Job Description | Director/Manager of Development Engineering

About Us

East Point Energy is a development firm focused on the origination, construction, and operation of energy storage projects. Our team is currently developing gigawatts of energy storage projects throughout the country, helping to transform the grid into a renewable, resilient, and affordable system for generations to come. East Point is a wholly owned subsidiary of Equinor, a broad international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future.

East Point’s nimble team is comprised of hard-working, strategic problem solvers who are passionate about sustainability. We are technology and contractor agnostic, allowing us to find the best solution for each project. The firm’s executive team founded East Point in 2018, bringing decades of combined energy development experience and over 1.8 gigawatts of solar, wind, and energy storage projects currently in operation across the United States. Success for East Point is measured by delivering affordable energy storage solutions that benefit the grid, communities, and our environment.

East Point is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a job unless they feel they are fully qualified in every way. We also know that sometimes the best candidates do not check every box. If you are interested in learning more, we would love to hear from you.

Title: Director/Manager of Development Engineering

The Director/Manager of Development Engineering is responsible for leading activities related to the development of energy storage projects and leading and managing a team of Development Engineers. This is a hybrid role, which includes both the Development Engineer role and managing and leading a team of development engineers. Further, the role will include creating and managing process and jumping into the details of a project to help solve development issues – mastering the player/coach role. The position requires experience managing process and teams and someone who leads by example by being a team player, a creative problem solver, passionate about the environment, and demonstrating a strong work ethic. This role reports directly to the VP of Project Development. The level of the role (Director or Manager) will depend on the qualification and experience of the candidate.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of Development Engineers, overseeing the development process, especially as it relates to environmental diligence, engineering & design, interconnection, permitting, and technical risk assessment of projects
• Facilitate in solving project issues related to:
  • Constraints maps, site plans, and layouts (kmz, SketchUp, and CAD)
  • Interconnection application and study process
  • Outside engineering (civil and electrical), environmental consultants and contractors; including bidding, contracting, and reviewing and assessing deliverables
  • Environmental, engineering, design, permitting, and technology
  • Maintaining relationships with key equipment vendors and contractors
  • Current and future battery technologies (e.g. Li-ion, solid-state, flow, etc.)
  • Project plans with schedules and budgets
  • Attending local government public hearings for discretionary permitting
• Manage the growth and training of the team of Development Engineers
• Coordinate with the VP of Project Development to lead the growth of the project pipelines, assisting in problem solving across the various aspects of project development
• Support Business Development team to diligence project acquisition opportunities, facilitating quality, inorganic growth of the project pipeline
• Coordinate with EPC and Asset Management teams to ensure smooth transitions from one phase of a project to another, capturing lessons learned and implementing necessary improvements to the development process
• Coordinate with the Business Development team to create and manage the financial project models
• Coordinate with the Development and Policy teams to help monitor and participate in regulatory and legislative policy initiatives
• Continuously represent the company’s capabilities and image including, but not limited to, participation in conferences and trade shows
• Oversee employee productivity, building a highly inclusive culture, and ensuring team members thrive and organizational outcomes are met

 Education/Qualifications/Skills:

• 4-year university degree, BS or BA
• Graduate degree in engineering or business is a plus
• 3+ years of experience in renewable energy or energy storage development required
• Proficiency with Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, etc.)
• Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication; able to communicate to audiences with varying degrees of technical understanding
• Strong negotiation and presentation skills
• Experience leading and managing a team
• Financial analysis and budgeting skills, formal project management training and skills or policy analysis experience
• Development risk identification and assessment
• Proficiency with Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, etc.)
• Experience using Salesforce, Mission Control (or similar project management software), and/or GIS a plus
• Must be able to walk over undeveloped land unassisted, travel unassisted and sit at a computer for long periods of time
• Safe driving record, valid driver’s license

Characteristics of an Ideal Candidate:

• Passion for energy development and the environment
• Creative problem-solving ability and solutions-oriented mindset
• Self-starter with a desire to succeed and a focus on creating value
• Team player and leader, proactive attitude
• Organized, attention to detail
• Comfortable with a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment
• Ability to make informed decisions quickly and a bias for action
• Integrity and accountability

Travel & Time Commitment:

• Approximately 30% of time will be on the road; will vary based on status of projects
• Travel includes independent site visits and landowner meetings
• This is a full-time, exempt salaried position. Standard office hours are from 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM EST. The demands of projects may require work outside of these times. 

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance

• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) & Employer Match
• Parental Leave
• Paid Time Off
• Sick Leave
• Holidays
• Education, Parking, and Gym Membership Stipends

Location:

East Point Energy office in Charlottesville, VA

This job description is not inclusive of all requirements of the position. Employees will perform any other duties as may be required by their manager.