Senior Director, Development & Origination (Utility-Scale Energy Projects – Eastern USA)

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Note: Position can be located in any of our primary locations including: Arlington, TX - The Woodlands, TX - Houston, TX - Midland, TX

Position Overview

The Senior Director of Project Development is a senior role responsible for leading the origination and development of new and existing high and medium voltage infrastructure projects from inception through commercial operation. This includes transmission, distribution, and substations, in addition to utility scale generation (front of meter) and distributed generation or storage (behind the meter). This position drives all stages of project development – including site identification, land acquisition, permitting, interconnection, financing, and stakeholder engagement – to successfully bring new electrical infrastructure assets online. The Senior Director will identify, qualify, and advance projects in power markets (e.g. PJM/MISO/SERC), successfully managing internal and external stakeholders throughout the process. This role requires strong commercial and technical skills, and significant experience in both areas. The position reports to the Chief Engineer & Development Officer and works closely with cross-functional teams across the company and externally to achieve successful commercial operations and meet financial and schedule targets.

Key Responsibilities

End-to-End Project Leadership: Manage all aspects of project development from initial concept to commercial operation, ensuring projects progress through each phase on schedule and within budget. This includes setting development strategies, timelines, and objectives for multiple concurrent projects.

Site Identification & Land Acquisition: Identify and evaluate potential project sites in target regions (PJM/MISO/SERC markets) based on resource availability, grid access, and market opportunities. Qualify projects and secure site control through land leases or purchases, negotiating land agreements and maintaining positive relationships with landowners.

Permitting & Regulatory Compliance: Navigate federal, state, and local permitting processes to obtain all necessary environmental, zoning, air/water, and construction permits. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g. environmental impact assessments, state utility commission approvals) and manage any environmental reviews or studies. Negotiate and obtain permits and waivers at the local, state, and federal levels as needed.

Grid Interconnection: Oversee the interconnection process with relevant utilities and grid operators. Acquire pertinent interconnection applications, and ensure they are completed and filed. Manage feasibility and impact studies, and secure interconnection agreements in PJM/MISO/SERC queues. Work closely with transmission engineers and RTO/ISO stakeholders to align project design with grid requirements, and engage internal/external resources as required.

Fuel Supply Coordination: For gas-fired projects, including backup generation, coordinate fuel supply arrangements including natural gas pipeline interconnections and supply contracts. Work with fuel suppliers and pipeline companies to ensure reliable fuel delivery and compliance with fuel transport regulations.

Project Planning & Design: Direct the conceptual design of infrastructure facilities during development. Collaborate with engineering teams to optimize land use, facilities layouts, technology selection, and design parameters that meet the basis of design, and are achievable. Continuously evaluate project feasibility and risks, adjusting development plans as needed.

Financial Analysis & Contracting: Serve as a liaison between the development team and finance/commercial teams to ensure projects are economically viable.

Oversee the preparation of project budgets and pro forma financial models; incorporate considerations for project financing, tax incentives, and revenue streams. Support negotiations of major contracts (power purchase agreements, EPC contracts, fuel supply agreements, other) in collaboration with origination, legal, and finance departments.

Stakeholder Engagement: Manage relationships with key stakeholders throughout the development process. This includes engaging with local communities and government officials to address concerns and secure support, working with regulatory agencies on compliance, and coordinating with utility/RTO stakeholders. Develop and maintain partnerships with off-takers, regulators, and industry partners to facilitate project success.

Cross-Functional Team Coordination: Coordinate a multidisciplinary project team (internal engineers, environmental specialists, legal counsel, external consultants, etc.) to advance each project through milestones. Lead regular project meetings, track progress against development schedules, and ensure all team members are aligned on project goals and timelines.

Reporting & Approvals: Prepare and deliver project updates, investment cases, and presentations to senior management and investment committees at key decision points (e.g. site acquisition approval, capital expenditure approval, financing approval). Recommend go/no-go decisions based on risk assessments and project readiness.

Project Handover & Execution Support: Once projects reach construction notice to proceed or financial close, facilitate a smooth transition to the construction/execution team. Remain involved as needed during construction to assist with any development-related issues, and ensure the project achieves Commercial Operation Date (COD) per the contractual and regulatory requirements.

Note: The Director is expected to travel as required – up to ~50% – to project sites, regulatory hearings, community meetings, and partner offices, especially given the multi-state scope of the role.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Professional Engineer designation preferred), Energy Management, Business, or a related field is required (advanced degree or MBA is preferred). A strong technical or business foundation in energy infrastructure is essential.

Industry Experience: 10+ years of experience in energy project development, project management, or related roles, with a proven track record leading utility-scale infrastructure projects from concept to completion. Experience with transmission and substation planning, and greenfield development of power generation is highly desired.

Power Markets & Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of U.S. power markets and regional transmission organizations – particularly PJM, MISO, and SERC – including market rules, interconnection processes, and capacity/energy market dynamics. Familiarity with regulatory compliance requirements at federal (FERC, EPA) and state levels for power generation projects. Demonstrated ability to stay current with evolving industry trends, policies, and incentive programs

Project Development Skills: Hands-on experience in key development activities such as site acquisition, environmental permitting, interconnection negotiations, and contracting. Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and permitting hurdles in multiple states. A track record of successfully obtaining permits and approvals for large infrastructure or energy projects is a strong plus.

Financial and Commercial Acumen: Solid understanding of project economics and finance. Ability to work with financial models to assess project viability and to collaborate on securing project financing. Experience negotiating commercial agreements (land leases, PPAs, interconnection agreements, EPC contracts, fuel supply agreements) with an eye toward optimizing project value and managing risk.

Leadership & Communication: Excellent project management and leadership capabilities to drive cross-functional teams and manage external consultants/vendors. Strong negotiation and influencing skills, especially in contract negotiations and stakeholder discussions. Exceptional communication skills – able to clearly convey complex information to regulators, community stakeholders, and company executives.

Organizational Skills: Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple large projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively. Capable of setting clear milestones and driving accountability to meet development timelines.

Other Requirements: Willingness to travel frequently across the target regions (Texas, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Virginia and other project locations) as needed. A valid driver’s license and ability to visit rural or industrial project sites. High ethical standards, with a demonstrated commitment to safety, compliance, and environmental stewardship in project development.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability.