Development Manager

At Teal Renewables US, we are passionate about creating sustainable energy projects that honor the land, empower landowners, and strengthen the livelihood of our communities. Our commitment is to build partnerships and deliver sustainable energy that benefits both landowners and the communities we serve, fostering a brighter, shared future.

We are looking for a high‑caliber Development Manager who can turn complex renewable energy opportunities into bankable, buildable assets. This role is for someone who thrives at the intersection of engineering, commercial strategy, regulatory navigation, and real‑world execution. You’ll help drive utility‑scale solar, wind, and storage projects that shape the future of the US grid — from the first idea on a map to steel in the ground.

If you’re energized by solving development challenges, partnering with landowners, and delivering projects that genuinely move the clean energy transition forward while respecting the land and the people connected to it, this is your opportunity.  This role is based preferably in The Woodlands, TX with a hybrid work arrangement.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Development & Technical Leadership

• Lead full‑cycle development of utility‑scale solar, wind, and BESS projects from origination through RTB/NTP and handover to construction.
• Conduct feasibility studies to assess the technical, environmental, and financial viability of potential projects.
• Develop integrated development plans spanning engineering, permitting, interconnection, commercial, and schedule milestones.
• Drive pre‑FEED and FEED inputs with engineering teams; ensure design choices support bankability.

Land Strategy & Community Engagement

• Secure site control (leases, easements, purchase options, access agreements); manage title/ALTA/encumbrance risk.
• Build long‑term relationships with landowners, communities, municipalities, and county boards; represent Teal at public meetings/hearings. 

Environmental, Permitting & Compliance

• Lead environmental studies (wildlife, wetlands, cultural, hydrology, noise/visual) and permitting pathways (NEPA, state equivalents).
• Navigate local planning, zoning, conditional use and inter‑agency coordination (USACE, USFWS, SHPO, state commissions).
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and HSE requirements; implement early mitigation to reduce schedule/permit risk.
• Support policy and incentive advocacy at local/state/national levels where appropriate.

Grid Interconnection & Utility Coordination

• Manage interconnection processes across ISOs/RTOs and utility‑led queues.
• Coordinate the preparation of applications; review SIS/FS/ISA/GIA outputs; assess upgrades, congestion, and deliverability.
• Lead the optimization of plant layouts and configurations to reduce upgrade exposure and improve grid compatibility.

Financial & Commercial Ownership

• Review and prepare CAPEX/OPEX assumptions, schedules, and commercial risks for financial models; understand LCOE/IRR drivers and sensitivities.
• Present to investment committees, defend assumptions, and make kill‑or‑advance recommendations.
• Balance cost, schedule, risk, and bankability to deliver competitive, financeable projects.

Project Management & Controls

• Own budgets, critical‑path schedules, and risk registers/matrices; maintain stage‑gates and decision logs.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams (Engineering, Finance, Legal, Environmental, EPC, O&M, Procurement, People & Culture).
• Manage change control and multi‑project portfolio prioritization.
• Provide regular reporting to TEAL leadership and the Board of Directors.

 Procurement & Execution Interface

• Oversee early procurement strategy in development (long‑lead equipment reservations, sourcing inputs, supplier alignment).
• Ensure a clean handover to EPC/construction with complete documentation and risk mitigation plans.
• Conduct post‑development audits and capture Lessons Learned to continuously improve standards.

Qualifications & Experience:

Education

• Bachelor’s in engineering (Electrical/Mechanical/Civil/Environmental), Renewable Energy/Energy Systems, Environmental Science, or Economics/Finance/Business with strong technical exposure.
• Advanced degrees (Energy Systems, Engineering Management, Environmental Policy, MBA) are valuable but not required.

Professional Training (Helpful)

• PMP (project controls & governance), LEED (sustainability credibility).
• ISO/RTO interconnection training; environmental permitting courses (NEPA, CEQA, state equivalents).

Core Professional Experience

• 10+ years in US utility‑scale solar, wind, BESS, or hybrids with a track record of delivering projects to RTB/NTP or construction.
• Hands‑on lifecycle experience: origination, land control, permitting, interconnection & utility coordination, pre‑FEED → FEED, finance inputs & budget ownership, risk management & go/no‑go, handoff to EPC.
• Familiarity with interconnection queues, permitting agencies, and local zoning/community approval processes.
• Stakeholder fluency: landowners, municipalities, regulators, utilities/ISOs/TSOs, investors/lenders/ICs, EPCs/OEMs, consultants, and legal.
• Field exposure (surveys, early works, construction interface, public engagement).

Financial, Regulatory & PM Competencies

• Project finance fundamentals; CAPEX/OPEX, LCOE/IRR, sensitivities; PPAs/EPC/IA/land contracts.
• Regulatory knowledge: environmental frameworks (federal/state/local), grid codes & interconnection standards, HSE, energy market regs & incentives (incl. IRA), planning/zoning; knows when to escalate.
• PM & Controls: schedule/critical path, budget ownership, risk registers/matrices, cross‑functional coordination, decision gating, exec/investor reporting, stage‑gate, portfolio prioritization, change management.

Cross‑Disciplinary Fluency

• Speak engineering with engineers, finance with investors, permitting with regulators, and plainly with communities.

Mindset & Leadership

• Ownership mentality: accountable for outcomes and doesn’t hide behind consultants.
• Resilience in the face of long timelines, redesigns, and uncertainty.
• Pragmatism—prioritizes buildable, bankable solutions; knows when “good enough” is right.
• Integrity & trustworthiness, transparent, ethical, and credible with stakeholders.
• Leadership without authority—influences across functions; aligns competing interests; builds consensus.

Agency Disclaimer

Teal Renewables US is managing this recruitment directly. We respectfully ask that agencies refrain from contacting us or submitting unsolicited candidates.