Project Development Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL

About the Company

We are building an AI infrastructure platform focused on securing and developing large-scale powered sites for next-generation data center deployments. Our work sits at the intersection of power, land, utility relationships, and infrastructure development. We are focused on converting scarce power positions into financeable, scalable AI campuses.

Role Summary

We are looking for a highly organized, proactive Development / Energy Associate to help manage the day-to-day execution of our site and power pipeline. This person will help track projects,maintainfollow-up with utilities and consultants, coordinate diligence workstreams, and make sure critical development items move forward on time.

This role is ideal for someone who is comfortable operating in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment and can manage multiple threads across power, land, utility, and project development activities.

This is not a pure administrative role. The right person will become the internal operating system for the pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

Pipeline Management

• Maintain and continuously update the master pipeline tracker across all active and prospective sites.

• Track key milestones for each site, including land control, utility status, interconnection progress, fiber path, permitting, diligence, and commercial status.

• Ensure each project has clear next steps, responsible owners, and deadlines.
  

Utility and Consultant Coordination

• Follow up with utilities, engineers, surveyors, environmental consultants, and legal teams on outstanding items.

• Track study deadlines, deposits, application requirements, and correspondence.

• Help prepare materials and agendas for utility and development meetings.

• Keep records of key conversations, commitments, and open items.
  

Project Execution Support

• Support diligence efforts for new and existing sites, including site data collection, mapping, and document organization.

• Coordinate internal and external workstreams related to land, power, permitting, and engineering.

• Help prepare one-page summaries, internal project memos, and executive updates for active sites.

• Organize development timelines and make sure issues are escalated quickly.
  

Reporting and Process

• Produce weekly pipeline updates highlighting status changes, blockers, key risks, and upcoming decisions.

• Help build repeatable internal processes for project tracking, document control, and execution discipline.

• Maintain clean project folders and data rooms for each site.

• Support ad hoc analysis and special projects as the platform grows.
  

Qualifications

• 25years of experience in infrastructure, energy, power development, renewables, utilities, project finance, data center development, ora relatedfield.

• Strong project management and follow-up discipline.

• Ability to manage multiple workstreams without losing detail.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Comfortable working with technical, commercial, and legal information at the same time.

• High levelof ownership, responsiveness, and organization.

• Strong Excel / Google Sheets/Asana/Monday.comand presentation skills.

• Strong Claude,ChatGptSkills
  
• Must be able to travel when needed.
  

Preferred Background

• Experience working with utilities, interconnection processes, or power project development.

• Exposure to datacenters, renewable energy, transmission, substations, or large industrial development.

• Experiencewitha developer, utility, EPC, engineering firm, infrastructure investor, or project finance team.

• Familiarity with GIS, maps, site diligence, or development documentation is a plus.
  

What Success Looks Like

In the first90 days, this person should:

• Build andmaintaina clean master tracker for all active sites.

• Create a reliable cadence for follow-up on utility, diligence, and consultant workstreams.

• Improve visibility into project status, milestones, and blockers.

• Reduce the amount of project tracking and follow-up that depends directly on the CEO.

• Help bring greater discipline, speed, and organization to the development pipeline.
  

Who This Role Is For

• Likes turning complexity into order.

• Enjoymanaging moving pieces across multiple projects.

• Wants exposure to AI infrastructure, power, and large-scale development.

• Is comfortable in a lean, entrepreneurial company where responsibilities grow quickly.
  

Compensation

Compensation will be competitive and based on experience, with base salary, bonus, and long-term upside potential.
Location: Must be US Based