Director, Land Development

This is a fully remote role for candidates who are based outside of the New York Metropolitan area. For those located in the area, we encourage you to consider our hybrid work arrangement (1-2 days a week in our NYC office). That said, we value flexibility and if you have a different preference, please do not let that deter you from applying – let’s talk about it!

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States or Canada. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment-based visas at this time.

Energy storage is the key to unlocking a future where our world is powered by renewable resources. At Convergent Energy and Power, our mission is to make the electrical grid cleaner, more reliable, and less expensive by leveraging state-of-the-art energy storage and distributed generation technologies.

The Director, Land Development is a subject matter expert in all aspects of project development who oversees the development of existing and new standalone storage and solar plus storage projects including site control, permitting, and community relations. This role collaborates with an interdisciplinary team involved in all stages of a project, from request for proposal through completion of entitlements and requires regular team collaboration and travel to project sites.

This is a people management role that oversees 1-3 individual contributors whose goals are to successfully mature projects in a timely manner in accordance with the broader business goals.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Project Development (30%)

• Manage all aspects of the project land development process and drive projects to their successful completion.
• Lead projects through critical stages, including feasibility scoping, due diligence, preliminary design, permitting, PILOT/local tax negotiations, budget and schedule development, and subcontractor/vendor agreement execution.
• Maintain strong networks with energy industry representatives and key stakeholders in project development.

Operational Oversight and Vendor Management (25%)

• Evaluate, select, and manage consultants and service providers including title insurance, due diligence and permitting consultants, surveyors, etc.
• Lead permitting processes, manage all required permitting activities with internal and external resources.
• Direct resources on the next steps required to drive projects through due diligence, development, and permitting.

People Management (20%)

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct report(s) and follow Convergent’s performance review cycle, setting clear goals, evaluating outcomes, and addressing performance issues promptly and effectively.
• Work with People Operations to handle personnel matters with professionalism, including onboarding, growth, training, hiring, resolving conflicts and making informed recommendations on corrective actions, and staff transitions when necessary.
• Foster a positive team culture that embodies Convergent’s values.

Cross-Functional Collaboration (20%)

• Assist with C&I, M&A, and greenfield development pipelines by providing input to RFPs and share knowledge to facilitate project execution.
• Collaborate with the legal department on any entitlement, lease, or permitting issues as they arise.
• Work collaboratively with interconnection, engineering, and pre-construction teams to coordinate development activities and decisions, communicate progress and efficiently handoff entitled properties.

Administrative and Reporting Tasks (5%)

• Communicate with leadership on project progress and challenges.
• Prepare reports and documentation as needed for internal stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other relevant field.
• Minimum 7 years of related experience in commercial land development, engineering, construction, or related field.  Minimum of 1 year of experience in solar, wind or BESS with specific experience in project management, and environmental and land use permitting experience.
• Proven project management skills including cross-functional team management, due diligence, entitlements, budgeting and scheduling.
• Ability to identify and assist in address operational inefficiencies.
• Experience resolving complex issues within established guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve objectives and financial targets.
• Skillset to make critical decisions autonomously while being responsible for managing a large portfolio of projects in various stages of development.
• Team player with strong initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor 1–3 direct reports.
• Experience setting priorities and providing technical guidance to a team.
• Alignment with Convergent’s mission and values: Continuous Improvement, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Ethical Governance, Safety, Sustainability, Collaboration, Ownership, Resilience, and a strong interest in the Clean Energy Transition.
• 25% travel expected to progress project entitlements, including pre-application, municipal, pre-construction meetings, team events and company-wide meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Bluebeam, Procore, and/or Smartsheet
• Degree in engineering, environmental science, or real estate

We're dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive culture that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all our clean energy professionals. We embrace and learn from our diverse backgrounds, encouraging open dialogue and growth. Through resources like our active Employee Resource Groups, DEI Working Group, and comprehensive training and workshops, we're continuing to build a supportive community that celebrates the convergence of our identities.

Our priority is to ensure that every team member feels valued and supported to have a healthy balance between work life and personal life. We believe a full life outside of the office makes for a happier, healthier team. We support that by offering robust benefits such as but not limited to, the following:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Vacation, Sick, and Volunteer days
• 401K with an employer safe harbor match
• Special Vendor Discounts on programs for:
• Identity theft and fraud prevention

Base Salary Range: $155,000-$170,000; Salary Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience.

We encourage people from minority or marginalized groups to apply. If you don’t meet 100% of the above qualifications, but see yourself contributing, please submit an application.

Convergent is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, height, weight, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements in the country where we operate. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to talent@convergentep.com