Project Developer, Midwest

New Leaf Energy, Inc. • Chicago, IL

10h • Hybrid

About The Position

New Leaf Energy is seeking a Project Developer for the Midwest to originate and develop buildable, profitable, multi-megawatt renewable energy projects in the assigned region. The role involves beginning development activities on numerous sites, negotiating agreements with landowners, initiating entitlement and interconnection processes, and advancing projects through the company’s development process until they are ready to finance and build.

The Project Developer will build and nurture relationships with landowners, local governments, utilities, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The role works closely with the regional Policy and Business Development lead and serves as a primary regional expert. The developer must possess or quickly develop market knowledge to create and execute a successful project development plan.

The position may be based in New Leaf Energy’s Chicago, Illinois office. The company offers a hybrid work environment: employees work in the office at least two out of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and may work from the office or home on other days. The role involves frequent travel within the assigned territory, stated as 20–50%.

Compensation includes a base salary of $127,000, variable compensation, and an equity-like ownership program. Total compensation is primarily driven by a project incentive plan that shares profits from successfully developed projects. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) plan with immediate vesting and company matching; self-managed paid time off; parental leave; and professional development and education assistance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Strong knowledge of the solar industry or a similar or adjacent project development context.
• A successful track record in a complex sales or project development environment, preferably in solar or energy storage.
• Ability to manage complex sales involving large, technical, construction, or financial products with long sales cycles, including relationship building, lead generation, navigating complexity, and closing deals.
• Ability to filter substantial information, identify what matters, and prioritize promising opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and follow in cross-functional teams and contribute as a strong teammate.
• Understanding of quantitative business concepts, including probabilistic thinking and financial metrics such as NPV and IRR.
• Ability to meet customers in person and travel frequently within the assigned territory (20–50%).
• Passion for renewable energy, addressing the climate crisis, and accelerating the clean energy transformation.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or another advanced degree.
• Experience in solar or energy storage.

Responsibilities

• Develop megawatt-scale solar and energy storage projects from origination through financial close.
• Meet or exceed annual volume targets established through a project development plan developed with the manager; the general expectation is to close multiple projects generating at least $5 million in direct profit annually.
• Coordinate or directly drive site control, utility interconnection, entitlement and permitting, initial system design, incentive or policy program participation, and other work needed to prepare projects for sale.
• Support internal engineering and finance teams through the final pre-sale stages of project development as needed.
• Gather market intelligence, expand relationships with governments and utilities, refine knowledge of the development environment, and adjust strategy accordingly.
• Generate leads and opportunities through independent activities such as account profiling, cold calls, business networking, and other market penetration strategies.
• Generate proposals, quotes, and formal RFP responses.
• Work independently and collaboratively.
• Work with legal, finance, and executive teams to negotiate contract terms and close transactions.
• Consult with clients and construction and finance professionals to develop financial models and assist with tax, financing, and regulatory research and negotiations.
• Maintain accurate project information in New Leaf Energy’s systems of record.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan with immediate vesting and a company match: 100% of the first 3% of pay contributed and 50% of the next 2%.
• Open, self-managed paid time-off policy.
• Hybrid work location policy that supports working from home for part of the week.
• Parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents, available immediately upon hire.
• Professional development and education assistance.
• Market-competitive base salary, above-market variable compensation, and an equity-like ownership program.
• Project incentive plan with profit sharing on successfully developed projects.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level