Senior Associate, Project Development
About The Position
Reporting to the Director, Project Development, the Senior Associate supports and directly manages development of projects across Clearway Energy Group’s West region, including California, Hawaii, and the Desert Southwest. The role is part of the regional team responsible for developing and executing construction of the company’s solar, wind, and storage project pipeline. It works with Business Development, Origination, Engineering, Project Finance, and Construction throughout the project lifecycle, from origination through commissioning and commercial operation. The Senior Associate manages or supports complex, utility-scale renewable energy development, including siting, permitting, design, interconnection, contracting, financing, and handover to construction. The position also evaluates development opportunities and acquisitions, coordinates land and transmission work, supports project marketing and financing, and manages project budgets and schedules. The role requires renewable energy development experience and may involve travel to projects within Clearway’s West Region more than 25% of the time. The role is eligible for an annual cash bonus subject to personal and company performance goals. No employment visa sponsorship or other sponsorship for employment authorization is available. Clearway prioritizes corporate new hires being based near an office; office-based employees work from the office Tuesday through Thursday, while site-based employees work in person daily.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, economics, finance, environmental science, or a related field.
- At least 4 years of applicable experience in the U.S. renewable energy industry.
- Direct experience and competence in full-lifecycle development of utility-scale solar and/or wind projects.
- Understanding of and ability to navigate complex permitting pathways for energy projects in the western United States.
- Experience with land development, including landowner engagement, negotiation and contracting, title resolution, subdivision, agricultural land use and water restrictions, ALTA surveys, GIS, and other real estate elements.
- Ability to travel as required to projects within Clearway’s West Region; travel is expected to exceed 25%.
- Ability to manage or support multiple projects simultaneously and apply critical thought.
- Experience managing project schedules and budgets, and understanding of key project value levers, including commercial and financial factors.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced study in business, finance, law, environmental science, or public policy.
- Experience and knowledge of governmental mandates, environmental regulations, or customer and market signals that affect or facilitate renewable energy development in Clearway’s West Region.
- Battery storage experience.
- Knowledge of CAISO and/or WECC power and transmission markets.
Responsibilities
- Manage and support development of large-scale renewable energy projects from initial proposal and siting through permitting, design, interconnection, approval, contracting, financing, and handover to construction.
- Identify and implement alternative development approaches to reduce permitting risk, optimize schedules, or create project value.
- Support or manage due diligence on development-stage projects and portfolio acquisitions, comparing and prioritizing opportunities using project metrics.
- Administer development services agreements with local and regional partners and manage networks of local project stakeholders and technical consultants.
- Collaborate with the Land Acquisition team and manage third-party land campaigns to secure site control for generation and interconnection facilities.
- Work with engineering teams and external consultants to evaluate site layouts, constraints, technology options, schedules, interconnection applications, and studies.
- Coordinate and provide input to interconnection requests, load-flow and congestion studies, and other transmission-related work.
- Support negotiation and diligence of project agreements, including PPAs, GIAs, Turbine Supply Agreements, and EPC contracts.
- Support financing diligence to obtain cash equity, tax equity, and/or project debt commitments before construction and at term conversion.
- Coordinate with Origination on marketing development-stage projects for power purchase and offtake agreements, including responses to RFPs.
- Create and manage project budgets and schedules and navigate internal stage-gate reviews and investment decisions.
- Prepare and present materials on project development opportunities to management.
- Maintain industry relationships and knowledge of market drivers and trends to support proactive development and early-mover positioning.
Benefits
- Annual cash bonus, subject to personal and company performance goals.
- Generous paid time off.
- Medical, dental, and vision care.
- Health savings accounts with company contributions.
- Health and dependent daycare flexible spending accounts.
- Commuter benefits.
- Relocation assistance.
- 401(k) plan with employer match.
- Life and accident insurance.
- Fertility programs.
- Adoption assistance.
- Parental leave.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Benefits for employees in same-sex marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
- Company-provided meals and events for office-based employees.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
