Project Development Manager

Sand Cherry Associates excels in the design and delivery of strategic customer-centric initiatives through digitally-native, data-empowered solutions. The Project Development Manager owns and drives the day-to-day development of assigned projects from early concept through Final Investment Decision and Notice to Proceed, ensuring projects meet all requirements while producing decision-ready deliverables.

Responsibilities:

• Own and actively drive projects from concept through FID/NTP, including building and maintaining detailed development plans, milestone schedules, and deliverable trackers
• Lead and execute feasibility studies, site screening, and early-stage configuration decisions, producing decision-ready analyses and recommendations
• Coordinate cross-functional deliverables for internal approvals and external diligence
• Develop and submit applications and manage study processes end-to-end
• Coordinate and compile technical inputs (e.g., load assumptions, one-lines, protection schemes, or equipment requirements) across internal and external teams
• Maintain interconnection trackers, timelines, and risk, escalating issues as needed
• Build and manage permitting plans, schedules, and submission packages
• Coordinate environmental and regulatory studies, ensuring timely reports and filings
• Track and manage permit conditions, approvals, and compliance obligations
• Maintain stakeholder logs and communication records for agencies and landowners
• Drive land and site control efforts, including managing leases, easements, access agreements, and key dates through execution
• Support drafting inputs, negotiation, and execution tracking of third-party agreements
• Oversee site due diligence (environmental, geotechnical, survey/title) and consolidate findings into actionable outputs
• Build and maintain integrated schedules, budget trackers, risk registers, deliverable trackers, and decision logs
• Track budget vs. actual spend, including invoice review and coordination
• Produce stage-gate deliverables, investment memos, and executive-ready reporting

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required (Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field preferred)
• Minimum of 7+ years experience in energy, infrastructure, or large capital project development
• Demonstrated experience advancing projects through key milestones including interconnection, permitting, site control, and FID/NTP readiness
• Strong understanding of power generation, energy or infrastructure industry
• Strong project development lifecycle, including interconnection, permitting, land/site control, and early-stage commercial structuring efforts
• Proven ability to drive execution across cross-functional teams and deliver milestones
• Experience engaging with utilities, regulators, landowners, and third-party stakeholders
• Ability to manage consultants and vendors with scopes, deliverables, and performance
• Strong financial and commercial acumen to support investment decisions and evaluate trade-offs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including development of executive-ready materials and presentations
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, delivery-focused consulting environment
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams and deliverables
• Experience managing external consultants, Owner's Engineers, or EPC interfaces
• Experience supporting large-scale generation, industrial, or infrastructure projects
• PMP or similar certification in project management