Director of Business Development from Employment Office

• Join SolarBank, a fast-growing player in renewable energy in business since 2013 and publicly traded since March 2023 (Nasdaq: SUUN ; Cboe CA: SUNN)
• Drive deal closures in dynamic environments and grow your network and skills in a comprehensive way
• Receive a competitive base salary between $125,000 to $135,000 + UNCAPPED bonus structure + more! 

About Solarbank Corp.

Solarbank Corp. has emerged out of a clear market necessity for a wholesome, turnkey solutions provider in the clean and renewable energy industry. With an executive management team that has over 100 years of combined experience, coupled with a strongly defined financial vision, we have established ourselves as trusted developers, engineers, builders, asset operators, and managers in the clean and renewable energy space in Canada and the US.

With a focus on grid-connected solar photovoltaic electricity generation plants, our capabilities span the entire value chain from site origination, development, financing, EPC, O&M, and asset management. Our customers include commercial and industrial corporations, institutions, community solar subscribers, municipalities, and electric utilities.

To learn more about us, please visit: solarbankcorp.com

About the Opportunity

Solarbank Corp., through our U.S. subsidiary Abundant Solar Power, is seeking a full-time Director of Business Development to join our team, based anywhere within Upstate New York. This role offers the flexibility of a hybrid work arrangement and frequent travel within the state is required. While our primary office is in Rochester, we welcome candidates from across the region to apply for this opportunity.

Reporting to the Senior Director, U.S. Business Development, you will be primarily responsible for identifying and securing new solar and energy storage opportunities. You will be generating construction-ready projects for community solar and other opportunities including utility-scale, commercial, industrial, and energy storage through lead origination, site control and permitting.

More specifically, your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the development planning for Abundant Solar in New York State
• Drive renewable project origination, collaborating with business development and engineering teams
• Conduct outreach to landowners to acquire land for new or ongoing solar projects
• Identify and qualify large parcels suitable for solar development, in partnership with GIS and land experts
• Build trust with landowners through cold calls, in-person visits, and other outreach
• Prepare and present project proposals, feasibility studies, and business cases to stakeholders, investors, and partners
• Draft and negotiate lease or purchase agreements with landowners and legal representatives
• Travel for site visits and landowner relations as necessary
• Oversee permitting activities and attend relevant town/municipality meetings
• Negotiate tax agreements related to land use
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify opportunities and stay informed on industry trends, policies, and regulations
• Collaborate with finance to assess the financial viability of opportunities
• Identify and pursue project and portfolio acquisition opportunities
• Support the Request for Proposal (RFP) response team for new market development
• Represent the company at industry events to build networks and explore new opportunities

More About You

To qualify, you will need a minimum of 3 years of experience in project origination and development, preferably within the energy industry or real estate development. A valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle is required.

Additionally, the following skills and background will be highly valued:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related discipline
• Experience working with municipal governments, oil & gas industry, project permitting (urban planning, real estate development), solar or renewable energy industry, or utilities 
• Industry knowledge in solar and energy storage, including regulatory frameworks and utility interconnection
• Familiarity with environmental and land use regulations, permitting, and interconnection processes
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

As our ideal candidate, you possess strong negotiation skills with a proven ability to identify, initiate, and close project sites, showcasing a natural talent for deal-making. Confident, flexible, and adaptable, you embrace established processes while independently managing contract negotiations and project challenges. With a proactive mindset, you excel in research, self-learning, and analytical problem-solving, allowing you to make informed, data-driven decisions on project feasibility and swiftly address any development issues that arise. As a self-starter, you bring resilience and resourcefulness to your work, thriving in independent and dynamic environments.

This is an exciting opportunity for a driven individual to lead project development in a dynamic field, playing a critical role in bringing utility-connected projects from concept through financial qualification to market success.

About the Benefits

In exchange for your hard work and dedication, you will receive a competitive base salary of $125,000 to $135,000, negotiable depending on experience, along with a great host of benefits, including:

• UNCAPPED bonus structure dependent on project milestones
• Extended health insurance
• Stock options
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Mileage reimbursement 
• Paid travel expenses 

If you are interested in progressing your career with a growing company, apply today!