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Project Development Director Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Socket.dev

Director, Project Development

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$190 - $240/hr

Basic Function The Director of Project Development will lead the strategy, origination, and execution of large‑scale energy infrastructure projects across the U.S., with a focus on natural gas ...

Destiny Arts Center

Development Director

Oakland, CA · On-site

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR REPORTS TO Executive Director STATUS Full-Time, Exempt • Hybrid SUPERVISES ... Strong project-management and organizational skills. * Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal ...

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Project Development Director information

See California salary details

$61.7K

$140.2K

$219.6K

How much do project development director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for project development director in California is $140,214.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,500.00 and $148,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a project development director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Project Development Director, you need expertise in project management, business development, strategic planning, and a relevant degree—often in business, engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with project management software (like MS Project or Asana), budgeting tools, and certifications such as PMP or PRINCE2 are highly advantageous. Leadership, negotiation, and strong interpersonal communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for ensuring project success, stakeholder alignment, and effective delivery of organizational goals.

What are some common challenges faced by a project development director when managing cross-functional teams?

Project Development Directors often work with diverse teams from various departments such as engineering, finance, marketing, and legal. One common challenge is aligning different priorities and communication styles to ensure everyone is working towards the same project goals. Additionally, balancing stakeholder expectations while managing tight deadlines and budget constraints can require strong negotiation and problem-solving skills. Successful Project Development Directors foster collaboration, set clear objectives, and proactively address potential conflicts to keep projects on track.

What does a project development director do?

A Project Development Director oversees the planning, execution, and completion of major projects within an organization. Their responsibilities include identifying project opportunities, managing budgets, coordinating teams, and ensuring projects align with organizational goals. They often serve as the main point of contact for stakeholders and are responsible for mitigating risks and ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope. Effective leadership, strategic planning, and strong communication skills are essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Project Development Director vs Project Manager?

AspectProject Development DirectorProject Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple projects, strategic planning, and long-term development initiativesManages individual projects, coordinates teams, and ensures project deliverables
Required CredentialsBachelor's or master's in relevant fields, extensive experience in project planning and leadershipBachelor's degree, PMP or similar certification often preferred
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level, strategic meetings, cross-department collaborationOn-site or remote project teams, day-to-day project oversight

The Project Development Director focuses on strategic, high-level planning and oversees multiple projects, while the Project Manager handles the execution and daily management of individual projects. Both roles require strong leadership and industry knowledge, but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Project Development jobs in California? The most popular types of Project Development jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Project Development Director jobs? Cities in California with the most Project Development Director job openings:
Project Development Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Project Development Director job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,214 per year, or $67.4 per hour.

Project Development Director

Energy Vault

Westlake Village, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Our Company
Welcome to Energy Vault (NYSE:NRGV), a global energy storage and power infrastructure company focused on owning, operating, and enabling resilient, dispatchable energy assets. 
 
Energy Vault's focus is to deliver reliable, flexible power that supports the evolving needs of modern grids, communities, and large energy users. Since 2024, the Company has centered its strategy on an Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, developing, building, owning, and operating critical energy assets around the world. 
 
Energy Vault operates globally, with headquarters in Westlake Village, California and Lugano, Switzerland, and regional development across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The Company partners with utilities, grid operators, and large energy consumers to deliver infrastructure that strengthens grid reliability, enables renewable integration, and supports long-term energy security. 
 
By combining asset ownership with advanced technologies and integration expertise, Energy Vault is building the next generation of critical energy infrastructure, delivering dependable power when and where it matters most. 
 
Learn more at www.energyvault.com, explore recent updates in our Newsroom, and connect with us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, or YouTube. 
 
Our Values 
We Commit: To Building a Better Future for Earth and All Its Beings.
We Innovate: Cutting Edge Solutions to Accelerate the Unique Energy Aspirations of Our Clients.
We Connect: To Build Genuine Relationships.
We Deliver: Going Above & Beyond by Being Fast & Nimble.
We Lead: With Authenticity and Purpose.

