Sr. Director, Power Generation Development

Talen Energy•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior (Managing) Director, Power Generation Development to lead origination, development, and execution of utility-scale thermal and storage generation projects from early-stage screening through commercial operation. The role is accountable for building and managing a portfolio of gas-fired generation and battery energy storage projects, with a primary focus on PJM states and adjacent competitive power markets. The position combines project development leadership, commercial judgment, technical fluency, regulatory navigation, and team management. The portfolio is expected to include simple-cycle gas turbine peakers, combined-cycle gas turbine projects, and standalone or paired battery energy storage systems. The successful candidate brings demonstrated experience with aeroderivative gas turbines and large-frame F-class and H-class gas turbine technologies, as well as a strong understanding of interconnection, fuel supply, permitting, contracting, and market-based project economics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, finance, economics, or a related field.
10+ years of relevant experience in power generation, infrastructure, or energy project development, with substantial time spent leading utility-scale generation projects.
Demonstrated experience developing gas-fired generation projects, including simple cycle and combined-cycle facilities.
Demonstrated experience with utility-scale battery energy storage project development.
Direct familiarity with aeroderivative gas turbines and large-frame gas turbine technologies, including F-class and H-class units.
History of managing projects from origination or early development through commercial operation, asset acquisition, or ready-to-build status.
Strong knowledge of PJM market structure, interconnection processes, development considerations, and state-level siting and permitting environments in PJM states.
Experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating external advisors, consultants, and counterparties.
Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and managing development budgets and schedules.
Strong command of project risk assessment, competitive power market economics, and major drivers of project feasibility.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including executive-level communication.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in engineering, business, finance, or related discipline.
Professional Engineer license and/or MBA.
Experience in independent power, utility, merchant generation, or large energy infrastructure platforms.
Experience with data-center-related load growth opportunities, utility supply solutions, or large C&I customer-driven generation development.
Familiarity with environmental compliance requirements, emissions control considerations, and major equipment procurement strategy for gas generation.
Experience in one or more PJM states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, or Virginia.

Responsibilities

Lead the full life cycle development of new utility-scale generation projects, from origination and screening through development, notice to proceed, construction support, and commercial operation.
Develop and execute portfolio strategy for gas-fired generation and battery energy storage projects in PJM and other targeted U.S. markets.
Identify, evaluate, and advance greenfield and brownfield opportunities, including site selection, land control, fatal flaw analysis, permitting path, interconnection strategy, and commercial structuring.
Direct multiple parallel development workstreams, including engineering, owner’s engineer support, environmental studies, transmission and interconnection, fuel transportation and gas supply, water, real estate, tax, community engagement, and market analysis.
Lead concept development for simple-cycle peakers, combined-cycle facilities, and battery storage projects, including selection of major technology pathways and project configuration.
Provide informed leadership on gas turbine technology selection, including aeroderivative units and large-frame F-class and H-class equipment, with attention to performance, availability, dispatch profile, emissions profile, start characteristics, EPC implications, and long-term commercial competitiveness.
Coordinate internal investment analysis, capital cost estimates, operating assumptions, project schedules, and risk assessments to support development milestones and capital approval decisions.
Negotiate and manage key commercial arrangements, including site control, gas supply and transportation precedent agreements, equipment term sheets, EPC interfaces, offtake structures, tolling or hedging frameworks, and development-stage services agreements.
Lead interconnection and transmission strategy, including queue participation, study management, upgrade risk assessment, and coordination with PJM, transmission owners, consultants, and utilities.
Oversee environmental and land-use permitting strategies across relevant state and local jurisdictions, including air permitting, water issues, zoning, wetlands, cultural resources, and related siting constraints.
Build and maintain productive relationships with utilities, independent system operators, regulators, landowners, OEMs, EPC contractors, consultants, policymakers, local officials, community stakeholders, and major customers.
Partner with commercial, finance, legal, origination, operations, construction, and executive leadership teams to develop competitive investment cases and customer solutions.
Lead, mentor, and grow a development team; establish clear priorities, accountability, development processes, and reporting cadence.
Monitor market developments, competitive activity, policy changes, and load growth trends affecting project viability, especially in PJM and data-center-driven demand environments.
Present project recommendations, portfolio updates, and investment cases to senior executives, investment committees, and board-level stakeholders.