Senior Director, Brownfield BESS – Northeast

Elevate Infrastructure; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevate Infrastructure in New York is seeking a Director of Brownfields Development to lead technical development for Northeast brownfield BESS projects, including NYC sites. You will own standards, mentor the team, and coordinate geotechnical, permitting, and gen-tie work.

Ideal candidate has 8–12 years in energy infrastructure with strong engineering background; a PE license is a plus. Deep NY regulatory experience and willingness to travel are required.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years in energy infrastructure development with a strong technical foundation; utility‑scale BESS or power generation experience preferred.
• Engineering background strongly preferred; PE license or equivalent technical credentials a plus.
• Demonstrated expertise in brownfield site development, including environmental due diligence, remediation oversight, and coordination under state and federal cleanup programs; NYSDEC BCP experience a strong plus.
• Hands‑on geotechnical and civil engineering coordination experience — able to direct investigations, critically review subsurface reports, and work through civil/site design challenges with consultants.
• Deep experience with complex technical permitting in New York State, including SEQR/CEQR, NYSDEC, Army Corps, DOB, and FDNY; NYC regulatory experience highly preferred.
• Generator tie‑line development experience: ROW acquisition, transmission permitting, utility coordination, and interconnection agreement support.
• Strong working knowledge of the NYISO interconnection process and experience advancing projects through the queue.
• Proven experience managing the development‑to‑preconstruction handoff, including IFC package review, constructability coordination, and GC procurement.
• Skilled at managing external consultants — environmental, geotechnical, civil, permitting, legal — and integrating their work into a cohesive project narrative.
• Outstanding communication skills; equally effective in technical reviews and executive stakeholder presentations.
• Willingness to travel to project sites and regulatory meetings.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical development standards, workflows, and KPIs to drive optimal project execution across the brownfield platform.
• Own a portfolio of active brownfield BESS projects, maintaining development schedules, budgets, and stage-gate milestones to project finance standards.
• Coordinate across engineering, interconnection, finance, legal, policy, and construction teams to ensure technical and commercial viability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead technical brownfield due diligence, including Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments and coordination with environmental consultants on remediation scoping and execution.
• Lead complex, multi‑agency permitting for brownfield BESS projects, including SEQR/CEQR, NYSDEC, Army Corps of Engineers, local land use approvals, building permits, and FDNY/fire code compliance.
• Oversee geotechnical investigations, civil/site design coordination with engineers, and review of deliverables.
• Lead gen-tie development, including ROW identification, transmission line design, interconnection, and regulatory approvals.
• Own development-to-preconstruction handoff with IFC packages, permits, and project finance documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Travel willingness

Risk management

Education

Engineering degree

PE license (preferred)

Job description

Elevate Infrastructure in New York is seeking a Director of Brownfields Development to lead technical development for Northeast brownfield BESS projects, including NYC sites. You will own standards, mentor the team, and coordinate geotechnical, permitting, and gen-tie work.

Ideal candidate has 8–12 years in energy infrastructure with strong engineering background; a PE license is a plus. Deep NY regulatory experience and willingness to travel are required.