Solar Development Associate Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent
Functional area: Project Development
Remuneration: Exempt

The Development Director, Utility-Scale Development - Central Region at RWE Americas is a senior individual contributor responsible for initiating, developing, and acquiring utility-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects in the United States and Canada. The Director independently leads complex projects and cross-functional project teams from greenfielding through start of construction and supports projects through commercial operation. The role has no direct reports and delivers results by applying advanced development expertise, influencing internal and external stakeholders, and driving alignment with RWE's North American strategy.

Role Responsibilities:

• Develop and oversee utility-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects from greenfielding through start of construction, with accountability for schedule, budget, risk, and project value
• Serve as project lead for complex or high-priority projects, directing large cross-functional teams of internal subject-matter experts and external consultants without direct people-management authority
• Manage the full project lifecycle, including site due diligence, land control, environmental review and permitting, interconnection, engineering and preconstruction, energy yield, tax abatements, power marketing, financing support, and readiness for construction
• Define project strategy and critical-path priorities by integrating market, transmission, permitting, land, technical, commercial, financial, and stakeholder considerations
• Establish and manage project budgets, objectives, schedules, forecasts, decision points, and deliverables; prioritize development spending based on project economics, risk, and market attributes
• Lead cost-estimating and EPC-bidding activities in collaboration with Preconstruction, Procurement, Engineering, and Finance to improve cost certainty and support investment decisions
• Drive optimization of engineering design, constructability, commercial structure, and other technical and financial levers to strengthen project competitiveness and risk-adjusted returns
• Identify, analyze, and resolve high-complexity issues involving land, grid access, permitting, community opposition, project design, commercial terms, or competing priorities, escalating material risks with recommended actions
• Lead critical negotiations with landowners, utilities, transmission providers, regulators, governmental entities, consultants, contractors, and strategic partners
• Understand the key drivers of project financial attractiveness and identify strong project locations in collaboration with RWE's commercial, transmission, and technical teams
• Lead due diligence for project acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other transactions in collaboration with RWE's M&A and functional teams
• Prepare executive-level presentations and investment recommendations and drive internal review and approval processes with clear articulation of project value, risks, tradeoffs, and required decisions
• Support power marketing, financing, tax-equity, and transaction processes by providing project inputs, coordinating due diligence, and ensuring that development assumptions are accurate and supportable
• Provide strategic and technical mentorship to Development Managers, Associates, and other colleagues; guide project work and share expertise without formal supervisory or performance-management responsibility
• Actively shape Central Region development strategy and lead internal initiatives that improve development processes, tools, governance, standardization, and portfolio execution
• Provide support during construction to resolve development-related issues and help ensure successful commercial operation

Job Requirements and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business/economics, environmental science, planning, public policy, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of 11 years of relevant work experience, including at least 4 years of utility-scale wind, solar, or battery storage development experience in the United States
• Demonstrated success independently leading complex, capital-intensive energy or infrastructure projects through multiple development stages
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and managing external consultants, advisors, contractors, or strategic partners
• Expert knowledge of utility-scale project development, including land acquisition, permitting, interconnection, engineering, preconstruction, stakeholder engagement, commercial structuring, budgeting, forecasting, and risk management
• Exceptional project and portfolio management skills, including the ability to establish priorities, drive accountability, and deliver results across multiple complex workstreams
• Proven ability to lead through influence, align diverse cross-functional stakeholders, and resolve disagreements without relying on direct reporting authority
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including the ability to assess project economics, development tradeoffs, capital requirements, and risk-adjusted value
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to develop practical solutions to ambiguous or high-impact issues
• Excellent executive communication skills and the ability to translate detailed project information into concise recommendations for senior leadership
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with landowners, communities, government officials, regulators, utilities, partners, and internal stakeholders from diverse backgrounds
• Motivated self-starter who is goal-oriented, detail-oriented, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple priorities independently while contributing effectively as part of a team
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
• Ability to travel up to 50%
• This position is an office-based role with travel to other RWE Americas offices, project sites, public meetings, and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for extended periods of time

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $190,000 - $230,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 93276. Any questions? Contact HR:  rwe_americas_recruiting@rwe.com

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE's 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.