Back to Jobs
Recently postedOperations & Project Management

Project Manager – Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

VDart, Inc.United States🇺🇸United States

Quick overview

SeniorityMid Senior
Work modeHybrid
LocationUnited States
Stakeholder ManagementProcurementProject Management

Job description

Project Manager – Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

Work Arrangement: Remote
Travel: Occasional travel to project sites and local public hearings

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead technical, financial, and regulatory planning for utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects, from early-stage development through construction readiness.

This role combines engineering coordination, financial analysis, procurement, regulatory planning, risk management, and project development. The successful candidate will optimize project scope, evaluate technical and financial feasibility, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, and support investment decisions for complex energy infrastructure projects.

The Project Manager will work closely with engineering, development, origination, procurement, environmental, regulatory, and construction teams to develop executable project plans, manage risks, negotiate commercial agreements, and ensure a smooth transition to the construction phase.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development and Planning

  • Lead pre-construction planning and optimization for utility-scale BESS projects.

  • Integrate engineering design, financial modeling, procurement strategies, schedules, and regulatory requirements into project development plans.

  • Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and prioritize resources to achieve critical milestones.

  • Manage project development activities involving environmental reviews, permitting, cultural resources, land acquisition, grid interconnection, and other development requirements.

  • Optimize technical scope and project variables to improve feasibility, cost efficiency, and overall project value.

  • Identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and communicate project status to management.

Financial Analysis and Investment Planning

  • Support the development and origination teams with Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Generator Interconnection Agreement (GIA) negotiations, as well as applicable jurisdictional requirements.

  • Coordinate engineering, estimating, and procurement inputs for project designs and financial models.

  • Research market conditions and incorporate relevant data into project financial models.

  • Evaluate project economics, cost assumptions, risks, and financial feasibility.

  • Present financial models and project recommendations to business units and support executive budget approval processes.

Procurement and Contract Management

  • Source, evaluate, negotiate, and execute commercial contracts for critical project services.

  • Manage procurement activities involving geotechnical investigations, surveying, engineering, and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) or Procurement and Construction (PC) services.

  • Coordinate with suppliers and service providers to support project schedules, budgets, scope, and commercial objectives.

  • Evaluate proposals and support contract decisions based on project requirements and financial considerations.

Stakeholder and Regulatory Coordination

  • Coordinate with environmental, regulatory, land acquisition, interconnection, and other project stakeholders.

  • Communicate with executive leadership, suppliers, regulatory agencies, local communities, and internal business teams.

  • Support regulatory processes, jurisdictional requirements, and local public hearings as needed.

  • Represent engineering and construction interests throughout project development.

  • Prepare project updates, performance reports, and risk mitigation plans for management reviews.

Project Controls and Construction Readiness

  • Use project management software and reporting tools to maintain project data, track milestones, and monitor key performance indicators.

  • Monitor schedules, budgets, project risks, and development deliverables.

  • Ensure engineering, procurement, commercial, and regulatory activities are coordinated before construction begins.

  • Lead the transition of projects to Construction Project Managers with a comprehensive, actionable construction plan.

  • Ensure handover documentation, outstanding risks, schedules, budgets, and project requirements are clearly communicated.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

  • At least 4 years of project management experience, preferably in engineering, economics, construction, or infrastructure development.

  • Strong project planning, coordination, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

  • Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams, schedules, budgets, risks, and project deliverables.

  • Strong analytical skills and the ability to evaluate project costs, market data, and financial feasibility.

  • Ability to manage competing priorities and communicate effectively with technical teams, executives, vendors, and external stakeholders.

  • Willingness to travel occasionally to project sites and public hearings.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with utility-scale renewable energy projects, particularly Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

  • Familiarity with electricity markets, renewable energy development, and grid interconnection.

  • Experience with financial modeling, project economics, procurement, and commercial contract negotiations.

  • Knowledge of PPAs, GIAs, permitting, environmental reviews, and jurisdictional requirements.

  • Experience with EPC or PC contracting and construction-readiness planning.

  • Familiarity with project management software, project reporting, and performance tracking.

Key Success Factors

  • Effective coordination of technical, commercial, financial, and regulatory workstreams.

  • Well-supported project investment decisions and financial models.

  • Proactive management of project risks, schedules, and budgets.

  • Successful negotiation and execution of critical project contracts.

  • Complete and executable handover packages for construction teams.

Similar jobs