Director, Development

Senior Manager, Project Development – TERP Location: Charlottesville, VA | Remote (Mid-Atlantic / Southeast Regions preferred)

About Us

TerraForm Power (“TERP”), a platform company of Brookfield Renewable, attracts high-performing individuals who are driven to make an impact in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. We offer unparalleled opportunity to lead and manage one of the largest renewable energy businesses with decades of history, while contributing to the global need for sustainable energy.

We offer tremendous growth opportunity for individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset. The company is committed to employee development, encouraging curiosity, ownership, and continuous learning. You’ll be empowered to take initiative, contribute ideas, and grow your career within a supportive and ambitious organization.

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled Senior Manager of Project Development to oversee the development of renewable energy projects, with a focus on solar and/or battery storage. This role leads all aspects of the development process from site identification through start of construction, including landowner engagement, site diligence, navigating the utility interconnection process, securing discretionary local, state and federal permits, negotiating tax abatements and similar economic incentive agreements, and supporting preliminary project design as well as financial modelling. The ideal candidate will bring significant experience in solar, wind or battery storage project development, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic or Southeast regions, and will be adept at interfacing with members of the public and community stakeholder groups, local elected officials, state and federal regulators, economic development authorities, utility staff, and internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

- Oversee and “own” a portfolio of early-, mid-, and late-stage development assets, with direct responsibility for campaign and project level development plans, budgets and schedules.

- Support the Real Estate Origination team’s land acquisition efforts including, as needed, direct landowner engagement and land option agreement negotiation.

- Support the filing of interconnection applications and management of the utility study process, in partnership with the company’s Senior Manager of Interconnection and Grid Strategies.

- Partner with the Development Engineering team in managing third-party environmental and engineering consultants to conduct site diligence and surveys, generate preliminary project layouts for permitting, and vet potential project acquisition targets.

- Spearhead discretionary permitting including land use and zoning approvals (e.g., Conditional Use Permits, Special Use Permits), as well as applicable state or federal approvals as may be necessary (e.g., Virginia DEQ Permit By Rule, North Carolina Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide or Individual Permits, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Incidental Take Permits and Habitat Conservation Plans).

- Identify real and personal property taxes applicable to projects in a given market, and negotiate Siting Agreements, PILOTs or similar tax abatement agreements with local or county officials.

- Collaborate with the Project Delivery team to ensure seamless transition of projects from development to construction.

- Maintain a strong understanding of the regulatory and policy environments for assigned market(s).

- Provide regular project reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders.

- Position may manage a Project Developer and/or Associate Project Developer, and would be responsible for the professional growth and achievement of key performance indicators by any such direct report(s).

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, economics, finance, environmental science, energy, policy, or a related field.

- 7+ years of experience in renewable energy, with at least 5 years in solar or battery storage.

- Proven track record of developing and permitting utility-scale renewable energy projects, ideally in the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast or neighboring states.

- Strong understanding of electricity markets, power contracting, and renewable energy policy and regulatory matters.

- Excellent communication and organizational skills, with previous experience in community engagement or public education a plus.

- Familiarity with presentation software (e.g. MS PowerPoint) and project management software (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Airtable, Procore, SiteTracker).

- Ability to travel on average 40%.