Manager, Project Development – Storage (BESS & ESS)

Priority Power Management LLC•Arlington, TX

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Project Development – Storage (BESS & ESS) will lead the development of a pipeline of projects that deliver reliable, dispatchable power capacity to Priority Power’s large industrial and commercial customers across market verticals including oil and gas, hyperscale data centers, crypto mining, and other power-intensive industries. The successful candidate will manage all aspects of energy storage project development, with particular attention to the unique requirements of BESS and ESS facilities: site suitability for battery enclosures and power conversion systems, utility interconnection or behind-the-meter integration, fire suppression and safety permitting, land or rooftop acquisition, and coordination with offtakers and utilities on capacity and ancillary services dispatch. Responsibilities include site identification and control, electrical and building permitting, coordinating geotechnical and system integration studies, managing the interconnection process, overseeing development budgets and schedules, and shepherding projects from concept through construction handoff. This position can be based in Priority Power’s Arlington, Midland or Houston, Texas office (Hybrid) and will be expected to travel at least 25% of the time to other Priority Power offices, customer meetings, and project site visits. The successful candidate will work on a cross functional team with new product development, origination, commercial, legal, finance, engineering, construction, and outside consultants, landowners, customers, project stakeholders and utility companies. The role requires project management knowledge and expertise with utility-class electrical infrastructure development.

Requirements

At least 10 (ten) years of project development and/or project management experience in energy storage, utility-scale generation, or utility-class electrical infrastructure, with meaningful hands-on experience in BESS or ESS project development from site control through construction commencement.
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, with preference for electrical and mechanical, or demonstration of sufficient expertise in electrical engineering for utility scale power systems.
Thorough familiarity with battery energy storage technologies (lithium-ion, LFP, flow battery), power conversion systems, and energy storage system integration; knowledge of ERCOT and other RTO/ISO market structures for storage participation including capacity, ancillary services (ECRS, RRS, Reg-Up/Down), and energy arbitrage is required.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
Strong working knowledge of thermal generation plant systems including fuel handling, combustion, emissions controls (SCR, oxidation catalyst, DLN combustors), cooling water, and auxiliary electrical systems.
Excellent oral and written communication skills are required including public speaking and/or platform skills for executive management presentations.
Self-starter, very self-reliant and capable of operating with minimum supervision.
Ability to work within a cross-functional team environment for project development and execution.
Ability to manage client expectations within the context of project development and execution.
Ability to effectively address and either manage or participate in the resolution of conflicts with clients or other project stakeholders which may arise throughout the course of project development.
Willingness and ability to travel 25 - 50% on average but more as required by projects.
Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineering licensing or ability to obtain is preferred.
Experience in energy storage project development including site control, electrical and fire safety permitting, AHJ coordination, BESS OEM and integrator procurement, and storage interconnection and market registration in ERCOT or other RTOs/ISOs is strongly preferred.
Experience with co-located renewable-plus-storage hybrid projects, demand response and demand management programs, and offtake structuring for storage (capacity contracts, ancillary services agreements, behind-the-meter savings arrangements) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Support the Sr. Director, Development and other internal stakeholders with energy storage expertise to qualify and advance utility-class and commercial-scale BESS and ESS projects, including standalone storage, co-located renewable-plus-storage, and behind-the-meter demand management and backup power configurations.
Develop conceptual energy storage service plans, system sizing and dispatch models, capacity and ancillary services revenue estimates, and other high-level technical documents to support project scoping and customer proposals.
Develop and manage project development schedules and budgets.
Lead project meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
Manage contract obligations in key project documents.
Lead permitting for BESS and ESS projects, including electrical and building permits, fire suppression and life-safety permitting in coordination with local fire marshals and AHJs, NEPA review where applicable, local zoning and conditional use permits, and presenting at public hearings as required.
Coordinate delivery of site and system studies including geotechnical reports, Phase I/II environmental site assessments, electrical load and interconnection studies, battery system sizing and performance modeling, thermal management assessments, and ALTA surveys and Title commitments.
Coordinate for delivery of ALTA Surveys and Title Reports.
Lead the ERCOT or applicable RTO/ISO interconnection process for storage resources, from Interconnection Application through Energy Storage Interconnection Study, Facilities Study, and Interconnection Agreement execution; coordinate with the applicable TSP or DSP on facilities requirements and registration of the asset for capacity and ancillary services participation.
Collaborate with internal and external engineering teams as they advance BESS and ESS engineering, including battery chemistry and cell selection, power conversion system (PCS) sizing, thermal management, fire suppression system design, site electrical design, and interconnection facilities.
Work with internal construction management team on contractor selection process.
Coordinate with construction management team on securing other permits.
Handoff projects once fully developed and permitted to construction management team.
Participate in project financings answering relevant diligence questions and providing required documents.
Coordinate additional resources or outside consultants/contractors as well as managing and meeting expenses throughout project development.
Apply critical thinking needed to communicate and influence employees at all levels regarding project risks, opportunities, and recommended action.
Provide support and analysis for Business Development pipeline reporting.