Senior Project Developer in Phoenix, Arizona at Atlantica

Role: Senior Project Developer

Location: Tempe, Arizona

Salary Range: $100,000-$120,000

Role Purpose

We are seeking a Senior Project Developer to own and drive the full lifecycle of complex, utility-scale renewable energy projects, from strategic site identification and feasibility through permitting, stakeholder alignment, financial structuring, and pre-construction handover.

This role goes beyond project execution. The Senior Project Developer is expected to shape development strategy, mentor junior team members, and serve as a key decision-maker and external representative for the organization.

The ideal candidate brings deep renewable energy sector expertise, a demonstrated track record of independently advancing large-scale projects, and the leadership presence necessary to build consensus across internal teams, regulatory bodies, and community stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead site identification and advanced feasibility assessments for utility-scale renewable energy projects, integrating resource, environmental, grid interconnection, and economic analyses into strategic go/no-go recommendations.

• Own and manage the full permitting process across local, state, and federal jurisdictions. Proactively resolve regulatory challenges and maintain senior-level relationships with regulatory agencies.

• Lead negotiations with landowners, utilities, municipalities, government entities, and other stakeholders. Structure and close site-control agreements and project-support arrangements.

• Develop, own, and actively manage project schedules, budgets, risk registers, and executive-level progress reporting. Drive accountability across all project workstreams.

• Lead project financial modeling, funding strategy, and the structuring and negotiation of commercial agreements, including Power Purchase Agreements, interconnection agreements, and offtake arrangements.

• Serve as the senior cross-functional liaison among engineering, environmental, legal, finance, business development, and other internal teams. Identify and resolve risks that could affect development milestones.

• Represent the company at public hearings, community meetings, regulatory proceedings, and industry events as a senior spokesperson for project objectives and company values.

• Proactively monitor market, policy, regulatory, and technology trends. Translate relevant insights into strategic recommendations that support the development pipeline.

• Lead pre-construction handoffs, ensuring seamless transitions to construction and delivery teams with complete documentation and compliance with development requirements.

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level development team members. Contribute to team development, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Business, Urban Planning, Energy, or a related field required.

• Master’s degree strongly preferred.

• PMP, LEED, or another relevant professional certification is a plus.

• Proficiency with GIS tools, project management platforms, and CRM software, such as Salesforce, Microsoft Project, Primavera, or equivalent systems.

Experience and Technical Skills

• 7–12 years of progressive experience in renewable energy project development, permitting, infrastructure development, or project management.

• Demonstrated track record of independently advancing projects from greenfield development through pre-construction.

• Proven ability to advance multiple complex projects simultaneously across site control, permitting, interconnection, environmental review, and pre-construction phases.

• Deep expertise in feasibility assessments, environmental review, regulatory compliance, and multi-jurisdictional permitting strategies.

• Strong financial acumen, including hands-on experience with financial modeling, development budgeting, cost estimation, and commercial agreement structuring.

• Experience negotiating with landowners, utilities, regulators, municipalities, consultants, and other external stakeholders.

• Ability to interpret site maps, permitting documents, interconnection studies, environmental reports, regulatory filings, and project financial information.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, with experience using scheduling, database, and project management tools.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate risks and opportunities across complex, long-term projects.

• Highly organized and decisive, with the ability to manage competing priorities across a large project portfolio without sacrificing quality or momentum.

• Exceptional communicator and negotiator who builds lasting trust with landowners, regulators, community stakeholders, colleagues, and executive leadership.

• Proactive and self-directed, with the ability to own outcomes in ambiguous and quickly evolving environments.

• Collaborative leader who supports the development of others and operates with a one-company mindset.

• Commercially aware and capable of balancing project-development objectives with financial, regulatory, technical, and stakeholder considerations.

• Resilient and solutions-oriented, with a demostrated ability to navigate and overcome complex project obstacles.

• Committed to renewable energy, sustainability, and the successful delivery of clean energy infrastructure.

Company Culture