Project Development Manager

H9 Talent Solutions; Akron (OH); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Performance-based incentives

Long-term opportunities

Job summary

H9 Talent Solutions is seeking a Project Development Manager to lead and support the full development lifecycle of major thermal power generation projects in the United States, from feasibility through to EPC preparation. The role requires coordinating across internal teams, utilities, and regulators to secure approvals and enable construction.

You will work at the intersection of commercial development and technical delivery, shaping project configurations and managing schedules, risks, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Construction Management or related discipline.
• 8–15+ years’ experience in power generation, energy infrastructure or large-scale industrial project development.
• Proven experience in project development for thermal power, gas generation or utility-scale energy assets.
• Strong understanding of permitting and environmental approval processes.
• Grid interconnection and utility coordination experience.
• Experience supporting or leading projects progressing to financial close.
• Strong stakeholder management across technical, commercial and regulatory groups.
• Experience working with utilities, IPPs, developers or EPC contractors.

Responsibilities

• Lead development activities across early-stage and advanced-stage power generation projects.
• Manage feasibility studies, site selection and concept design development.
• Coordinate permitting, environmental approvals and regulatory engagement.
• Support commercial structuring, including offtake, fuel supply and interconnection arrangements.
• Engage with utilities, grid operators and regulatory bodies.
• Develop and maintain project financial models in collaboration with finance teams.
• Support negotiation of key development agreements and contracts.
• Coordinate technical advisors, consultants and engineering studies.
• Assist in preparation of projects for EPC tendering and financial close.
• Manage project schedules, development milestones and risk registers.
• Support investor, partner and stakeholder engagement processes.

Skills

Power project development

Stakeholder management

Financial modelling

Regulatory coordination

Grid interconnection

Commercial structuring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Finance/Construction Management

Job description

Location: United States (flexible / hybrid with site travel)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Project Value: Multi-Billion Dollar Programme

About the Opportunity

We are supporting the development of a major US power generation programme linked to next-generation AI and hyperscale data centre infrastructure.

This is a rare opportunity to join a high-growth infrastructure platform at the front end of project delivery, shaping the development of large-scale thermal power generation assets from concept through to financial close and EPC transition.

We are seeking an experienced Project Development Manager with a strong background in utility-scale power generation and complex energy infrastructure development.

The Role

The Project Development Manager will lead and support the full development lifecycle of a major thermal power generation project, including feasibility, permitting, commercial structuring, stakeholder engagement and preparation for EPC execution.

This role sits at the intersection of commercial development, technical project definition and regulatory approval, requiring strong coordination across internal teams, external advisors, utilities and offtake counterparties.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping project configuration, securing approvals and enabling successful transition into construction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development activities across early-stage and advanced-stage power generation projects
• Manage project feasibility studies, site selection and concept design development
• Coordinate permitting, environmental approvals and regulatory engagement
• Support commercial structuring, including offtake, fuel supply and interconnection arrangements
• Engage with utilities, grid operators and regulatory bodies
• Develop and maintain project financial models in collaboration with finance teams
• Support negotiation of key development agreements and contracts
• Coordinate technical advisors, consultants and engineering studies
• Assist in preparation of projects for EPC tendering and financial close
• Manage project schedules, development milestones and risk registers
• Support investor, partner and stakeholder engagement processes

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Construction Management or related discipline
• 8–15+ years’ experience in power generation, energy infrastructure or large-scale industrial project development
• Proven experience in project development for thermal power, gas generation or utility-scale energy assets
• Strong understanding of:
• Permitting and environmental approval processes
• Grid interconnection and utility coordination
• Commercial structuring of energy projects
• Experience supporting or leading projects progressing to financial close
• Strong stakeholder management skills across technical, commercial and regulatory groups
• Experience working with utilities, IPPs, developers or EPC contractors

Preferred Experience

• Exposure to >500MW generation projects
• Experience in fast-growing infrastructure sectors such as AI data centres, LNG, or hyperscale industrial developments
• Familiarity with US power markets and regulatory frameworks
• Experience with project finance structures and investor engagement
• Strong analytical and financial modelling capability
• Prior involvement in EPC transition or project handover phases

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to shape a major next-generation energy infrastructure programme
• High-impact development role within a rapidly expanding sector
• Exposure to large-scale AI-driven power demand projects
• Competitive compensation and performance-based incentives
• Long-term pipeline of development opportunities