What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Project Development Lead - Utility Scale Energy position at Higher Recruitment, Inc.?
Senior Project Development Lead – Utility-Scale Energy
A leading utility-scale renewable energy developer, owner, and operator is seeking a Senior Project Development Lead to help advance large-scale energy projects through late-stage development and toward financial investment and construction.
This role will lead complex project portfolios across solar, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS), natural gas, and data center developments. The ideal candidate brings strong project leadership experience, commercial awareness, stakeholder management capabilities, and the ability to drive projects forward in dynamic environments.
This position plays a critical role in aligning project schedules, budgets, engineering considerations, permitting requirements, and stakeholder coordination to support successful project execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead complex utility-scale energy projects and portfolios through late-stage development and investment approval milestones
- Manage large capital project budgets and coordinate cross-functional project execution activities
- Identify, evaluate, and mitigate project risks related to development, engineering, constructability, schedule, and project economics
- Partner closely with finance teams to support investment modeling, development cost tracking, tax incentive coordination, and cash flow forecasting
- Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and construction teams to ensure projects are technically and commercially optimized
- Coordinate with transmission and interconnection teams regarding project schedules, design, and utility requirements
- Build and maintain relationships with utilities, regulators, local officials, landowners, consultants, and external stakeholders
- Review land agreements, easements, lease terms, and related real estate documentation impacting project viability
- Manage consultants and contractors supporting development activities
- Support financing diligence requirements, including third-party reports and legal documentation
- Lead project meetings, maintain schedules, develop presentations, and provide executive-level reporting updates
- Support negotiation of road use and maintenance agreements and other project-related stakeholder agreements
- Mentor or oversee earlier-stage projects within the broader development portfolio
- Travel approximately 15%
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, environmental sciences, energy, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 5 years of project development experience within renewable energy, power generation, infrastructure, commercial development, or related industries
- Experience leading utility-scale energy projects through advanced development stages
- Strong understanding of project schedules, budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder coordination
- Knowledge of energy markets, interconnection processes, and project delivery considerations
- Experience working with landowners, municipalities, utilities, and external stakeholders
- Strong communication, negotiation, and leadership skills
- Ability to operate independently while driving cross-functional collaboration
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite; Procore experience preferred
- Valid driver’s license required
Preferred Experience
- Executive reporting and presentation experience
- Understanding of real estate agreements and property interests
- Familiarity with project financial models and development economics
- Knowledge of conceptual engineering and utility-scale project constraints
- Prior public speaking or stakeholder presentation experience
Salary : $145,000 - $175,000