Position SummaryThe Sr. Associate, Brownfield Development will own a portfolio of active BESS development projects on brownfield sites across New York and the broader Northeast - advancing them through environmental diligence, complex permitting, interconnection milestones, and preconstruction readiness. This is an execution-focused role designed for a rising developer who knows the New York regulatory environment, moves with urgency, and is ready to take on increasing responsibility on a high-growth platform.
This role sits within Elevate's brownfield development team and works in close collaboration with technical, interconnection, legal, and finance functions. NYC project experience is preferred - the role will interface directly with city and state agencies, environmental consultants, and community stakeholders and regularly navigate agencies such as NYSDEC, NYC DOB, FDNY, and the NYISO processes.
Key Responsibilities Development Portfolio Management- Advance a portfolio of brownfield BESS projects simultaneously, maintaining development schedules, budgets, and stage-gate milestones to project finance standards.
- Coordinate across engineering, interconnection, finance, legal, and environmental teams to keep projects on track and technically viable.
- Track and report on project status, risks, and key milestones to the Director and broader leadership team.
- Identify and flag development risks early - environmental constraints, permitting delays, interconnection issues - and drive timely resolution.
Environmental Due Diligence & Brownfield Coordination- Support brownfield due diligence, including Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, remediation scoping, and coordination with environmental consultants.
Permitting & Regulatory- Support multi-agency permitting for brownfield BESS projects - including SEQR/CEQR, NYSDEC, Army Corps of Engineers, DOB, and FDNY fire code compliance.
- Manage permitting schedules, track agency correspondence, and coordinate with permitting consultants and outside counsel.
- Develop working knowledge of NYC-specific regulatory requirements including local land use approvals, zoning, and building permits.
- Attend and support agency meetings, community board hearings, and public proceedings as needed.
Interconnection & Technical Coordination- Support NYISO interconnection queue progression, tracking study milestones, responding to information requests, and coordinating with the interconnection team.
- Coordinate with civil, structural, and electrical engineering consultants on site planning, grading, stormwater design, and utility coordination.
- Review technical deliverables - geotechnical reports, civil site plans, electrical one-lines - and escalate issues for resolution.
Preconstruction & Stakeholder Engagement- Support the development-to-preconstruction transition, contributing to IFC package reviews, permit finalization, and executed agreement tracking.
- Assist in constructability reviews with engineering and construction teams; help identify and resolve design or permitting gaps prior to NTP.
- Build and maintain relationships with landowners, local officials, and community stakeholders to support project approvals and community acceptance.
Candidate Profile Required Experience - 3-5 years of energy infrastructure or real estate development experience; utility-scale BESS or power generation experience preferred.
- Working knowledge of New York State permitting, including SEQR/CEQR, NYSDEC, and NYC regulatory processes (DOB, FDNY, local land use).
- Familiarity with brownfield development, environmental due diligence, or remediation coordination - NYSDEC BCP experience a strong plus.
- Understanding of the NYISO interconnection process and experience advancing projects through queue milestones.
- Strong project management skills - able to advance multiple workstreams simultaneously with a high degree of organization and follow-through.
- Ability to review and synthesize technical documents including environmental reports, civil plans, and interconnection studies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable representing Elevate in agency meetings and community forums.
- Based in or willing to relocate to New York City; willingness to travel to project sites and regulatory meetings as needed.
Preferred - Experience with BESS or renewable energy project development specifically.
- Familiarity with the NYSDEC Brownfield Cleanup Program and certificate-of-completion processes.
- Exposure to geotechnical assessments, civil engineering coordination, or gen-tie development.
- Experience with Smartsheet, Procore, or similar project management tools.
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.
Compensation ranges listed for this position represent 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.
The pay range for this role is:
95,000 - 125,000 USD per year (BK)
