Director of Development (Renewables)

Impact: Clean energy deployment and the energy transition through renewable project development

Lead the origination, development, and advancement of renewable energy projects through permitting, interconnection, and financing milestones, managing a team of project developers and overseeing a multi-project pipeline. Set development strategy, manage key landowner and regulatory relationships, and coordinate with finance, legal, and engineering teams to bring projects to financial close.

What the day looks like

People interaction
Extensive
Team vs solo
70% Team / 30% Solo
Client facing
Frequent
Impact visibility
Very High
Travel
20-30% for site and stakeholder meetings
Schedule flexibility
Moderate
Remote work
Hybrid
Typical work hours
50-60 hours/week
Stress level
High

At a glance

Median salary
$180,000
Entry-level
$130,000 - $160,000
Senior
$240,000+
Growth by 2033
30% (much faster than average)
Demand
Growing Fast
Freelance potential
Low
Salary growth potential
High to 55-70% growth from entry to senior
Typical student debt
$20,000 - $50,000

Skills you'll use

Hard skills

  • Renewable Energy Project Development
  • Permitting & Environmental Review (NEPA / CEQA)
  • Grid Interconnection Strategy (FERC / ISO)
  • Land Acquisition & Lease Negotiation
  • Project Finance & M&A
  • Pipeline Management

Soft skills

  • Strategic Leadership
  • Relationship Management
  • Negotiation
  • Problem Solving
  • Team Development

Technical complexity: High

How to get there

Minimum education
Bachelor's Degree
Licensing
No
Years to mid-career
7-10 years
Years to senior
12-18 years
Career switching
Hard

Where this career leads

How people arrive here

    Where you can go from here

      Typical progression

      1. Project Developer
      2. Senior Developer
      3. Development Manager
      4. Director of Development
      5. VP of Development
      6. Chief Development Officer

      Future outlook

      Automation probability
      10% to strategic leadership and relationship management are highly resistant to automation
      AI disruption risk
      Low
      Demand trend
      Growing Fast

      How people feel about it

      Overall satisfaction
      3.9/10
      Meaning
      4.1/10
      Work-life balance
      3/10
      Prestige
      8/10
      Social perception
      High

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