Project Management Developer

Samsung C&T America, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Samsung C&T Renewables America seeks a Project Development Director to drive land acquisition and development for utility-scale solar across North America. You will lead due diligence, negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering, legal, and environmental teams to secure and manage real estate interests for projects.

The role requires hands-on solar development experience, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to manage environmental due diligence, permitting, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required in a related field (Civil/Environmental/Energy).
• 4+ years of hands-on Solar Project Development (Real Estate) experience.
• Strong negotiation and contract knowledge is a must.
• Proven ability to lead due diligence, title, easements, ROW, and permitting work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; capable of cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead real estate due diligence from site identification through project execution.
• Negotiate land terms, easements, ROW, and permitting agreements.
• Coordinate with engineering, environmental, legal, business development, and landowners.
• Perform title risk assessments and coordinate surveys (ALTA/TOPO).
• Coordinate with jurisdictions to obtain permits and tax abatements as applicable.

Skills

Real estate negotiation

Land records research

Permitting knowledge

Due diligence

Stakeholder engagement

Risk assessment

Public presentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Energy

Tools

ALTA surveys

Job description

Samsung C&T Corporation was founded in 1938 and is the parent company of Samsung Group. It is a Global Business Partner and Lifestyle Innovator pioneering new trends in the construction, trading & investment, fashion and resort industries. Its Trading & Investment Group operates in over 40 countries managing energy projects and industrial commodities (chemicals, steel, materials). It acts as a specialized trader and developer, focusing on renewable energy (solar/wind/ESS), LNG and new business ventures such as data centers.

In the United States, Samsung C&T Renewables has a track record of developing over 38GW of renewable energy projects since 2016. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, it currently manages a 20GW+ PV/BESS pipeline across 24 states, backed by a solid team of 100+ employees across the US and Seoul, South Korea. In addition, it has full development cycle capabilities, including in-house site acquisition, real estate, permitting, interconnection, engineering, pre-construction and much more. In Canada, Samsung has successfully developed, constructed, and continues to manage operation services for a 1.3GW solar and wind energy cluster.

About the Role

Samsung C&T Renewables America is seeking a highly motivated Project Development Director to support the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and development of land for utility-scale solar energy projects across North America. This role is critical to advancing our growing renewable energy portfolio by securing and managing the real estate interests necessary for successful project development.

The ideal candidate will bring hands-on experience in solar project development, land acquisition, and stakeholder negotiations, with a strong understanding of title, easements, rights-of-way, permitting, environmental due diligence, and land use regulations. Working cross-functionally with engineering, interconnection, environmental, legal, business development, and external consulting teams, this individual will lead real estate due diligence efforts from early-stage site identification through project execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct real estate research to help identify sites suitable for developing new projects for utility scale projects, including, but not limited to, conducting due diligence for zoning, flood-zoning, commercial terms, interconnection, tax abatements, surface & mineral title, surface use waivers, easements, ROW, oil & gas infrastructure, accommodation agreements, FAA permitting, environmental studies, ESA Phase I and Phase II, title insurance coordination, ALTA surveys, environmental and jurisdiction permitting, appraisal reports, wetland identification, protected species, archeological, hazardous material, road and highway access, geotechnical, topo, hydrology, etc.
• Conduct real estate search to determine the land with most preferable commercial terms for SCTA projects, and coordinate with landowners, agents, and/or assigned lawyers as required to discuss commercial terms, and manage the process to finalize an agreement.
• Perform zoning and use-of-land search to ensure the sites are suitable for future solar farms development according to the applicable jurisdictional requirement.
• Coordinate with applicable entities to negotiate terms and execute agreements to cross existing infrastructure facilities on the sites.
• Coordinate with applicable landowners/entities to negotiate terms and execute agreements to ensure easement and/or right-of-way rights.
• Cross-function with real estate team to coordinate with applicable entities to conduct mineral title search to identify the stakeholders for the applicable site(s), and perform assessment of title risk and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with applicable entities to negotiate terms and execute agreements to ensure accommodation agreements.
• Cross-function with real estate team to coordinate with right owners to request, or negotiate (as applicable) the waiver terms and agreements.
• Cross-function with interconnection team, engineers, or subcontractors to identify the load capacity of the transmission, or distribution lines.
• Coordinate with environmental consultant subcontractors to perform preliminary environmental studies, ESA Phase I, and ESA Phase II as applicable.
• Conduct flood zoning search to ensure the subject site(s) are not located on flooding zone.
• Coordinate with consultant contractors to perform preliminary and/or final geotechnical and hydrological studies.
• Coordinate with the applicable jurisdictions (federal, state, county, city, courts, DOT, etc.) to acquire specific permits required for projects.
• Conduct FAA analysis and apply and acquire applicable permits.
• Conduct wetland search, and coordinate with environmental consultants to identify if there are jurisdictional requirements.
• Coordinate with applicable jurisdictions or local tax consultants to; pre- determine (pre-conclude) tax abatement benefits for the applicable jurisdictions, apply for tax abatements, attend town hall meetings as needed, negotiate terms, and execute agreements.
• Cross-function with real estate team to coordinate with the surveyors to perform surveys (ALTA, TOPO, etc.) for the potential lands to identify the site boundaries, and associated infrastructures.
• Cross-function with real estate team to coordinate with the title insurance company to coordinate title underwriting issues relating to land ownership and title policies, and purchase the required insurance for the sites.
• Cross-function with business development team to understand and synchronize on the project requirement in terms of specifications, and timelines.
• Cross-function with legal team to discuss and negotiate the terms of the agreements.
• Coordinate with real-estate agents/brokers to perform the lease/buy/sell process as applicable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Energy or related field
• Four plus (4+) years of active and hands-on experience in Solar Project Development (Real Estate)
• Previous Landman experience is a strong preference
• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills is a must
• Written and verbal skills are vital in dealing with individuals as well as groups
• Negotiation experience is a must
• Basic legal and contractual experience is a must
• Ability to work independently or as part of a high-performing team
• Must be able to manage various tasks simultaneously in order to accomplish desired objectives.
• Effective public presentation
• Must be familiar with public land records and how to research ownership.
• Must be familiar with land use issues.
• Must be familiar with the survey and land engineering knowledge
• Must be familiar with crossing, easements, ROW, leasing, land acquisitions, and surface use waiver agreements.
• Must be familiar with environmental studies, ESA, and RECs
• Must be familiar with tax abatements terms, and process.
• Solid experience with jurisdictional entities on numerous basis is a must
• Must have hands-on experience with obtaining permits from applicable jurisdictions
• Knowledge about interconnection, transmission, and distribution lines is a preference.
• Knowledge about geotechnical and hydrological studies is a preference.
• Must be familiar with the title underwriting process
• Travel required, up to 50%
• Work with a global team delivering innovative, large-scale energy solutions.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for international collaboration.
• Work with a global organization committed to innovation and sustainability
• Opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic, mission-driven environment
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and international collaboration opportunities

The expected salary range for this position is $90,000- $120,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the candidate’s experience, skills, education, and location. Samsung C&T Corporation also offers a comprehensive benefits package, performance-based incentives, and opportunities for professional development.