About Lydian Energy

Lydian is a newly established renewable energy development company specializing in the development and construction of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in North America. Lydian owns 9 development assets, consisting of both solar and storage, with several expected to reach NTP during 2024-2025. Lydian also has a significant existing pipeline of additional projects.

Lydian is backed by Excelsior Energy Capital (“EEC”), a leading private equity fund manager with more than $1.0 billion in assets under management, that is exclusively focused on north American middle market renewables investing. Through its relationship with EEC, Lydian has access to (i) a specialized team of value-add investor-operators with decades of renewables development, construction, and transaction experience, (ii) committed discretionary equity capital, strong relationships with debt and tax equity investors, and deep experience structuring tax equity and project financings, and (iii) a mature and proprietary financing and procurement strategy that significantly enhances expected project returns.

Lydian is building a team of seasoned renewable energy and energy infrastructure professionals with deep expertise in project development, construction, financing, and M&A. This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor at a fully capitalized development platform, build a tier-one renewables business with exceptional partners, and make meaningful contributions to the energy transition.

Job Scope

As the Project Development Director, your role will be pivotal in managing the origination and development of renewable energy projects in alignment with our business targets. You will lead the efforts to identify optimal locations to acquire, develop, and build renewable energy projects within the markets where Lydian is active or expects to be active: PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ERCOT, WECC. This includes conducting site assessments, feasibility studies, and due diligence for potential project locations

Essential Functions

• Support Lydian’s M&A team through the acquisition of projects and portfolios, taking ownership of key due diligence workstreams around site control, permitting, interconnection and other project development activities. 

• Acquire, negotiate, secure and amend site control agreements while maintaining collaborative relationships with landowners. 

• Lead all aspects of the permitting process, ensuring all the project permits, licenses and authorizations are obtained in time and within budget. 

• Work alongside Lydian’s interconnection team to obtain grid access and interconnection rights to the electrical grid on schedule and at budget while maintaining technical requirements. 

• Find and implement solutions to ensure the feasibility of projects from the point of view of investment and financing, including the definition of the energy sales model or other attributes. 

• Establish commercial and/or strategic relationships with potential clients, partners or collaborators in each market. 

• Maintain relationships with local, regional and national administrations (public and private), and other entities/agencies for the expedited processing of permits, licenses and authorizations. 

You will report to the Chief Development Officer. 

Additional duties relevant to a role of this nature

• Own all aspects of project development, to include site control, permitting, and transmission & interconnection. 

• Work closely with Origination and Power Marketing leads to identify, negotiate, and close on commercial offtake contracts. 

• Formulate entry strategy for acquiring and developing projects in new and/or existing markets. 

• Screen project acquisition data rooms to understand true project status, articulate development investment needs, flag key risks, and create a summary of project opportunity for timely internal review and consideration. 

• Create, review, and own project reports, summary of deliverables, budgets, schedules, contracts, and other documents for active projects. 

• Act as project management liaison and interface internally with Finance and Accounting on pipeline spend projections, budgets, and variance, project payment obligations, and associated management reporting. 

• Serve as repository for various project modeling assumptions for cost, performance, relevant incentives, to ensure consistency and controlled rollout of updates as relevant for accurate financial analysis of project opportunities. 

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or major in energy related field preferred.  Other education levels considered with proven relevant experience. 

• Minimum 5 years of overall experience in a renewable energy project development environment.   

• Strong sense of ownership and initiative with an ability to make decisions in ambiguous environments. 

• Effective communicator able to find common ground with key project stakeholders. 

• Hands on development experience and an identifiable track record of successfully developing projects in Lydian target markets. 

• Understanding of US power markets with the ability to evaluate and provide insights into evolving market conditions and support Lydian’s power marketing team. 

• Efficient, diligent, and effective work ethic to accomplish key responsibilities promptly. 

• Understanding of project financial models with the ability to take ownership of key assumptions and to run sensitivities. 

• Willingness to travel and spend time in the markets and local communities to successfully manage projects and key stakeholders. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as organizational abilities. 

• Proficiency in building cross-cultural relationships and influencing stakeholders at all levels. 

• Flexible and collaborative approach with a well-developed team spirit. 

• Advanced computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel).  Working familiarity with GIS platforms is recommended. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to equal-employment principles and are dedicated to diversity and the strength it brings to the workplace.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity or expression, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, legally protected genetic information, marital status, veteran status, military status, sexual orientation or any other protected category or class that may be applicable. 

Contact

If you are reading the above and you are interested in the role, please submit your resume to careers@lydianenergy.com. We would love to learn more about you!