Director of Clean Energy Project Development

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position and is preferred assigned to Jackson Service Center located in Jackson, MI but other locations will be considered as well. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).

The Director of Business Development is responsible for increasing company net income and earnings by applying a combination of technical, commercial, project and risk management skills to acquire utility-scale renewable energy generation assets under development, to propose and negotiate power purchase agreements (PPAs) that satisfy customer renewable energy needs, and to complete development activities that enable construction of renewable energy generation projects. The incumbent leads cross-functional teams, manages staff and existing partnerships, and advances achievement of company business goals. Prepare evaluations, valuations, due diligence, negotiation, contracting, acquisition, development, permitting, design, financing and construction of renewable energy generating assets. Supporting ways to improve operations planning, attending meetings with clients and advisors, mitigating company risks, analyzing financial, statistical and economic data, notifying stakeholders of key developments, and identifying and realizing strategic and financial benefits to the company.

• Support developing and managing strategic partnerships to grow business
• Present business or marketing opportunities to company executives and management
• Research emerging trends and recommend new company offerings to satisfy customers' needs
• Provide leadership, guidance and assistance in planning and evaluating business and marketing initiatives
• Attend private and public meetings with project stakeholders, landowners, and agencies and direct other business development professionals that conduct similar meetings
• Build and maintain positive, repeat business relationships with customers and direct and manage teams that also build and foster positive, repeat business relationships with customers
• Direct teams that successfully develop, evaluate, and analyze strategies to competitively market and fulfill customer needs and business goals
• Maintain and leverage strategic business relationships and networking opportunities with entities; includes business leaders, professional organizations and government agencies leading to new referral source relationships and name and service recognition for the business
• Maintain effective communications with internal Company departments, inform internal groups of the status of acquisitions and contract opportunities
• Lead the cross-functional team's coordination with corporate communications on the preparation of new renewable energy business press releases, talking points, and other communication tools
• Coordinate closely with the finance department on formulation of financial models and assumptions for asset valuations and PPA pricing offers, provide technical support the financing, project execution/construction, and operation department's ongoing operations
• Manage internal/external cross-functional teams that, with the support of consultants and contractors, complete the development activities necessary to advance partially developed renewable energy assets through permitting, design, financing, construction and commercial operation
• Direct and manage internal/external cross-functional teams that identify customer renewable energy needs, formulate offerings to fulfill customer needs, and prepare and submit proposals and attend customer meetings/presentations and negotiate customer PPAs with input from internal and external subject matter experts
• Lead internal/external cross-functional teams that perform due diligence, negotiate contracts for acquisition of partially developed renewable energy generation assets (wind, solar or storage), and close on acquisitions of such projects, and complete development that enables construction of assets
• Manage completion of development studies, permit, design, finance, construction, and commercial operation within schedule and budget while delivering target revenue/earnings
• Other duties as assigned or may be necessary

• Knowledge, development and negotiation of renewable energy asset purchase agreements
• Knowledge of renewable energy generation application technology
• Ability to analyze asset opportunities for potential fit with company objectives and prepare business cases
• Leadership Acumen
• Ability to identify customer needs (commercial, industrial, municipal and co-ops) for utility-scale renewable energy (wind, solar, and storage) projects and consulting
• Ability to complete development services
• Knowledge of term sheets and completing commercial and/or detailed due diligence
• Knowledge of cost estimates, preliminary financial models and valuations, contracts and problem solving
• Ability to verify inputs and outputs of financial models
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills and strong business acumen

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, a technical field or related degree with ten (10) or more years of experience in a business development capacity
  
  
  
  • (OR)Associate's degree in engineering, a technical field or related degree with twelve (12) or more years of experience in a business development capacity
  • (OR)High School diploma/GED with fourteen (14) or more years of experience in a business development capacity
  
  
  
  

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.