Solar Project Development Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

The Project Feasibility Manager will lead diligence efforts and own the production of feasibility reports for solar energy and energy storage projects that have acquired site control. Reporting to the Director of Project Feasibility, this role entails direct ownership of assigned project portfolios from Pre-Feasibility through to Development handoff, including the authority to make independent risk-based decisions and propose projects for advancement. The Project Feasibility Manager will analyze utility data, local laws, environmental records, and site survey results to assess project viability; lead communications with external consultants; and identify opportunities to improve team processes and workflows. The ideal candidate brings deep comprehension of the full solar development lifecycle, has experience working with AHJs, utilities, and environmental consultants, demonstrates strong leadership and presentation skills, and the ability to drive projects forward with minimal supervision. Mentorship of junior team members is encouraged and valued in this role.

Essential Job Functions/Key Responsibilities:

Portfolio Ownership & Project Leadership

• Own and manage a portfolio of solar and energy storage projects through the full pre-feasibility and feasibility lifecycle, ensuring timely progression to Development handoff.
• Apply a thorough understanding of the end-to-end solar development lifecycle to guide project strategy and decision-making.
• Evaluate project status across various portfolios and propose projects for advancement from Pre-Feasibility to Feasibility based on independent assessment of readiness and risk.
• Serve as the primary internal point of contact for assigned projects, coordinating across site acquisition, GIS, interconnection, environmental, and legal teams.
• Develop and maintain project timelines, track key milestones, and proactively escalate risks or blockers to the Senior Manager.

Risk Assessment & Decision-Making

• Independently assess and make decisions regarding project risk, including environmental, permitting, interconnection, and land-use factors, determining whether risks are acceptable, mitigable, or disqualifying.
• Develop and execute risk mitigation strategies in coordination with internal teams and external consultants, and document risk positions clearly in feasibility reports.
• Maintain and refine internal risk tracking frameworks on Salesforce; contribute to team-wide best practices for risk evaluation and documentation.
• Conduct advanced competitor analysis using GIS software, public databases, and proprietary AI tools to identify market opportunities and risks for our portfolios.

Consultant & Stakeholder Communications

• Lead project-level communications with external consultants, including environmental and legal firms, ensuring scopes are well-defined, deliverables are on schedule, and findings are actionable.
• Coordinate with landowners and internal teams regarding site surveys and third-party studies, serving as the primary liaison to keep diligence activities on track.
• Prepare and deliver clear, well-structured presentations of project findings to internal stakeholders and senior leadership.

Site & Permitting Analysis

• Lead the evaluation of geographical, topographical, technical, and environmental factors to assess site suitability for solar and energy storage projects.
• Independently identify and map permitting pathways, monitor evolving local and state regulations, and assess their impact on project viability.
• Provide strategic recommendations on site suitability based on multi-factor analysis, and present findings to internal stakeholders.

Feasibility Reports & Development Handoffs

• Author comprehensive feasibility reports synthesizing site, permitting, environmental, and interconnection analysis for leadership review.
• Lead structured handoffs of solar and energy storage projects from Feasibility to Development, ensuring all diligence materials are complete and well-documented.
• Continuously identify and implement improvements to feasibility report templates, handoff processes, and team workflows to increase quality and efficiency.

Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project records, dashboards, and portfolio-level reporting in Salesforce.
• Build and manage portfolio-level tracking tools to provide leadership with clear visibility into project status and key metrics.

Qualifications:

• Deep, comprehensive understanding of the full solar project development lifecycle, from site acquisition and permitting through interconnection, financing, and construction.
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess project risk and make sound, well-reasoned decisions in a dynamic development environment.
• Experience leading communications with external consultants and managing third-party diligence workstreams.
• Proven ability to independently own and manage multiple projects simultaneously, with a high degree of accountability and follow-through.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks and permitting processes for DG and utility-scale solar energy projects.
• Excellent analytical, research, and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, decision-ready recommendations.
• Strong leadership qualities and presentation skills; comfortable communicating complex findings to internal stakeholders and senior leadership.
• A track record of identifying and implementing process improvements within a project development or analytical team context.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Salesforce; ArcGIS and AI experience preferred.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Economics, or a related field; Master’s degree a plus.
• Approximately 5 years of experience in project feasibility analysis, solar or renewable energy project development, or a closely related field.
• Prior experience owning project portfolios, leading consultant relationships, or managing workstreams within a development context strongly preferred.