The Lead Project Developer is an experienced individual contributor responsible for leading and coordinating early-stage development activities for distributed power generation projects. This role manages projects from initial site identification and acquisition through Final Investment Decision (FID), ensuring land, permitting, environmental, interconnection, engineering, and commercial workstreams remain aligned with development schedules and investment milestones. The position is ideal for a development professional who can independently manage multiple projects, coordinate cross-functional teams, and advance distributed generation assets to a fully permitted, financeable, and construction-ready state.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Project Development & Portfolio Management
- Manage a portfolio of distributed generation projects from early site identification through Final Investment Decision (FID).
- Develop and maintain project development schedules, milestone tracking, and risk registers across assigned projects.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams including development, engineering, environmental, legal, finance, and commercial.
- Ensure projects advance through key development gates including site control, permitting, interconnection, commercial viability, and FID readiness.
- Maintain organized project documentation to support investment approvals and development decision-making.
Site Identification, Site Control & Land Diligence
- Coordinate identification, screening, and evaluation of potential project sites based on zoning, utility access, environmental constraints, and interconnection feasibility.
- Evaluate sites for transmission/distribution access, gas supply availability, permitting feasibility, and development constraints.
- Lead or support negotiations and execution of land agreements including leases, purchase agreements, options, easements, and access agreements.
- Conduct and track site diligence including zoning compliance, land use restrictions, access rights, encumbrances, and development constraints.
- Maintain documentation of site control, property constraints, and land-related risks.
Permitting, Environmental & Entitlements Coordination
- Coordinate development and execution of permitting and entitlement strategies for each project.
- Manage consultants conducting environmental and technical studies (e.g., environmental site assessments, air permitting, noise studies, cultural/biological reviews, stormwater/site permits).
- Track permit timelines and ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
- Identify permitting/environmental risks early and coordinate mitigation strategies to maintain development schedules.
- Support zoning/entitlement processes, including variances, conditional use permits, and local approvals when required.
Interconnection, Utility & Technical Coordination
- Support and track utility interconnection applications for distribution or sub-transmission level connections.
- Coordinate with utilities and engineering consultants on interconnection studies, protection requirements, and required system upgrades.
- Coordinate early-stage engineering inputs needed for development decisions (e.g., preliminary layouts, equipment selection assumptions, and constructability considerations).
- Ensure required site and technical inputs are available to support interconnection submissions, permitting packages, and engineering timelines.
- Track interconnection milestones, timelines, and required deliverables.
Commercial, Financial Readiness & Stakeholder Management
- Track development budgets and costs across assigned projects.
- Coordinate inputs required for investment committee materials and Final Investment Decision approvals.
- Ensure project documentation is organized to support financing, contracting, and handoff to execution/construction planning.
- Serve as a primary interface with landowners, utilities, permitting authorities, and external consultants; represent the company in stakeholder discussions when required.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of development processes, site screening criteria, and execution standards.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Energy Systems, Real Estate, or a related field.
- 5+ years of experience in power project development, energy or infrastructure projects, or large-scale project management; distributed generation, reciprocating engines, peaker plants, or similar assets preferred.
- Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary projects, including land/site control, permitting, environmental studies, interconnection, engineering, and commercial workstreams.
- Familiarity with utility interconnection processes and permitting requirements for energy infrastructure projects.
- Experience negotiating or supporting site control agreements (leases, purchases, easements) and working with landowners or local stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, track schedules and budgets, and support projects through investment approval or Final Investment Decision (FID).
- Strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
What Conduit Brings to You:
- Opportunity to play a significant role in transforming the energy industry
- Growth, development, learning, and advancement opportunities
- A flexible environment where your voice, thoughts, and ideas are valued and heard
- Excellent benefits (company-paid and voluntary): Health / Dental / Vision / Life / AD&D / STD / LTD / AFLAC / Pet / Legal / Commuter/ Relocation Assistance / 401(k) with Company Match / Paid Time Off and more.
Location:
Houston, TX
Target Comp Range:
Commensurate with experience
