Senior Manager, Utility Scale Development

NCAEC; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 141,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) match

Job summary

RWE Americas is seeking a Senior Manager, Utility Scale Development to initiate, develop, and acquire utility-scale solar, wind and energy storage projects in the US and Canada. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage full project lifecycles, and collaborate with internal experts and external consultants to deliver projects on strategy.

The role requires strong leadership, project management, and the ability to travel up to 50% to field locations and other offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business/economics, environmental science, or relevant fields.
• 7+ years' experience in renewable energy infrastructure, including wind/solar/storage in the US.
• Exceptional project management skills.
• Motivated self-starter with goal orientation and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to multi-task and work independently and in a team.
• Strong leadership, communication, and deadlines discipline.
• Strong organization and coordination across tasks.
• Strong interpersonal skills and customer relationship management.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.
• Office-based role with occasional travel to other offices/field locations.

Responsibilities

• Develop a portfolio of utility-scale Solar, Wind and Storage projects from greenfielding to construction start.
• Serve as project lead, managing large cross-functional teams.
• Manage full project lifecycle: site due diligence, land control, permitting, interconnection, engineering & pre-construction, tax equity financing.
• Oversee cost estimation and EPC bidding to firm up CAPEX with Precon and Procurement.
• Optimize engineering design and provide construction phase support to COD.
• Mentor junior Development Managers/Associates.
• Identify location opportunities with commercial/technical teams for financial attractiveness.
• Drive competitiveness via technical, commercial, and financial levers.
• Lead due diligence for acquisitions with M&A team and prepare management presentations.
• Manage budgets, objectives, schedules, and deliverables; contribute to regional strategy and improvements.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Multi-tasking

Team collaboration

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Teams

Job description

Senior Manager, Utility Scale Development at RWE Americas is responsible for initiating, developing, and acquiring utility-scale solar, wind and energy storage projects in the US and Canada. The Senior Manager will play a key role in delivering renewable energy projects in alignment with RWE’s strategy in North America.

Role Responsibilities:

• Develop a portfolio of utility-scale Solar, Wind and Energy Storage projects, from greenfielding to start of construction
• Serve as project lead, managing large cross-functional project teams
• Manage the full project lifecycle, working with a strong backbone of internal subject matter experts and external consultants. This includes site due diligence, securing land control agreements, environmental and permitting, interconnection, engineering & pre-construction, energy yield, tax abatements, power marketing, and tax equity financing
• Manage cost estimating and EPC bidding process to firm up CAPEX as collaborating with Precon and Procurement teams
• Manage optimization of engineering design
• Provide support during the construction phase to ensure successful COD.
• Support more junior Development Managers / Associates that are in the lead of individual projects
• Understand the key drivers for project’s financial attractiveness and identify best project locations in collaboration with RWE’s commercial and technical teams
• Drive project competitiveness optimization, via technical, commercial and financial levers
• Lead the due diligence of project acquisitions, in collaboration with RWE’s M&A team
• Prepare management presentations and drive internal approval processes
• Manage project budgets, objectives, schedules, and deliverables for assigned development projects
• Actively participate in the strategy for the region and internal improvement initiatives
• Provide support during the construction phase to ensure successful COD

Job Requirements and Experiences:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business/economics, environmental science, or relevant fields
• Minimum7 years' of work experience applicable to renewable energy infrastructure, including experience in developing wind, solar, or battery storage projects in the US
• Exceptional project management skills
• Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
• Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team
• Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines
• Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable
• Detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts
• Strong problem-solving abilities, interpersonal skills, attention to detail and work ethic
• Ability to travel up to 50%
• This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWEA offices and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $141,000 - $190,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors – Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.