Project Development Manager

Clayton Services; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 135,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

401(k)

PTO

Stock options

Job summary

A dynamic engineering firm in Houston, Texas is seeking a Project Development Manager to oversee strategic project development activities. This role requires strong leadership, excellent communication skills, and experience in capital project development, particularly in the energy and chemical sectors. Candidates should have a relevant degree and a proven track record in project justification, business case development, and managing project scopes. Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits included.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in capital project development.
• Experience with project justification and business case development.
• Proven knowledge of FEL methodologies and early-phase estimating.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop strategic projects that align with company objectives.
• Oversee project development activities from concept selection to execution.
• Manage the financial aspects of contracts, including invoicing.

Skills

Strong project leadership and self-management capabilities

Excellent written and verbal communication

Proactive risk identification

Analytical rigor and business acumen

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

8+ years of experience in capital project development

Job description

This range is provided by Clayton Services. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$135,000.00/yr - $175,000.00/yr

Direct message the job poster from Clayton Services

Project Development Manager to join a thriving company in Houston, Texas. The Project Development Manager will be responsible for identifying, developing, and advancing strategic projects through early-stage development, ensuring alignment with company objectives and market opportunities. This role oversees project development activities from concept selection through pre-FEED, ensuring projects meet schedule, budget, and strategic goals. The position requires strong leadership, commercial acumen, and technical understanding to justify projects and prepare them for successful execution.

Job Type: Direct Hire

Pay Rate: $135,000 - $175,000/year

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, stock options, and more.

• Identify potential customers, develop and build strong business relationships, assist in putting together a scope of work, lead in creating proposals, negotiate, and close deals.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Projects Team, Contract Managers, Engineering, Cost Accounting) to maximize communication and resource usage for effective operations.
• Monitor and control project execution and delivery through management of personnel and resources to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget parameters.
• Communicate regularly with owners to resolve conflicts and negotiate changes in scope of work; serve as main contact for all status updates, additional labor requests, and material/equipment needs.
• Prepare weekly and monthly reports to track project progress.
• Advise senior-level management of potential project problems and assist in resolution.
• Manage the financial aspect of contracts, including fee payments, invoices, and verification of incurred expenses.
• Drive project evaluation, concept selection, and alignment with company strategy.
• Develop early project roadmaps, including RACI matrices to clarify roles and responsibilities.
• Build organization plans, governance deliverables, and stage-gate documentation.
• Establish preliminary long-lead equipment lists and maintain early vendor lists for procurement visibility.
• Lead preparation of Project Charters, Business Cases, and Project Objectives & Strategy (POS).
• Define contracting strategies for future FEED and execution phases.
• Set up scope tracking, risk registers, and mitigation strategies.
• Support stage-gate readiness and provide clear decision frameworks.
• Lead cross-functional teams across technical, commercial, and operational functions.
• Develop early cost estimates (Class 4/5) and Level 1 schedules to guide project progression.
• Interface with senior leadership and marketing to identify and prioritize opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Project Development Manager Skills and Abilities:

• Strong project leadership and self-management capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including executive-level reporting.
• Proactive risk identification and disciplined project control.
• Systems thinking and structured project development skills.
• Strong analytical rigor and business acumen.
• Tenacity and resilience in driving projects through ambiguity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; knowledge of financial modeling preferred.

Project Development Manager Education and Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in capital project development (energy, chemicals, industrial gas, or related).
• Experience with project justification, business case development, and governance processes.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (preferred), Business, Project Management, or related field.
• Proven knowledge of FEL methodologies, early-phase estimating, and scheduling.
• Experience in syngas, hydrogen, or carbon capture projects.
• Familiarity with stage-gate processes and investment approval frameworks is preferred.
• Background in contracting strategy, subcontractor management, and risk planning is preferred.
• Exposure to cost modeling, scenario analysis, and execution strategy definition is preferred.
• Strong business development and negotiation skills.

Project Development Manager - Immediate need. Apply today!

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

• Project Management and Engineering
• Services for Renewable Energy, Engineering Services, and Energy Technology