Your Impact as a Project Development Director: 

The Project Development Director plays a critical role across Energy Vault's front-end development activities, acting as the single point of ownership for progressing acquired projects to deploy energy storage and/or generation assets under its Build-Own-Operate strategy, from early development through to Ready to Build (RTB). This role is execution-focused and accountable for driving outcomes leveraging internal and external resources for planning approvals, grid connection, off take, pre-construction planning, project financing and risk management across a US portfolio.

The position requires both customer-facing expertise as well as excellent internal project management and team management capabilities. The Project Development Director will lead domestic projects, with particular focus on energy generation and storage systems.  Attention to legal and regulatory compliance, on-schedule performance, quality, and accuracy are of the utmost importance. This is a highly networked position that includes partnerships and alignment with Commercial, Grid, Engineering, Legal, Finance, Pre-Construction, and external consultants and development partners, the Project Development Director serves as the project "owner" from acquisition to ready to build and financial close of project financing. 

While supported by specialist internal teams and external consultants, the Project Development Director is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, proactively identifying issues, managing approvals and grid interface risk, and optimizing development processes as required. This includes ownership of development budgets, oversight of consultant performance, and implementation of governance, templates, and stage-gate controls to support consistent project execution. The role is primarily execution-heavy, with a strong emphasis on accountability for approvals timelines and development risk. As the portfolio matures, the position has the potential to evolve into a Team Lead role, supporting the growth and scalability of Energy Vault's Project development capability.

Your Mission:
  • Lead end-to-end development of utility-scale energy storage and generation projects from early-stage assessment/acquisition through contracting and Ready-to-Build (RTB)
  • Manage third-party developers, consultants, and internal cross-functional teams to advance development workstreams, ensure stage-gate readiness, and drive critical decisions.
  • Own development budgets, schedules, critical path execution, risk management, and reporting to leadership and investment stakeholders.
  • Secure and manage key project agreements and permits, including land control, environmental/community engagement, and local approvals with relevant authorities.
  • Drive grid interconnection and utility coordination through application, studies, and agreements to support bankable RTB outcomes.
  • Define project scope and requirements aligned to commercial strategy, ensuring development deliverables support financing, offtake, and long-term value creation.
Your Background:
  • 15 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree in Engineering, Communication, or Business,; 12 years of related experience with a master's degree; or 8 years of related experience with a PhD.
  • 5+ years of experience in Project Management of complex projects in the Energy Generation and/or Energy Storage industries.
  • Proven experience developing projects from origination/acquisition through development approvals and grid connections.
  • Certification in Project Management preferred.
  • Capacity to learn on-the-fly, particularly regarding nuanced project technical or legal requirements.
  • Excellent Project Management skills and the ability to work independently on multiple project timelines simultaneously.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Agile work ethic with flexibility to address pressing project needs as they arise.
  • Proficiency in effective communication of project plans, proposals, and results, and ability negotiate options at senior management levels.
  • Willingness to travel domestically and/or internationally, up to 30%.
  • Comfortable thriving in fast-paced, rapid growth environments.
  • A passion for sustainability, our mission, and our vision is a bonus!
  • Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check.  
  • Energy Vault participates in E-Verify.
Benefits of Powering the Future with Energy Vault:

  • Annual bonus plan.

  • Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). 

  • 401K employer matching. 

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and family. 

  • Flexible Spending Account. 

  • Company-paid Life insurance, Short- and Long-term disability insurance. 

  • 8-weeks for Paternity leave. 

  • Generous holiday allowance. 

  • Flexible time off plus sick leave. 

  • Reimbursement for home office equipment, phone, and internet expenses. 

$154,000 - $246,000 a year
The range, $154,000 to $246,000, reflects a total compensation package for this position across all U.S. locations.  
#LI-remote #LI-JW1

Join Us in Empowering Change 

At Energy Vault we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants. We believe inclusion creates opportunity for collaborative excellence through diversity of thought. We invite individuals of all genders, races, identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, national origins, abilities, protected veteran status, religions, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds to explore employment with our organization.

Apply now and become a catalyst for change at Energy Vault! 
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