Managing Director, Power Generation Development

Talen Energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and prescription plans

401(k) plan participation

Competitive vacation and sick time

Job summary

Talen Energy is seeking a Senior Director, Power Generation Development to oversee utility-scale energy projects in Houston, Texas. The role involves leading project development from origination through commercial operation, focusing on gas-fired generation and battery energy storage projects.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree along with over 10 years in power generation and demonstrated experience in developing generation projects. Benefits include comprehensive health plans, 401(k), and competitive vacation time.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in power generation and project development.
• Demonstrated experience with utility-scale battery energy storage project development.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing development budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of utility-scale generation projects.
• Identify and evaluate project opportunities including site selection.
• Coordinate environmental and land-use permitting strategies.

Skills

Project risk assessment

Negotiation of commercial agreements

Team leadership

Technical fluency

Regulatory navigation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, finance, or a related field

Tools

PJM market structure knowledge

Gas turbine technology knowledge

Job description

Senior Director, Power Generation Development (Houston, TX, Asset Development)

We are seeking a Senior (Managing) Director, Power Generation Development to lead origination, development, and execution of utility‑scale thermal and storage generation projects from early‑stage screening through commercial operation. The role is accountable for building and managing a portfolio of gas‑fired generation and battery energy storage projects, with a primary focus on PJM states and adjacent competitive power markets. The position combines project development leadership, commercial judgment, technical fluency, regulatory navigation, and team management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full life cycle development of new utility‑scale generation projects, from origination and screening through development, notice to proceed, construction support, and commercial operation.
• Develop and execute portfolio strategy for gas‑fired generation and battery energy storage projects in PJM and other targeted U.S. markets.
• Identify, evaluate, and advance greenfield and brownfield opportunities, including site selection, land control, fatal flaw analysis, permitting path, interconnection strategy, and commercial structuring.
• Direct multiple parallel development workstreams, including engineering, owner’s engineer support, environmental studies, transmission and interconnection, fuel transportation and gas supply, water, real estate, tax, community engagement, and market analysis.
• Lead concept development for simple‑cycle peakers, combined‑cycle facilities, and battery storage projects, including selection of major technology pathways and project configuration.
• Provide informed leadership on gas turbine technology selection, including aeroderivative units and large‑frame F‑class and H‑class equipment, with attention to performance, availability, dispatch profile, emissions profile, start characteristics, EPC implications, and long‑term commercial competitiveness.
• Coordinate internal investment analysis, capital cost estimates, operating assumptions, project schedules, and risk assessments to support development milestones and capital approval decisions.
• Negotiate and manage key commercial arrangements, including site control, gas supply and transportation precedent agreements, equipment term sheets, EPC interfaces, offtake structures, tolling or hedging frameworks, and development‑stage services agreements.
• Lead interconnection and transmission strategy, including queue participation, study management, upgrade risk assessment, and coordination with PJM, transmission owners, consultants, and utilities.
• Oversee environmental and land‑use permitting strategies across relevant state and local jurisdictions, including air permitting, water issues, zoning, wetlands, cultural resources, and related siting constraints.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with utilities, independent system operators, regulators, landowners, OEMs, EPC contractors, consultants, policymakers, local officials, community stakeholders, and major customers.
• Partner with commercial, finance, legal, origination, operations, construction, and executive leadership teams to develop competitive investment cases and customer solutions.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a development team; establish clear priorities, accountability, development processes, and reporting cadence.
• Monitor market developments, competitive activity, policy changes, and load growth trends affecting project viability, especially in PJM and data‑center‑driven demand environments.
• Present project recommendations, portfolio updates, and investment cases to senior executives, investment committees, and board‑level stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, finance, economics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in power generation, infrastructure, or energy project development, with substantial time spent leading utility‑scale generation projects.
• Demonstrated experience developing gas‑fired generation projects, including simple‑cycle and combined‑cycle facilities.
• Demonstrated experience with utility‑scale battery energy storage project development.
• Direct familiarity with aeroderivative gas turbines and large‑frame gas turbine technologies, including F‑class and H‑class units.
• History of managing projects from origination or early development through commercial operation, asset acquisition, or ready‑to‑build status.
• Strong knowledge of PJM market structure, interconnection processes, development considerations, and state‑level siting and permitting environments in PJM states.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams and coordinating external advisors, consultants, and counterparties.
• Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing development budgets and schedules.
• Strong command of project risk assessment, competitive power market economics, and major drivers of project feasibility.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including executive‑level communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in engineering, business, finance, or related discipline.
• Professional Engineer license and/or MBA.
• Experience in independent power, utility, merchant generation, or large energy infrastructure platforms.
• Experience with data‑center‑related load growth opportunities, utility supply solutions, or large C&I customer‑driven generation development.
• Familiarity with environmental compliance requirements, emissions control considerations, and major equipment procurement strategy for gas generation.
• Experience in one or more PJM states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, or Virginia.

Leadership Profile

Strategic, commercially minded developer who can move between market opportunity, technical detail, and execution risk. Strong decision‑maker under uncertainty with the ability to prioritize across a portfolio of opportunities. Collaborative leader who aligns internal stakeholders while maintaining external credibility with counterparties and regulators. Hands‑on operator who can both set strategy and solve practical development problems. High integrity, strong ownership mentality, and disciplined follow‑through.

Success Measures

• Creation of a high‑quality, financeable pipeline of gas and storage development opportunities.
• Advancement of projects through key milestones such as site control, interconnection, permits, commercial structuring, and final investment approval.
• Effective management of development budgets, schedules, and risk registers.
• Strong team performance, talent development, and cross‑functional alignment.
• Credible external representation with market participants, agencies, communities, and customers.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and prescription plans.
• Life insurance and disability insurance.
• 401(k) plan participation.
• Competitive vacation and sick time.
• Safe, drug‑ and alcohol‑free workplace.

Equal Opportunity & EEO Statement

Talen Energy is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to diversity and the strength it brings to the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, disability, perceived disability, or any other protected characteristic as may be defined by applicable law.