Project Development Strategy Manager

Project Development Strategy Manager

Asbury Park, NJ / New York, NY

Operations - Project Development /

Full-Time /

Hybrid

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About Us

Solar Landscape is the leading commercial rooftop solar developer in the U.S. Only 4% of commercial rooftops host solar today - we're changing that, fast. Commercial rooftop solar is the fastest, smartest way to build new clean power - delivering megawatts of generation in months, not years, and powering America's energy and future right where it's needed most. By turning rooftops into local power plants, we're reshaping how - and how fast - energy gets built in the U.S.

Recognized as the #1 Distributed Generation Developer by New Project Media, the #1 National Commercial Rooftop Solar Developer by Solar Power World, and winner of the U.S. Department of Energy's Grand Prize for Clean Energy, Solar Landscape is defining the future of energy generation in America.

Headquartered in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Solar Landscape has offices in Chicago, Baltimore, and New York City and operates in over a dozen states nationwide.

We move fast, solve hard problems, and take our work seriously - but never ourselves. We value clear thinking, accountability, and execution. At the same time, we're collaborative by default, and believe the best work happens when people enjoy working together. Our team is made up of smart, grounded people who show up for each other - whether that's troubleshooting a system design or catching up over lunch.

If you're looking to do meaningful work in a high-performance environment - and be part of the team reshaping how energy gets built in the U.S. - we'd love to meet you.

About The Role

We are seeking a Project Development Manager to join our Project Development team and lead the development of a portfolio of commercial rooftop solar projects in New Jersey from contract execution through notice-to-proceed (NTP).

This is a highly autonomous, cross-functional role for an experienced solar developer who can take ownership of complex projects, identify and evaluate development risks, and drive projects toward construction readiness. The Manager will be responsible for a portfolio of approximately 30-40 projects at a time and will work across interconnection, engineering, permitting, legal, finance, preconstruction, and other teams to develop and execute project strategy.

The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in ambiguity, can distinguish between issues that require escalation and those they can independently drive to resolution, and approaches challenges with a recommendation for resolution. This person will work closely with senior leadership on key project and portfolio decisions while serving as a trusted resource and informal mentor to more junior members of the Project Development team.

This is a hybrid position based in our Asbury Park, New Jersey or NYC office.

Responsibilities

Project Development & Ownership

• Own the development of approximately 30-40 commercial solar projects from contract execution through NTP, driving projects toward development milestones and construction readiness.
• Develop and execute project strategies across interconnection, engineering, zoning, incentives, legal, finance, and other development workstreams.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of project critical paths, risks, contractual requirements, economics, and key deadlines, proactively developing solutions and mitigation strategies where projects are at risk.
• Lead complex project escalations, developing recommendations and engaging senior leadership when appropriate.
• Prepare project and portfolio updates, recommendations, and presentations for senior and executive leadership.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Drive alignment across Engineering, Interconnection, Legal, Finance, Preconstruction, Policy, and other internal teams to resolve complex development issues and advance projects efficiently.
• Navigate technical, commercial, schedule, and financial tradeoffs to develop practical paths forward for projects.
• Partner with legal, business development, pre-construction, interconnection, engineering, project management, and finance teams to de-risk projects and position them for a successful transition into construction.

Portfolio Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Evaluate project health, priorities, risks, and timelines and make recommendations regarding portfolio strategy and prioritization.
• Identify recurring development bottlenecks and lead initiatives that improve processes, workflows, project throughput, and predictability.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Serve as a resource and informal mentor to Project Development Analysts, providing strategic guidance and helping strengthen project development judgment, problem-solving, and communication across the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, economics, environmental studies, or a related field.
• 4+ years of renewable energy project development experience.
• Experience developing commercial distributed-generation solar projects in New Jersey strongly preferred, including familiarity with New Jersey utility interconnection, municipal approvals, and state solar incentive programs.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage a large portfolio of projects through multiple stages of development while balancing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong understanding of the technical, commercial, legal, and financial considerations that influence solar project development.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate incomplete information, identify risk, and develop a recommended path forward.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex issues and influence cross-functional stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Highly organized, collaborative, and comfortable operating with significant autonomy in a fast-paced environment.

$90,000 - $120,000 a year

Salary will vary depending on your location and job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive-based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.

Benefits and Perks

We offer competitive compensation and benefits designed to support you inside and outside of work:

• Training / Professional development opportunities
• 401(k) with 4% company match
• Summer Fridays
• Flexible remote/hybrid work options
• Paid parental leave
• Team lunches, events, and stocked kitchens
• Modern, collaborative office spaces in Asbury Park, New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Baltimore
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance

ADA Accommodation Statement

Solar Landscape is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected].

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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