Senior Project Developer - Renewable Energy

Location: Minneapolis, USA (hybrid/office).
Must haves: 3 years of onshore wind development experience.

Overview
A boutique renewable energy developer is seeking a Senior Project Developer to join their growing team. The company focuses on utility-scale greenfield development across the U.S., with a strong emphasis on wind energy and complementary opportunities in solar and battery storage.

This is an opportunity to be part of a collaborative, early-stage development environment, one that values initiative, accountability, and genuine teamwork. The company self-finances its projects and prioritizes quality over quantity, aiming to advance strong projects from concept.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development of utility-scale renewable energy projects from early-stage land acquisition through entitlement, and interconnection.
• Coordinate all phases of project development, including permitting, environmental assessments, regulatory processes, community engagement, and stakeholder management.
• Manage schedules, budgets, and deliverables across multiple concurrent projects.
• Conduct and oversee critical path and fatal flaw analyses to ensure project viability.
• Engage directly in land origination and negotiation of land use and property rights agreements.
• Interface with engineering, interconnection, and construction partners to align technical and commercial aspects of each project.
• Maintain organized documentation and ensure timely reporting on project status, progress, and key milestones.
• Collaborate with leadership on commercial strategy, offtake discussions, and project monetization opportunities.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with local communities, landowners, consultants, and agencies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in renewable energy project development; wind experience required.
• Strong understanding of interconnection, permitting, and environmental review processes for greenfield projects.
• Proven ability to take projects from concept through Notice to Proceed and/or asset sale.
• Excellent project management, negotiation, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working in a small, highly collaborative team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project or similar scheduling software; GIS or mapping experience a plus.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain focus on strategic outcomes.

Work Environment

• Office-based collaborative culture (3–5 days per week in-office).
• Small, tight-knit team focused on mutual accountability rather than oversight or training.
• Ideal for experienced developers seeking a hands-on role where they can help shape the company’s next phase of growth.

Compensation

• Base salary is adaptable with potential for enhanced earnings through project milestone bonuses or profit-sharing tied to development success.
• Strong benefits package.

About Us
Climate17 is a purpose-led, international renewable energy & sustainability recruitment consulting firm. We provide specialist talent acquisition and market insight services to organizations seeking to reduce their environmental footprint and those working towards the decarbonization of the energy sector.

Inclusive Application Process
Climate17 is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We aim to increase diversity across all areas and as such, we are committed to partnering with clients and candidates to create an inclusive and sustainable regenerative world. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, or whether or not they have a disability. If you require additional support, equipment, or resources to participate in the job application or interview process, please let us know.