Director - Project Development

Minnesota Power, an ALLETE company, is an electric utility headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota.  We provide electricity in a 26,000-square-mile service area in northeastern Minnesota to 150,000 customers, including 14 municipal systems and some of the nation’s largest industrial customers. Minnesota Power is committed to a sustainable future for the climate, our customers and our communities while delivering safe and reliable energy. We play a unique and significant role in ALLETE’s sustainability-in-action strategy. Our culture drives excellence through our shared values of integrity, safety, people, and the planet.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead multi-disciplinary teams through all phases of energy project development, including acquisition (as applicable), land and title, interconnection, transmission planning, engineering design, permitting, environmental, and commercial activities.
• Manage project development budgets and support the creation of competitive off-take pricing and project competitiveness reviews.
• Prepare and regularly update project schedules, status reports, budgets, and risk assessments to keep management and key stakeholders informed.
• Lead and/or support negotiation of key project contracts, including equipment supply agreements and construction services agreements.
• Develop internal presentations and approval materials for execution of project sale agreements, including MIPA, APA, and PPA transactions.
• Participate in and may lead transaction contracting, financial close, and due diligence activities for development partnerships, project acquisitions, and M&A efforts involving operating assets.
• Build and maintain strong internal and external communication channels to support project success.
• Represent and promote projects with internal teams, community stakeholders, and regulatory agencies to gain support for development efforts.
• Assess markets with development potential and coordinate cost modeling, market opportunity analysis, and risk evaluation.
• Serve as an active contributor to broader business development initiatives.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and interpersonal skills to build effective relationships with counterparties and advocate for customer needs within the company.
• Provide a broad operational perspective and contribute to the development and communication of company strategy.
• Partner with company leadership to strengthen, lead, and evolve company culture and values.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, engineering, or related technical field.  
  • Advanced degree and/or professional licensures (MBA, CPA, PE, etc.) desirable.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Twelve or more years of energy related experience, including project development and origination experience.  
  • Examples of related energy experience include, but are not limited to, work experience with, thermal, battery system, solar, wind or other energy technology.    

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position may be considered for a hybrid work arrangement based on ALLETE’s needs. A Hybrid work arrangement means the employee's position will be a blend of work performed both in-person and at an offsite location such as an employee's home office. This position will report to Duluth, MN.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must have a proven track record of full cycle project development in the field, be able to perform financial/economic analysis and possess a good understanding of the energy market and terminology.   
• This position may be subject to assessment of skills, job match and/or aptitude.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• The expected annual compensation range for this position is $175,000 - $200,000. Compensation offered to the selected candidate will vary depending on relevant knowledge, skills, training, experience, and market conditions.
• Compensation Incentive Program
• Retirement Benefits
• Medical, Dental & Vision Plan
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance, Disability & Voluntary Benefits
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Professional Development Opportunities