Solar Project Development Director

J T; Illinois City (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

J T in Illinois seeks a Director of Development to lead identification, origination, and advancement of community solar, storage, and distributed generation projects across the region.

The role combines strategic planning with hands-on execution, managing a development team from site control through Notice to Proceed, while engaging cross-functionally with Real Estate, Interconnection, Finance, Legal, and Construction teams to deliver results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or related field.
• 10+ years in renewable energy project development or related energy sector management.
• Leadership with direct team management, coaching, and talent retention.
• Deep knowledge of power market dynamics, permitting, interconnection, and project life cycles.
• Strong understanding of project finance and revenue stacking.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute regional strategy to grow the project pipeline.
• Manage, mentor, and build a team of development managers and associates.
• Oversee full-cycle development from land acquisition through NTP.
• Direct negotiations for vendor contracts and service agreements.
• Collaborate with Real Estate, Interconnection, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Construction teams.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy development

Project management

Stakeholder management

Renewable energy

Interconnection knowledge

Negotiation

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Engineering

Master’s degree or PMP certification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Project management tools

Job description

Position Overview

Title: Director, Development

Supervisor: VP, Development

Location: State of Illinois

Salary Range: $140,000 – $170,000 USD

Bonus Opportunity: Up to 35% of annual salary

We are seeking a Director of Development to lead the identification, origination, and advancement of community solar, standalone energy storage, and distributed generation opportunities across the region. This role requires a blend of strategic planning and hands-on execution—managing a team of developers while collaborating cross-functionally to drive projects from initial site control through Notice to Proceed (NTP).

The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with a passion for clean energy, deep market insight, and a proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Develop and execute regional strategy to grow the project pipeline in alignment with organizational goals.
• Manage, mentor, and build the capabilities of a dedicated team of development managers and associates.
• Set and monitor stage-gate criteria for capital investments, evaluating project risk and success metrics at every phase.
• Report portfolio progress, budget adherence, and risk profiles to executive leadership while optimizing internal processes for scale.

Pipeline & Project Execution

• Oversee full-cycle development for a large portfolio ($100+\text{ MW}$), managing all stages from land acquisition through NTP.
• Lead all core development functions, including siting, environmental permitting, utility interconnection, stakeholder engagement, and project budgeting.
• Ensure projects adhere to aggressive schedules, proactively identifying and mitigating potential execution risks.
• Direct negotiations for vendor contracts, service agreements, and consultant engagements.

Commercial & Market Strategy

• Leverage strong retail/wholesale market knowledge to expand opportunities across C&I (Commercial & Industrial) and MUSH (Municipal, Universities, Schools, Hospitals) sectors.
• Structure and negotiate agreements for behind-the-meter (BTM) project developments with commercial off-takers.
• Maximize federal tax incentive opportunities (e.g., ITC) while actively identifying revenue-stacking strategies and economic pathways for standalone viability.
• Analyze and integrate energy storage deployments to balance evolving regulatory and policy landscapes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain durable relationships with landowners, municipal officials, regulators, utilities, and local communities.
• Work closely with internal Real Estate, Interconnection, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Construction teams to ensure seamless project handoffs and commercial alignment.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Environmental Science, Energy, or a related field; Master’s degree or PMP certification preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years in renewable energy project development, utility-scale/distributed generation, or related energy sector management.
• Leadership: Proven track record of direct team management, coaching, and talent retention.
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of power market dynamics, permitting protocols, interconnection processes, and project development life cycles.
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of project finance, commercial deal structuring, capital allocations, and revenue stacking.
• Soft Skills: Excellent negotiation, public presentation, strategic decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Travel: Willingness to travel regularly across the region as required by project development needs.