Senior Associate, Project Development

What The Role Is

Reporting to the Director, Project Development, the Senior Associate, Project Development is responsible for both supporting and directly managing the development of projects across the West region of the U.S. The Senior Associate will be a key member of the regional team that is charged with the development and execution of the construction of Clearway Energy Group’s solar, wind, and storage project pipeline across California, Hawaii, and the Desert Southwest. The position will work with the Business Development, Origination, Engineering, Project Finance, and Construction teams across the full project lifecycle from origination to commissioning and all associated activities required to bring projects to successful commercial operation.

Candidates should have prior professional renewable energy project development experience with the ability across project siting, land and real estate, regulatory and environmental permitting, interconnection, transmission, and power marketing. Candidates should also have experience with engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) engagement and have been through one or more successful project financing processes. Experience working in CAISO and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) power and transmission markets is preferred.

What You'll Be Doing

• Manage and support the development of complex large-scale renewable energy projects from initial project proposal and siting, through to permitting, design, interconnection, approval, contracting, financing, and handover to construction.
• Identify, propose, and implement creative or alternative project development approaches that reduce exposure to permitting risks, optimize development schedules, or create additional project value.
• Support or manage due diligence on development-stage projects and portfolio acquisitions, including comparison and prioritization of multiple opportunities based on common siting, permitting, interconnection, power marketing, and other project metrics.
• Support the administration of development services agreements with local/regional development partners; manage a network of local project stakeholders (e.g., technical consultants, surveyors, land persons, etc.).
• Collaborate with the internal Land Acquisition team to perform and/or manage third-party-led land campaigns to secure adequate site control to support generation and interconnection facilities.
• Collaborate with the engineering team and external consultants to evaluate site layouts and constraints, technology options, schedule implications, interconnection applications, and studies.
• Coordinate and provide input to project interconnection requests, load-flow and congestion studies, and other necessary aspects of securing project transmission.
• Support the negotiation and diligence of critical project contracts and agreements, including PPAs, GIAs, Turbine Supply Agreements, and EPC contracts.
• Support projects through financing diligence efforts to support obtaining cash equity, tax equity, and/or project debt commitments before the start of construction, and at term conversion.
• Coordinate and strategize with the Origination team on the marketing of development-stage projects for new power purchase and offtake agreements, including submitting responses to Request for Proposals (RFPs).
• Create and manage project budgets and schedules, including navigating internal project stage-gate reviews and investment decisions.
• Help prepare and present materials describing project development opportunities to management.
• Maintain industry relationships/contacts and current knowledge of market drivers and industry trends to facilitate proactive development posture and early-mover positioning as opportunities materialize.

What You'll Bring

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, economics, finance, environmental science, or a related field is required.
• Understanding and ability to navigate complex permitting pathways for energy projects in the western United States.
• Ability to travel as required to projects within the footprint of Clearway’s West Region (>25%).
• Minimum of 4 years of applicable experience in the renewable energy industry in the U.S., with direct experience and competence in full life-cycle development of utility-scale solar and/or wind projects.
• Experience and familiarity with all facets of land development: landowner engagement and negotiation/contracting, title resolution, subdivision, agricultural land use/water restrictions, land (ALTA) surveys, GIS, and other real estate elements as required.
• A high level of critical thought and a drive to manage and/or support multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience managing project schedules and project budgets, as well as an understanding of key project value levers (commercial, financial, etc.).

What Would Be Nice

• Advanced study in business, finance, law, environmental science, or public policy is highly preferred.
• Experience and knowledge of governmental mandates, environmental regulations, or customer/market signals that impact or facilitate new development of renewable projects in Clearway’s West Region are preferred.
• Battery storage experience a plus.
• Knowledge of the CAISO and/or WECC power and transmission markets is preferred.

No visa sponsorship or any kind of sponsorship for employment authorization is available for this role, now or in the future.

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