Director, Project Development
About the role
Director – Generation Project Development & Execution based in El Paso, TX with relocation offered. Lead the development and execution of major natural gas-fired power generation projects, taking projects from early-stage planning and site development through engineering, permitting, EPC, construction, commissioning, and commercial operation. This is a senior project leadership role responsible for coordinating engineering, construction, procurement, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and internal stakeholders while maintaining accountability for cost, schedule, safety, risk, and project performance. This is a growth role, as they are looking to add 2-3 GW of power as they have some hyperscalers building data centers in their region and looking for power. The candidate could be a traditional greenfield developer of gas projects or someone with more project management/execution experience, with the role tailored accordingly. Experience preference order: project development of power projects (thermal, renewables considered), project management, operations.
Responsibilities
- Lead gas generation projects from development through commercial operation, including siting, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup.
- Direct major capital projects involving natural gas-fired power plants and associated generation infrastructure.
- Lead development of project scope, budgets, estimates, schedules, execution strategies, and risk plans.
- Support evaluation, negotiation, and management of EPC contracts and major equipment/vendor agreements.
- Coordinate engineering, construction, procurement, environmental, regulatory, operations, and other cross-functional teams.
- Oversee contractors, consultants, and subcontractors to ensure safe, high-quality execution.
- Monitor project costs, schedules, milestones, change orders, risks, and overall performance.
- Review engineering designs, specifications, construction plans, and equipment requirements.
- Lead commissioning, startup, testing, and transition to commercial operations.
- Provide executive-level project reporting, recommendations, and status updates.
- Develop long-term generation and capital project plans aligned with system needs and growth objectives.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience developing and executing large-scale power generation or major industrial capital projects.
- Demonstrated experience with new natural gas/fossil-fueled power plant development and construction.
- Experience taking projects through siting, permitting, engineering, EPC procurement, construction, commissioning, and COD.
- Experience managing EPC contractors, engineering firms, vendors, and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Strong project controls experience, including estimating, budgeting, cost control, scheduling, and risk management.
- Utility experience strongly preferred; power plant operations, maintenance, or engineering experience is a plus.
- Experience with renewable generation or BESS projects is beneficial but secondary to gas generation experience.
- Willingness to travel and support projects through key construction and commissioning activities.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
Skills
- Strong understanding of mechanical and electrical power plant systems, construction practices, and utility infrastructure.
- Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.