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Project Development Jobs in New Jersey (NOW HIRING)

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Development Project Manager

Piscataway, NJ · On-site

We are seeking a Development Project Manager to join a highly respected, privately held commercial real estate development, construction, and property management firm with a long history of success.

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Project Development information

See New Jersey salary details

$43.7K

$96K

$144.2K

How much do project development jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for project development in New Jersey is $95,981.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,700.00 and $110,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Project Development vs Project Management?

AspectProject DevelopmentProject Management
Primary FocusPlanning and creating project concepts, designs, and initial phasesExecuting, monitoring, and closing projects to meet objectives
Required SkillsDesign, technical knowledge, planningLeadership, organization, communication
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, engineering, R&DProject teams, client interactions, coordination
CertificationsDepends on industry; often technical or design certificationsPMP, CAPM, or similar project management certifications

While project development focuses on creating and designing project concepts, project management involves overseeing the execution and delivery of those projects. Both roles are essential and often collaborate closely, but they emphasize different stages of the project lifecycle.

What does a project developer do?

A project developer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing projects from inception to completion. They analyze project requirements, secure necessary permits, coordinate with stakeholders, and ensure projects meet deadlines and budgets, often using project management tools and industry standards.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in Project Development, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Project Development often encounter challenges such as aligning diverse stakeholder interests, managing shifting project requirements, and ensuring timely resource allocation. These obstacles can be addressed by maintaining clear communication channels, implementing regular project check-ins, and utilizing effective project management tools. Building strong relationships across departments and fostering a transparent team culture also help in navigating complex project landscapes and achieving successful outcomes.

Is PM a stressful job?

Project management (PM) can be stressful due to tight deadlines, budget constraints, and coordinating multiple stakeholders. Successful PMs often develop strong organizational and communication skills to manage workload and mitigate stress levels.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Project Development, and why are they important?

A successful career in Project Development requires strong project management skills, analytical abilities, and a relevant degree such as business, engineering, or construction management. Familiarity with project management software (like MS Project or Asana), budgeting tools, and sometimes certifications like PMP or Prince2 are highly valued. Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills enable professionals to coordinate teams and drive projects forward. These competencies are crucial for ensuring projects are completed on time, within scope, and to stakeholder satisfaction.

What is the highest paying project management job?

Senior executive roles such as Program Manager, Portfolio Manager, or Director of Project Management typically offer the highest salaries in project management, often exceeding six figures. These positions require extensive experience, advanced certifications like PMP or PgMP, and strong leadership skills. Industries such as technology, finance, and engineering tend to pay these roles more competitively.

What is project development work?

Project development work involves planning, designing, and organizing projects to meet specific goals within set timelines and budgets. It often includes tasks such as feasibility analysis, resource allocation, and coordinating teams, requiring skills in project management tools and methodologies like Agile or Waterfall.

What is project development?

Project development is the process of planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring a specific project from an initial idea to successful completion. This involves defining project goals, creating detailed plans, securing funding, coordinating teams, and monitoring progress throughout the project lifecycle. Effective project development ensures that objectives are met on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards. Professionals in this field often work in industries such as construction, energy, technology, and nonprofit sectors.
What are the most commonly searched types of Project Development jobs in New Jersey? The most popular types of Project Development jobs in New Jersey are:
What are popular job titles related to Project Development jobs in New Jersey? For Project Development jobs in New Jersey, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Project Development jobs in New Jersey look for? The top searched job categories for Project Development jobs in New Jersey are:
Project Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Project Development job openings in New Jersey as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,981 per year, or $46.1 per hour.
Project Development Manager

Project Development Manager

Scale Microgrid Solutions

Ridgewood, NJ • Hybrid

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

This is a senior individual contributor role with strategic oversight responsibility for leading full lifecycle development of on-site power generation and infrastructure projects to support speed-to-power for hyperscale data centers.

