Position Summary- The Director of Brownfields Development will serve as the senior technical leader within Elevate's brownfield BESS development team. This role is designed to complement an existing team of solar and battery storage developers by bringing deep expertise in geotechnical assessment, civil and electrical engineering coordination, complex technical permitting, generator tie-line development, and preconstruction handoff - the technically nuanced disciplines critical to advancing brownfield projects from feasibility through notice-to-proceed.
- This is an execution-focused leadership role with long-term organizational importance. The Director will take immediate ownership of an active project portfolio, establish technical development standards, mentor the broader team, and serve as the go-to expert on site-level technical complexity. Projects span standalone and co-located BESS facilities across the Northeast - including sites within New York City - requiring fluency with NYC's regulatory environment, NYSDEC programs, and the full NYISO interconnection process.
Key Responsibilities Strategy & Technical Leadership- Establish and continuously refine technical development standards, workflows, and KPIs to drive optimal project execution across the brownfield platform.
- Serve as the team's subject matter expert on brownfield development, geotechnical assessment, permitting, and gen-tie matters; mentor developers and elevate overall team capability.
- Represent Elevate in regulatory proceedings, agency meetings, and stakeholder forums.
Development Portfolio Management- Own a portfolio of active brownfield BESS projects simultaneously, maintaining development schedules, budgets, and stage-gate milestones to project finance standards.
- Coordinate across engineering, interconnection, finance, legal, policy, and construction teams to ensure technical and commercial viability throughout the project lifecycle.
Brownfield Due Diligence & Environmental Coordination- Lead technical brownfield due diligence, including Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments and coordination with environmental consultants on remediation scoping and execution.
- Manage projects enrolled in state cleanup programs, including NYSDEC Brownfield Cleanup Program - tracking remedial milestones, regulatory correspondence, and certificate-of-completion requirements.
- Identify and mitigate environmental constraints affecting site feasibility, project schedule, or financing.
Technical Permitting- Lead complex, multi-agency permitting for brownfield BESS projects, including SEQR/CEQR, NYSDEC, Army Corps of Engineers, local land use approvals, building permits, and FDNY/fire code compliance.
- Develop permitting strategies and schedules; own agency relationships; manage permitting consultants and attorneys.
- Navigate permitting challenges specific to brownfield redevelopment, including remediation overlaps, deed restrictions, institutional controls, and legacy infrastructure constraints.
Geotechnical & Engineering Coordination- Oversee geotechnical investigations for BESS infrastructure, including review of soil and foundation reports and coordination with civil and structural engineers on site design.
- Manage civil, structural, and electrical engineering consultants through site planning, grading, stormwater, and utility coordination workstreams.
- Critically evaluate engineering deliverables: geotechnical reports, civil site plans, electrical one-lines, structural calculations, and drive resolution of technical issues.
Generator Tie-Line (Gen-Tie) Development- Lead gen-tie development, including ROW identification and acquisition, transmission line design, utility and regulatory approvals, and interconnection agreement execution.
- Coordinate with the interconnection team to align gen-tie design, interconnection queue progression, and project schedule.
- Manage external consultants and legal counsel supporting transmission permitting and ROW efforts.
Preconstruction Handoff- Own the development-to-preconstruction transition: deliver complete IFC-ready drawing packages, finalized permits, executed agreements, and project finance documentation.
- Lead constructability reviews with engineering and construction teams; identify and resolve design or permitting gaps prior to NTP.
- Support GC procurement, including RFP preparation, bid evaluation, and contract negotiation in coordination with legal and finance.
Candidate Profile Required Experience - 8-12 years in energy infrastructure development with a strong technical foundation; utility-scale BESS or power generation experience preferred.
- Engineering background strongly preferred; PE license or equivalent technical credentials a plus.
- Demonstrated expertise in brownfield site development, including environmental due diligence, remediation oversight, and coordination under state and federal cleanup programs; NYSDEC BCP experience a strong plus.
- Hands-on geotechnical and civil engineering coordination experience - able to direct investigations, critically review subsurface reports, and work through civil/site design challenges with consultants.
- Deep experience with complex technical permitting in New York State, including SEQR/CEQR, NYSDEC, Army Corps, DOB, and FDNY; NYC regulatory experience highly preferred.
- Generator tie-line development experience: ROW acquisition, transmission permitting, utility coordination, and interconnection agreement support.
- Strong working knowledge of the NYISO interconnection process and experience advancing projects through the queue.
- Proven experience managing the development-to-preconstruction handoff, including IFC package review, constructability coordination, and GC procurement.
- Skilled at managing external consultants - environmental, geotechnical, civil, permitting, legal - and integrating their work into a cohesive project narrative.
- Outstanding communication skills; equally effective in technical reviews and executive stakeholder presentations.
- Willingness to travel to project sites and regulatory meetings.
Make a Meaningful Impact: Play a direct role in accelerating the energy transition by contributing to transformative, utility-scale energy storage projects-especially on complex brownfield and urban-constrained sites where innovation drives real-world results.
Thrive in a Mission-Driven Culture: Be part of a lean, agile team that values integrity, innovation, and decisive execution. We foster a collaborative environment where every team member has a voice and is empowered to make a difference.
Grow with a Company on the Rise: Join at a pivotal moment as we scale from startup to growth stage. You'll have the opportunity to shape strategy, influence outcomes, and grow professionally alongside a company backed by top-tier private equity and poised for significant expansion.
The salary range listed in this job posting represents the Company's good-faith estimate of the salary range for this position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on the skills, experience, and qualifications of the candidate selected.
Employees in this role are also eligible to participate in the Company's annual discretionary bonus program, subject to the terms of the applicable plan.
The pay range for this role is:
180,000 - 225,000 USD per year (BK)
