How to apply for Project Development Director

About Energy Vault

Energy Vault (NYSE: NRGV) is a global energy storage and power infrastructure company that develops, builds, owns, and operates energy assets under an Independent Power Producer model. It uses low-cost materials for long-duration storage and works with utilities, grid operators, and large energy consumers across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Headquarters are in Westlake Village, California and Lugano, Switzerland.

About the role

The Project Development Director leads development of energy storage and power infrastructure projects in the USA. The role sits inside an IPP model, so the work covers site selection, permitting, interconnection, offtake, and moving projects to financial close and construction. It directly supports the company's shift to owning and operating critical grid assets.

A typical day

A typical day may involve reviewing interconnection queue updates, meeting with landowners or utilities, and coordinating with engineering and finance on project milestones. The role likely spends time on permitting, offtake discussions, and internal reviews to move projects toward financial close. Exact routines depend on the region and project stage, so ask about team structure and reporting lines in the interview.

Who Energy Vault is looking for

• Has led utility-scale energy project development from greenfield through financial close, ideally in storage, solar, or other power infrastructure.
• Understands US grid interconnection processes, ISO/RTO queues, permitting, and land acquisition.
• Can manage offtake negotiations with utilities, grid operators, and large energy consumers.
• Is comfortable working across development, engineering, finance, and legal teams in a global company.

Tips for this application

• Reference Energy Vault's IPP model and explain how your development experience fits owning and operating assets, not just selling them.
• List specific projects you took from site control to financial close, with MW/MWh size, market, and outcome.
• Name the ISO/RTO markets you have worked in (for example CAISO, ERCOT, PJM, MISO) and the interconnection steps you personally managed.
• Connect your experience to Energy Vault's long-duration storage technology and low-cost material approach.
• Check Energy Vault's Newsroom and recent NYSE:NRGV updates before applying, and cite one recent project or announcement in your materials.

What to cover in your cover letter

Cover letter should emphasize: 1) your track record of taking utility-scale projects from greenfield to financial close; 2) direct experience with US interconnection queues and permitting; 3) offtake negotiation with utilities or large energy consumers; 4) why an IPP model that owns and operates assets fits your development approach.

Research before applying

• Energy Vault's 2024 shift to an IPP model and what it means for how projects are developed and owned.
• Recent project announcements and Newsroom updates, including any US projects or partnerships.
• Energy Vault's gravity-based and other storage technologies, including the low-cost materials used.
• The company's global footprint and which regions are active in North America.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk through a project you developed from site selection to financial close. What broke and how did you fix it?
• How do you manage interconnection queue risk in the US market?
• How would you structure offtake for a long-duration storage asset with a utility or large consumer?
• What is your view on the IPP model versus a pure technology or EPC model?
• How do you coordinate development with engineering, finance, and legal teams across regions?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying with only EPC or construction experience and no project development or financial close background.
• Describing storage projects without naming specific markets, ISO/RTO queues, or MW/MWh figures.
• Ignoring the IPP model and treating Energy Vault as only a technology vendor.