Project Developer for Solar and Renewables Projects

Build the future, spark innovation, and align your career with purpose.

McKinstry is innovating the waste and climate harm out of the built environment and creating lasting impact. Together, we’re building a thriving planet.

Buildings are a leading contributor to the climate crisis, generating nearly 40% of total global energy-related carbon emissions. We’re making a lasting impact on our industry and within our communities by addressing the climate, affordability, and equity crises through:

• renewables and energy services
• engineering and design
• construction and facility services 

To get where we’re going, we need big thinkers, problem solvers and collaborative mindsets. Does that sound like you?

EcoDistricts unify the entire energy value chain by planning and implementing thermal and electric energy infrastructure across buildings to eradicate waste, achieve zero-carbon operations, and optimize resiliency solutions. EcoDistricts leverage innovative district energy strategies, distributed energy solutions, and grid integration.  They bring scale, enabling energy sharing and renewable energy strategies.  Also, by adding smart building controls and establishing digital backbones we provide performance insight beyond the meter.

A unified energy value chain is especially important as distributed energy resource adoption rises. As photovoltaics, storage, and other distributed energy resources connect to the grid, utilities need visibility to forecast, manage and optimize grid operations. As a result, our buildings connected by infrastructure and technology become tools of transformative change that help fight the climate and affordability crisis.  We will successfully innovate the waste and harmful climate impact out of the built environment. But we cannot do it alone.

The Opportunity with McKinstry

The Project Developer – National Accounts will be directly responsible for cultivating clients and acquiring new business focused on prospective clients that with aggressive decarbonization goals in the private sector across the continental US. The position will lead the project development process for Renewable Energy projects across the US from initial concept through client contract.

This position will play a key role in developing Solar PV and Battery Storage projects that may be integrated into larger energy projects, which may include Electric Vehicle infrastructure, Microgrids, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Consulting services. The position will play a critical leadership role during the sales and development phases on projects and requires subject matter expertise in deal structuring, business development strategy, project development, utility policy, financial modelling, and project finance.

The Project Developer will join a growing team of developers, engineers, and business development professionals focused on accelerating McKinstry’s growth as a developer of projects and portfolios with capacities of 5-20MW+. This role will primarily focus on commercial and industrial behind-the-meter Solar PV projects but may also include front-of-meter projects.

This role will work closely with internal teams including senior leadership, business development, engineering, construction, legal, project finance departments, and external parties to identify, pursue, and develop Renewable Energy projects that maximize client value and minimize risk to McKinstry.

Business Development:

• Focus technologies include solar, battery energy storage, and microgrids.
• Primary market focus is larger private sector clients with large industrial sites and/or portfolios of buildings that span multiple states or regions.  
• Supports the generation of new business by established and growing new strategic accounts and channel partners.
• Work with internal business units to identify and develop renewable energy opportunities that deepen our existing relationship with strategic clients.
• Market/vertical sector analysis and development of go to market strategies.
• Identify and attend client engagement events and conferences.
• Oversee development, content, and strategic messaging for proposals and presentations to successfully position DER solutions to clients.
• Coordinate with marketing teams to develop and produce market facing sales content and collateral.
• Support business development by traveling to attend sales presentations, developing presentations, and any other requirements to achieve Renewable Energy awards and sales.
• Participate in strategic planning for key accounts and clients.
• Understand McKinstry technology offerings, vertical, and geographic markets and stay up to date on competitive landscape.
• The role will have an annual bookings target.

Project Development: Vetting and Team Management:

• Directly responsibility for completing project viability assessment and economic and financial analysis for new opportunities.
• Work with internal teams and external consultants to develop projects to meet client specific financial and climate action goals.
• Leverage internal team with technical scope development for new projects.
• Responsible for ensuring developed project meet agreed upon goals with the client.
• Act as primary point of contact with client until the project is under contract.
• Lead the hand off of new projects under contract to the development and construction teams.

Project Development - Technical

Provide subject matter expertise for the following:

• Packaging solar and storage solutions into larger, more comprehensive energy projects.
• Strong understanding of interconnection, utility metering policy, project development challenges and strategies for de-risking renewable energy projects.
• Rooftop, canopy and ground mounted Solar PV (Photovoltaic) solutions.
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technologies for demand reduction and energy resiliency.
• Microgrids and energy resiliency offerings.

Policy

• Be knowledgeable in Renewable Energy State, City, County, Utility, Federal, and other policy affecting Renewable offering in relevant geographic area(s).

Contracts

• Lead contract development and packaging of solutions for projects including power purchase agreements, leases, site control, assignment, EPC/construction, operations & maintenance, renewable energy credit purchase agreements.
• Experience leading the negotiation of complex energy contracts for clean generation projects.

Communication

• Possess strong writing and public speaking skills to deliver both business and technical solution sales presentation.
• Effectively communicate in writing and verbally to other McKinstry team members and departments ranging in seniority from entry level to executive leadership.
• Professionally represent McKinstry in front of clients and partners including but not limited to giving sales presentations, site walks, etc.
• Sincere, respectful communicator who values transparency, trust, and collaboration.

What You Need to Succeed at McKinstry

• Approximately 5 Years of experience of successful B2B sales of complex solutions.
• Strong experience in a consultative, complex, solution selling role required.
• Proven ability to develop and deploy market penetration strategies.
• Proven ability to identify and win new opportunities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, engineering, economics, or equivalent business experience required.
• Experience should include client management, deal structuring, project finance, project development, real estate and/or facility services project management, and contract negotiation.
• NABCEP, CEM, LEED, CPM, Six Sigma, other certifications a plus.
• Working knowledge of financial modeling.
• Knowledge of renewable energy financing arrangements including PPAs, tax exempt leases, loans, proformas, and utility incentive programs.
• Ability to have fun and maintain and healthy work/life balance.
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook required; working knowledge of SharePoint preferred.
• Knowledge of Salesforce a plus.
• Land acquisition, due diligence, development and permitting experience a plus.
• Ability and willingness to travel nationally based on the needs of the organization up to 30%+.
• Physical ability to navigate jobsites in uneven terrain.
• Provide personal transportation for meetings and job visits away from the office; reimbursed.

PeopleFirst Benefits

When it comes to the basics, we have you covered:

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) with employer match and profit-sharing plan
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision with low or zero deductible options and low out of pocket maximums

People come first at McKinstry, and we go beyond the basic benefits with:

• Family formation benefits, including adoption and IVF assistance.
• Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave.
• Transgender inclusive benefits
• Commuter benefits
• Pet insurance
• “Building Good” paid community service time.
• Learning and advancement opportunities via McKinstry University
• McKinstry Moves onsite gyms or reimbursement for remote workers.

See benefit plan documents for complete details.

If you’re driven by our vision to build a thriving planet together, McKinstry is the place to build your career. 

The pay range for this position is $92,520 - $152,200 per year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A bonus may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Base pay information is based on market location.

The McKinstry group of companies are equal opportunity employers. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race, color, creed, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to employment, advancement, assignment, and training. This commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity is made equally as a social responsibility and as an economic and business necessity. 

McKinstry is a drug-free workplace. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing a pre-employment drug and alcohol test, complying with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act and a Confidentiality Agreement, in addition to successful outcomes of background and reference checks.  

Applicants for this role will only be considered if they possess current US Work Authorization, and do not require employer-sponsored VISA support to begin or remain in this role. 

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