Director of Development, DG Solutions

Our client is seeking a Director of Development to be the driving force behind their projects, responsible for leading initiatives from site acquisition through to notice to proceed (NTP). This role requires a dynamic individual who can engage with local engineers, legal teams, and town boards, manage interconnection processes, and guide projects through development phases efficiently.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead site acquisition, due diligence, and maintain strong relationships with landowners throughout real estate processes.
• Manage and coordinate environmental and geotechnical studies, and oversee third-party engineering studies and permitting processes.
• Collaborate with in-house engineering teams to align site plans and timelines for all necessary studies and permits.
• Oversee projects through the interconnection process, optimizing designs in collaboration with engineering teams.
• Maintain positive relationships with utilities and navigate the offtake process.
• Participate in town hall meetings and assist with securing PILOTs and other tax exemptions/abatements as needed.
• Stay informed about local and federal policies impacting active markets and address any real estate, permitting, or interconnection issues raised by local counsel.
• Provide project due diligence and development recommendations, ensuring readiness for handoff to the technical sales team.
• Track and report on project progress and budget spending related to soft costs.
• Build strong working relationships internally and externally, effectively managing multiple projects with the team.
• Oversee state, federal, and local permitting efforts and approval processes, while coaching and managing teams towards high performance.
• Collaborate with Origination, Technical Sales, Capital Markets, and Legal teams to develop and execute business plans.
• Travel as needed to support project development and execution.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of 8 years' experience in developing and implementing distributed energy projects, particularly on the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic, or Northeast (for East Coast-based candidates) or in California (for West Coast-based candidates).
• Bachelor's degree or higher, with a preference for candidates with backgrounds in engineering, business, real estate, finance, or related fields.
• Experience with Distributed and/or Wholesale Generation, including solar energy, battery storage, EV charging, and other distributed energy technologies.
• Proven expertise in Renewable Energy EPC and contract negotiations, focusing on driving operating performance and reducing costs.
• Experience leading transformational change within organizations, including technology implementations and operational restructuring.
• Extensive industry knowledge of the energy sector, particularly in renewables such as solar, BESS, DG, EV, and hybrid models.

Desired Skill Sets:

• Highly self-motivated, with the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage complex commercial processes, meet deadlines, and innovate to maximize project value.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal and influencing abilities.
• Willingness and ability to travel for site visits and meetings with stakeholders, including customers, landowners, engineers, and town officials.
• Innovative mindset with a hunger to learn, grow, and make a significant impact on a rapidly expanding business.