Project Development Manager Jobs in Hackensack, NJ

About DESRI

DESRI (formerly D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments) is a market-leading owner and operator of renewable energy projects throughout the United States. We have acquired or developed approximately 13 gigawatts of contracted capacity across a portfolio of over 85 renewable energy projects in 24 states.

At DESRI, our culture is grounded in rigorous analytics and thoughtful risk-taking, with a strong emphasis on creativity, intellectual curiosity, and continuous improvement. We operate with lean teams that prioritize efficiency and minimize unnecessary bureaucracy, enabling individuals to take ownership and move quickly. We value open, constructive dialogue and believe it leads to better outcomes.

Above all, we are driven to go the extra mile and support one another, fostering a collaborative environment built on accountability, integrity, and care.

About the role

DESRI is seeking a talented and highly motivated Digital Infrastructure Development Manager to join its Development & Origination team. This individual will play a key role in advancing the commercialization and growth of DESRI’s digital infrastructure efforts in addition to our utility-scale solar and battery energy storage portfolio across U.S. power markets.

The ideal candidate combines strong commercial judgment and analytical capabilities with an understanding of project development and the broader data center ecosystem. The role will cover emerging opportunities associated with digital infrastructure and large-load customers, along with related developments of generation/storage projects and grid-supplied power. In addition, the role may cover project and portfolio acquisitions of generation/storage and large load projects. This is a highly cross-functional role that will work closely with colleagues across Development, Investments, M&A, Finance, Legal, and Engineering.

What you’ll do

The Digital Infrastructure Development Manager will support the commercialization and growth of DESRI’s digital infrastructure and large-load customer development efforts along with the development of it’s solar and battery storage portfolio. Key responsibilities will include:

• Develop and maintain relationships with digital infrastructure customers, utilities, and related counterparties.
• Lead project development at sites where large load applications have been filed, working across DESRI to position projects and develop solutions that address customer needs. Work will include management of permitting, real estate acquisition/ minerals/ title, community engagement, transmission interconnection processes, serving as lead on load interconnection applications with the support of internal and external teams, interactions with utility and digital infrastructure customers, and managing development activities to support financing or other monetization of the project.
• Direct land and site diligence in coordination with internal teams and outside consultants, including water, fiber, and gas supply, title and mineral rights, wetlands and waters delineations, floodplain and hydrology constraints, environmental and cultural resource reviews, and geotechnical findings, and translate diligence results into site layout, schedule, and risk‑mitigation decisions.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities associated with data centers and other large-load customers, including the implications of load growth for generation, storage, transmission, and project development.
• Support project and portfolio acquisitions, including commercial due diligence, offtake strategy, market analysis, and assessment of merchant and recontracting opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with Development, Strategy, M&A, Finance, Legal, and Engineering to advance opportunities from initial evaluation through transaction execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business, engineering, or a related field, with 5 or more years of relevant professional experience in renewable energy, power markets, infrastructure investing, project development, origination, M&A, investment banking, or a related field.
• Experience with or demonstrated interest in digital infrastructure, large-load customers, and the intersection of power markets and digital infrastructure.
• Experience with utility-scale renewable energy, with knowledge of solar and battery energy storage project development from project inception to construction/ operation and knowledge of U.S. wholesale power markets strongly preferred.
• Understanding of renewable energy commercial structures, including power purchase agreements, storage tolling agreements, capacity arrangements, renewable energy credits, hedges and other forms of project offtake.
• Strong relationship‑building, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to interact effectively with customers, counterparties, senior leadership, and colleagues across functional teams.
• Ability to travel as needed for customer meetings, conferences, project visits, and transaction activity.
• At DESRI, we consider a wide range of factors to determine your compensation. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, location, skills, and experience. The expected annual base salary for this position is $140,000 - $160,000.
• Our compensation and benefits package includes variable compensation in the form of a year‑end bonus, guaranteed in the first year of hire, and benefits including medical and prescription drug coverage, 401(k) contribution matching, paid time off, wellness reimbursement, family building benefits, and a charitable gift match program.