Application Guide

How to Apply for Director, Development

at Cypress Creek Renewables

๐Ÿข About Cypress Creek Renewables

Cypress Creek Renewables is a leading solar and storage developer with a massive 12GW pipeline, driving the transition to clean energy. The company's remote-first culture and focus on utility-scale projects offer a unique opportunity to shape the future of renewable energy at scale.

About This Role

As Director of Development, you'll lead a team to originate and execute complex solar and storage projects from greenfield to COD, managing deal structures, negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration. Your work directly impacts the company's growth and the broader clean energy transition.

๐Ÿ’ก A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing project milestones with your team, negotiating a PPA with a utility, and collaborating with the Policy team on a state-level solar incentive. You'll also analyze market data to prioritize new greenfield opportunities and mentor a junior developer on interconnection strategy.

๐ŸŽฏ Who Cypress Creek Renewables Is Looking For

  • 7+ years in renewable development with at least 2 years in liquid markets (e.g., PJM, CAISO, ERCOT), demonstrating deep market-specific knowledge of interconnection, land, and offtake.
  • Proven track record of closing utility-scale solar and storage projects, managing full lifecycle from site control to NTP, with experience in PPA negotiations and tax equity structures.
  • Strong leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring a team of developers, plus ability to collaborate with engineering, finance, and policy teams to drive project success.
  • Deep understanding of policy and regulatory dynamics (e.g., IRA, RPS, FERC) and how they impact project economics and market access, with ability to influence legislative priorities.

๐Ÿ“ Tips for Applying to Cypress Creek Renewables

1

Highlight specific liquid market experience (e.g., 'Led 200MW solar + storage projects in PJM from greenfield to NTP within 18 months').

2

Quantify your impact: mention MW developed, deal value, and timeline improvements (e.g., 'Reduced permitting timeline by 30% through stakeholder engagement').

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize cross-functional collaboration with origination, engineering, and policy teamsโ€”use keywords from the job description.

4

In your cover letter, reference Cypress Creek's 12GW pipeline and explain how your experience aligns with scaling their portfolio.

5

Include a brief note on your leadership philosophy and examples of mentoring junior developers to close deals.

โœ‰๏ธ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your success in developing solar and storage projects in liquid markets, with specific examples of navigating interconnection and offtake challenges.', 'Demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor a team, using metrics like number of direct reports or projects successfully delivered under your guidance.', "Showcase your understanding of policy and regulatory impacts, referencing specific policies (e.g., IRA, state RPS) and how you've leveraged them.", "Express alignment with Cypress Creek's mission and mention your interest in contributing to their 12GW goal."]

Generate Cover Letter โ†’

๐Ÿ” Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • โ†’ Review Cypress Creek's current project portfolio and pipeline (e.g., recent press releases, SEC filings if public) to understand their geographic focus and technology mix.
  • โ†’ Study their policy involvement (e.g., comments on FERC or state proceedings) to identify key regulatory issues they care about.
  • โ†’ Look into their leadership team on LinkedIn to understand their backgrounds and potential reporting structure.
  • โ†’ Check industry news for recent developments or partnerships (e.g., offtake agreements, M&A) to show awareness of their market position.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through a complex project you developed from start to finishโ€”how did you handle risk, stakeholders, and timeline?
2 How have you managed a team of developers? Provide an example of mentoring a junior developer to close a deal.
3 Describe your experience with liquid markets. How do you assess market dynamics for solar and storage?
4 How would you collaborate with the Policy team to influence a regulatory change that benefits our pipeline?
5 What's your approach to negotiating PPAs or tax equity structures? Give a specific example.
Practice Interview Questions โ†’

โš ๏ธ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't be vague about your development experienceโ€”avoid generic phrases like 'managed projects' without specifics on MW, timeline, and market.
  • Don't overlook the policy component; failing to mention regulatory knowledge or experience can signal a lack of fit.
  • Don't ignore the storage aspect; even if your background is solar-heavy, emphasize any storage experience or willingness to learn.

๐Ÿ“… Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

โœ“

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Cypress Creek Renewables!