

Regulatory permitting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Environmental Science/Real Estate/Public Policy or related field

Tools

GIS platforms

Job description

We're working with an independent clean energy developer with a strong track record across community solar, C&I, and utility-scale markets to find a Project Developer for their expanding Illinois portfolio. This is a remote role based in Illinois or the wider Midwest, with regular in-state travel.

The role

You'll take ownership of early-stage development activity for a distributed generation pipeline -from site identification and landowner outreach through to lease execution and stakeholder engagement. You'll work closely with an established development team and regularly represent the business in front of local authorities, governing bodies, and community stakeholders.

What you'll be doing

• Building and managing a pipeline of early-stage DG opportunities, including map and site screening using GIS tools
• Leading landowner outreach campaigns and running lease negotiations from first contact through to execution, including handling legal encumbrances
• Serving as the primary point of contact with local AHJs, planning bodies, and community stakeholders
• Monitoring and tracking zoning, environmental, and regulatory policy across your project portfolio, and advocating for favorable policy where needed
• Keeping development milestones on track and on budget, and maintaining accurate project records to support company-wide forecasting
• Contributing to a collaborative, accountable team culture.

What they're looking for

• 3+ years in energy project development, with hands-on experience in solar PV and/or battery storage; distribution-level experience preferred
• A degree in engineering, environmental science, real estate, public policy, or a related field - or equivalent experience gained through progression in the renewable energy sector
• Comfort working independently in a field-based role, including frequent travel to rural project sites on short notice
• Proficiency with GIS platforms and project database management
• Solid grounding in permitting, regulatory frameworks, and real estate development documentation
• Strong communicator and relationship-builder - comfortable engaging landowners, local officials, and internal teams alike
• Self-starter with the resilience and problem-solving instinct to navigate a fast-moving development environment