Project Development Lead Expert

Passion. Commitment. Impact

Across eight offices and hundreds of sites across North America, the team at EDP Renewables is re-writing the business of renewables. From creating a more inclusive, shared, and greener world to implementing 21st-century technologies spanning wind, solar, storage, distributed generation, and hydrogen, we’re at the center of the clean energy transition. Powered by our slogan of “We Choose Earth”, we believe sustainability and creating resilience apply not only to the energy grid but also to the way we empower our award-winning team.

Role Overview:

The Project Development Lead Expert is responsible for the development of utility-scale wind, solar and energy storage projects, from the project identification stage through start of construction and financial closing.  The Project Development Lead Expert may also be engaged in strategic decision making related to the region’s pipeline and involved in analyzing development assets for EDPR acquisition. Additionally, this role may be responsible for overseeing development staff and will be expected to provide ongoing leadership and training of team members. 

Main responsibilities:

•    Lead, manage, and coordinate the effective transition of the project from the development phase to the construction phase
•    Select, hire and directly supervise/manage 3rd party consultants to perform land, environmental, resource measurement, permitting, legal, outreach/government affairs work on behalf of the Company
•    Responsible for local state, federal, and regional permitting of wind and solar farms; including local agreements that address tax abatement, Road Use and Decommissioning
•    Obtain land surface rights to design, permit, construct, operate, and maintain utility-scale wind, solar and energy storage projects
•    Oversee the preparation of proposals that are submitted to utility-scale commercial opportunities  and participate in build-transfer and power purchase agreement negotiations
•    Identify prospective projects with suitable wind/solar resource, electric transmission access, and site characteristics
•    Identify potential projects for acquisition; lead due diligence efforts for potential acquisition assets 
•    Establish and manage relationships with stakeholders, including elected officials, regulators, utilities, RTOs, and community leaders, to support project development
•    Participate in policy outreach efforts to government officials regarding renewable energy industry issues
•    Monitor Generation Interconnection studies performed by transmission providers and third parties and participate in interconnection agreement negotiations
•    Support the financial analysis and modeling of the project
•    Manage project level expenditures and invoice processing
•    Develop project budgets and bear responsibility for the management of project budgets through the development process, including entering into contracts within specified amounts
•    Coordinate and provide priorities to internal resources, such as the Legal, Engineering, Construction, Finance, Investment Analysis and Energy Assessment teams
•    Execute land lease agreements on behalf of the Company within specified amounts
•    Direct preparation of and provide reports to management by producing regular and frequent pipeline updates, project status updates, and other reporting documents
•    Research energy market and competition on an ongoing basis
•    Establish internal and external connections within the industry; attend conferences and seminars and seek-out opportunities to represent EDPR in a leadership capacity
•    Participate in the recruitment and interview process of prospective new employees
•    Supervise, where appropriate Project Developers and Project Managers I & II.
•    Provide training to employees as required
•    Identify training needs of the team and collaborate with regional EVP, Director of Development, DPMs and other senior managers to develop training curriculum as well as formal and informal training sessions. 
•    Additional duties as required

Employment type

Fulltime/Hybrid Schedule

Work site

Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri

What are we looking for

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred
• 8+ years of progressively responsible project management experience in the energy industry including successful development through construction and financial closing of one or more renewable energy projects.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office software; working knowledge of ESRI ArcGIS software preferred
• Competency in Analytical Problem Solving, Strong Communication, Customer/Partner Relationships, and Technology Expertise (Preferred)

Travel:

Intermittent, up to 65%

Behavioral Requirements:

• Ability to quickly understand the basics of a variety of subjects relating to wind and solar energy, including resource studies, environmental and cultural studies, transmission issues, public relations, public policy, sales, and civil and electrical engineering
• Strong interpersonal skills and high attention to detail
• Strong leadership skills
• Ability to coordinate complex analysis and projects across multiple departments
• Demonstrated project management skills and experience
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Ability to be self-motivated and perform job tasks in a relatively unstructured environment with little supervision
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills
• Strong interest in environmental issues and renewable energy
• Ability to travel extensively domestically and internationally, by plane and by car and with short notice
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Physical demands & working conditions:

• Sitting/Standing/Flexibility: Ability to stand and sit for 8 or more hours when in an office environment
• Speech/Reading:  Ability to speak, read, and write English proficiently and deliver a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form
• Lifting: Ability to lift items weighing up to 10 pounds
• Vision/Hearing: Ability to understand a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form
• Safety: Ability to understand and communicate safety precautions when necessary