You will originate land opportunities, secure site control, manage interconnection strategy, oversee permitting and commercial structuring, and drive projects to notice to proceed and financial close. This role owns outcomes: it requires strong market knowledge, commercial discipline, regulatory awareness, on-the-ground expertise, and the ability to coordinate internal and external stakeholders without directly managing large teams.

This role will report to our VP, Development – Data Centers, and can be a hybrid role based in Ridgewood, NJ, NYC, Chicago, or West Palm Beach, FL offices.

Key responsibilities will include:

Project Origination & Strategy

  • Identify and originate development opportunities to develop, own, and operate on-site energy infrastructure to support hyperscale data center loads
  • Evaluate capacity, energy, and ancillary service market fundamentals.
  • Develop market entry strategies aligned with ISO planning cycles.
  • Lead site selection and land control strategy.
  • Assess transmission constraints and nodal pricing dynamics.

 

Development Execution

  • Oversee environmental and permitting strategy in coordination with environmental leadership.
  • Lead interconnection application strategy and coordinate directly with ISOs, utilities, and transmission owners.
  • Manage consultant teams, including engineering, environmental, and transmission advisors.
  • Develop and maintain integrated development schedules and budgets
  • Identify and mitigate fatal flaw risks.
  • Drive projects toward financial close and construction readiness.

 

Strategic Oversight

  • Provide executive-level reporting on development pipeline status.
  • Present risk matrices and exposure analysis to leadership.
  • Advise on portfolio strategy and expansion regions.
  • Support the evaluation of joint ventures and M&A opportunities

 

Work Environment

  • Office-based role with travel to projects as required.
  • Fast-paced development environment with shifting regulatory and market dynamics.
The Ideal Candidate:

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Economics, Energy Systems, or related field.
  • 8+ years of experience in power project development within organized wholesale markets.
  • Experience developing natural gas generation or utility-scale energy assets.
  • Proven ability to independently drive projects from early-stage to advanced development.
  • Strong commercial negotiation skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

 

Preferred

  • Experience with gas-fired generation paired with large data center loads.
  • Advanced financial modeling capabilities.
  • Experience in structuring tax equity or infrastructure capital partnerships.
  • MBA or advanced degree.

 

Leadership Competencies

  • Strategic thinker with strong market intuition.
  • High ownership mindset.
  • Comfortable operating with limited direction.
  • Strong risk evaluator.
  • Skilled at balancing technical, regulatory, and commercial variables.
  • Executive presence with the ability to influence without authority.
This is a great opportunity to have a long-term impact on a fast-paced, private equity-backed growth business. Some of the core virtues embraced by Scales’ employees include:
·       Do the Right Thing
·       Act Like an Owner
·       Hustle
·       Demand Results
·       Go Together
·       Evolve or Disappear
 
We offer a competitive compensation package and a comprehensive benefits program including medical benefits, paid vacation and holidays, and 401K matching.
 

About Scale Microgrids
Scale is redefining resilience, with advanced microgrids that go beyond traditional backup power solutions to give businesses the power to adapt and thrive amid all of today’s growing energy challenges. As a vertically-integrated provider of turnkey advanced microgrid systems, Scale combines project design, engineering, and execution expertise with microgrid-as-a-service financing to offer our customers systems that are optimized to deliver maximum value from day one while ensuring ultra-reliable operations and fast time-to-power.
 
Scale is backed by EQT, a firm with ~$250B in assets, bringing a depth of experience, resources, and capital that will enable Scale to continue pursuing our vision of powering the world with distributed energy. The investment enables Scale to own and operate billions of dollars in distributed generation assets.  To learn more about Scale Microgrids, please visit https://www.scalemicrogrids.com.
 

About EQT
EQT is a leading purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 246 billion in total assets under management, divided into two business segments: Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership. To learn more about EQT, please visit https://eqtgroup.com.
 

Scale strives to attract and retain a workforce that reflects the composition of our customer base and communities. We are committed to providing a work environment that provides everyone with equal access and opportunity to contribute and drive meaningful outcomes.  We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

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.