Director of Development

Grid United

$125K — $150K *
Energy & Utilities
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree; advanced degree is a plus.
  • 8+ years of experience in electric transmission or renewable energy development.
  • Experience leading complex infrastructure projects through all development stages.
  • Proficiency in coordinating multidisciplinary teams and external partners.
  • Strong understanding of land acquisition, permitting, and regulatory processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
  • Familiarity with NEPA and public utility commission processes is preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and oversee the development of large electric transmission projects.
  • Develop integrated project strategies including budgets and risk management.
  • Coordinate cross-functional collaboration across various project teams.
  • Direct permitting and regulatory strategies at local, state, and federal levels.
  • Oversee community engagement and stakeholder outreach activities.
  • Build and maintain relationships with landowners and regulators.
  • Identify and mitigate risks while providing clear recommendations to leadership.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package including health benefits and 401(k).
  • Bonus incentive and long-term incentive plans.
  • Work in a diversity-committed environment.
  • Opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders.
  • Empowered role in shaping the future of energy in the U.S.
Full Job Description
POSITION SPECIFICATION

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

The Position

Grid United is seeking an experienced Director of Development to lead the development of large-scale electric transmission projects from early-stage evaluation through permitting, commercial advancement, and construction readiness.

The Director will serve as the primary development leader for one or more projects, establishing the project strategy, driving key decisions, managing risk, and coordinating work across land, routing, environmental, regulatory, engineering, commercial, legal, finance, and communications teams. This person will be expected to independently navigate complex development challenges while creating clarity, accountability, and momentum across the project team.

This position will report to the Chief Development or Executive Officer and may be based in Houston, Texas, or near an active project area, depending on business and project needs.

Key Responsibilities & Outcomes
• Lead the development of one or more complex transmission projects from early-stage evaluation through permitting, commercial advancement, and construction readiness.
• Develop and manage integrated project strategies, budgets, schedules, risk registers, priorities, and executive reporting.
• Coordinate cross-functional work across land, routing, environmental, regulatory, engineering, commercial, legal, finance, and communications teams.
• Direct local, state, and federal permitting and regulatory strategies, including environmental review and public utility commission processes.
• Oversee land acquisition, routing, stakeholder outreach, and community engagement activities in partnership with internal teams and external consultants.
• Build trusted relationships with landowners, utilities, customers, regulators, public officials, community leaders, and other project stakeholders.
• Partner with commercial and technical teams to evaluate market drivers, customer needs, interconnection requirements, project economics, and development opportunities.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, resolve complex development challenges, and provide clear recommendations to senior leadership.
• Select and manage consultants while coaching project managers and contributing to the continued improvement of Grid United's development processes and capabilities.

Behaviors - which are essential to success of this team
• Be exemplars of the Grid United values of humility, tenacity, ingenuity and grace.
• Build, maintain and value broad, and deep stakeholder relationships, plus have a personal commitment to making a difference in the community.
• Proactively work with stakeholders to solve problems in a calm and no blame way.

Desired Experience and Skills
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. An advanced degree is helpful but not required.
• 8+ years of relevant professional experience, with substantial experience in electric transmission, renewable energy, or other linear infrastructure development.
• Demonstrated experience advancing complex infrastructure projects through multiple stages of development.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating work across multiple internal functions and external partners.
• Working knowledge of land acquisition, routing, permitting, environmental review, engineering, regulatory, commercial, and community engagement activities.
• Experience developing and managing project budgets, schedules, risk registers, consultants, and executive reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with landowners, utilities, public officials, regulators, community leaders, customers, and other external stakeholders.
• Experience with state and federal permitting processes. Familiarity with NEPA and public utility commission proceedings is strongly preferred.
• Strong judgment and the ability to recognize, assess, communicate, and mitigate project risks.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, negotiation, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to absorb complex information quickly and communicate the most important issues clearly and concisely.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment with ambiguity, changing priorities, and multiple competing deadlines.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Familiarity with GIS tools, mapping platforms, project controls, and stakeholder or land-management systems is preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to project regions and stakeholder meetings.

What the Right Candidate Will Love about this Opportunity
• An organization dedicated to solving the ever-changing Rubik's cube of high voltage transmission development in a fast paced, dynamic and innovative culture
• Working with a core group of dedicated and thoughtful colleagues.
• Working on a day-to-day basis with highly experienced and proven industry leaders
• Being empowered to play a leading role in delivering large-scale projects that will materially change the energy future of America
• Working in an organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and having a positive social impact
• Excellent financial backing from a leading energy investor with long term commitment, passion for energy, and an understanding and appetite to tackle the challenges of transmission development

Grid United offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a competitive base salary and bonus incentive plan, long term incentive plan, health benefits, 401(k), and more.

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