Project Director – Engineering & Construction (Renewable Energy)

Apex Clean Energy; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Clean Energy seeks a Project Executive (external title Project Director) to lead multiple utility-scale renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and BESS, from pre-construction to commissioning. This senior role reports to the Vice President of Construction and drives safety, quality, cost, and scheduling excellence across sites.

You will oversee project managers, coordinate with Development, Engineering, Procurement, and Asset Management, and ensure successful handoffs to Asset

Qualifications

• Experience leading large utility-scale energy projects (wind, solar, battery storage) from pre-construction to commissioning.
• Proven ability to oversee multiple projects and cross-functional teams.
• Strong procurement, contracting, and risk-management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of multiple utility-scale wind, solar, and BESS projects from pre-construction through COD.
• Direct leadership and oversight of project managers and construction teams across sites.
• Collaborate with Development, Engineering, Procurement, and Asset Management for smooth handoffs and readiness.
• Establish governance, reporting, and performance tracking for project transparency.
• Drive execution strategies, including EPC and multi-contract approaches, sequencing and planning.
• Own budgets, schedules, and risk profiles; proactively mitigate risks.
• Support procurement strategies for major equipment and logistics planning.
• Lead commercial negotiations and oversee EPC contracts and major equipment supply agreements.
• Ensure compliance with permitting, environmental, and internal standards.

Skills

Project leadership

Construction management

Budget & scheduling

Contract negotiations

Governance & reporting

Job description

To ensure clarity in our organizational structure, we will be using the external title "Project Director" while maintaining the internal title of "Project Executive." The Project Executive oversees multiple utility-scale renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and battery storage. This position is essential for advancing our mission to accelerate the transition to clean energy, providing strategic leadership from pre-construction to commissioning, and ensuring projects meet safety, quality, cost, and scheduling goals. This title distinction accurately reflects the role's level of responsibility while aligning with industry standards for external engagements. The Project Executive is a senior leader within Apex Clean Energy’s Engineering & Construction division, responsible for the successful execution of multiple utility-scale renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Reporting to the Vice President of Construction, this role provides strategic oversight and leadership across multiple concurrent projects or large, complex developments from pre-construction through commissioning and commercial operation.The Project Executive serves as a key driver of project performance, ensuring alignment with Apex’s standards for safety, quality, cost, and schedule, while supporting the company’s mission to accelerate the shift to clean energy.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of multiple, or single large utility-scale wind, solar, and BESS projects, ensuring delivery from pre-construction through COD in alignment with Apex’s development and operational objectives.
• Provide direct leadership and oversight to project managers, and construction management teams across multiple active project sites.
• Partner closely with Development, Engineering, Procurement, and Asset Management teams to ensure seamless project handoff, execution, and operational readiness.
• Establish and maintain project governance, reporting, and performance tracking to ensure transparency and accountability across all assigned projects.
• Drive execution strategies, including contracting models (EPC, multi-contract, hybrid approaches), construction sequencing, and resource planning.
• Maintain full accountability for project budgets, schedules, and risk profiles, proactively identifying and mitigating execution risks.
• Support and influence procurement strategies alongside Supply Chain, including major equipment sourcing (turbines, modules, inverters, BESS systems) and logistics planning.
• Lead commercial negotiations and oversight of EPC agreements, major equipment supply contracts, and construction services.
• Ensure compliance with all permitting, environmental, and regulatory requirements, as well as Apex’s internal standards and procedures.
• Serve as a senior representative to internal leadership, providing regular updates to the VP of Construction and executive team on project status, risks, and performance metrics.
• Foster a culture of safety excellence, quality execution, and continuous improvement across all project teams and sites.
• Support the transition of projects to Asset Management, ensuring operational readiness and performance optimization post-COD.