Application Guide

How to Apply for Director or Senior Director of Development, Renewable Energy

at Mission Clean Energy

🏢 About Mission Clean Energy

Mission Clean Energy is a fast-growing independent power producer accelerating grid decarbonization with over 4 GW of utility-scale solar and battery storage projects. They offer a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment where you can directly impact the clean energy transition and shape the development of major renewable assets in the Western US.

About This Role

This role leads the end-to-end development of utility-scale solar and storage projects in the Western US, from greenfield land acquisition through to asset divestment. As a senior leader, you will manage a team, drive project milestones, and collaborate across functions to deliver a multi-GW pipeline, making a tangible impact on grid decarbonization.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a team stand-up to review progress on land acquisition and permitting for active projects. You'll then spend time on calls with landowners, county planners, or utility interconnection engineers, followed by reviewing project budgets and schedules. Afternoons often involve strategic planning for new greenfield sites, mentoring a junior developer on a permitting challenge, and a cross-functional meeting with finance and engineering to align on a project's divestment timeline.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Mission Clean Energy Is Looking For

  • A proven lead developer with 7+ years in utility-scale renewable energy, having successfully delivered a portfolio of 1000+ MW of solar and/or battery storage projects.
  • Deep expertise in the Western US energy markets (CAISO, WECC) with a strong network of landowners, permitting agencies, and utility stakeholders.
  • Experience managing and mentoring a team of developers, with a track record of hitting project milestones on time and within budget.
  • Strong business acumen with a degree in business, engineering, planning, or finance, and the ability to navigate complex land, permitting, and interconnection processes.

📝 Tips for Applying to Mission Clean Energy

1

Quantify your project experience: explicitly list the MWs you've developed, mentioning specific projects in the Western US (e.g., California, Arizona, Nevada) and their current stage (e.g., NTP, COD).

2

Tailor your resume to highlight team leadership: include the number of direct reports and examples of how you coached junior developers to achieve milestones.

3

In your cover letter, mention Mission Clean Energy's 4 GW pipeline and explain how your experience aligns with scaling a portfolio of that size.

4

Demonstrate knowledge of battery storage: if your background is primarily solar, highlight any storage co-location or standalone battery experience, as this is key to the role.

5

Showcase your deal-making skills: provide a specific example of a complex land acquisition or permitting challenge you overcame, detailing the outcome.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Emphasize your track record of leading utility-scale solar and storage projects from greenfield to COD in the Western US, with specific MW figures and project names.', "Highlight your leadership experience: how you've built, coached, and managed development teams to deliver multiple projects simultaneously.", "Express passion for grid decarbonization and align with Mission Clean Energy's mission of accelerating clean energy deployment.", "Demonstrate your understanding of the Western energy market dynamics (CAISO, RPS, interconnection queues) and how you've navigated them."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Mission Clean Energy's website and press releases to understand their current project portfolio, target markets (e.g., CAISO, WECC), and recent milestones.
  • → Research their leadership team on LinkedIn to understand the company culture and development philosophy.
  • → Look up their interconnection queue positions in CAISO and other Western ISOs to gauge their pipeline strength and competition.
  • → Read industry news about Western US renewable energy trends, especially regarding solar and storage hybrid projects, to show market awareness.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through a utility-scale solar or storage project you led from start to finish, including key milestones, challenges, and how you managed the team.
2 How do you prioritize projects in a multi-GW pipeline? Describe your process for resource allocation and go/no-go decisions.
3 What is your experience with battery storage development? Discuss specific projects and how you approached interconnection and permitting for storage.
4 How do you stay current with Western US energy policies and market changes? Give an example of how a policy shift impacted your project strategy.
5 Describe a time you had to negotiate a complex land lease or easement. What was your approach and what was the outcome?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid being vague about your project experience: always include specific MW sizes, locations, and your role (e.g., 'lead developer' vs 'team member').
  • Don't ignore battery storage: even if your background is primarily solar, acknowledge the storage component and show willingness to learn or highlight any relevant experience.
  • Avoid generic statements about 'passion for renewables' without backing them up with concrete examples of your development achievements.

📅 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

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Mission Clean Energy !

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