Project Development (Pre Construction) - Energy

Position Summary

This role leads all preconstruction and project development activities for utility scale renewable energy projects, including solar PV, BESS, and related infrastructure. The position serves as the primary bridge between development, estimating, engineering, procurement, and execution, ensuring projects are competitively positioned, thoroughly planned, and successfully transitioned into construction.

In addition to technical and commercial leadership, the role carries responsibility for client engagement, proposal strategy, and internal team leadership. At the Director level, the role also provides strategic oversight, mentorship, and continuous improvement of Roncelli’s preconstruction standards, systems, and processes.

This role is required to travel up to 25% to project site visits and client meetings. This position is only open to candidates who currently live in and work in Michigan. 

Why Join Team Roncelli

Competitive Pay & Benefits: We offer market-based salaries and a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, and a 401K with match and profit sharing.

Work-Life Balance: Employees receive generous PTO, sick days, paid holidays, fully paid maternity leave, paternity leave, and flexible schedules.

Growth Opportunities: We support professional development, mentorship, and career advancement.

Safety Commitment: Safety is central to our culture, ensuring your expertise and contributions are valued and protected.

Responsibilities

Pre Construction & Project Development Leadership

• Lead all preconstruction efforts for renewable energy projects, from early development through contract award.
• Establish project execution strategies, including cost, schedule, procurement, logistics, and risk positioning.
• Oversee preparation of conceptual through Class 1 level estimates, preliminary schedules, and execution plans.
• Drive value engineering initiatives to optimize constructability, cost efficiency, and schedule certainty.

Client Engagement & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary client interface during development and preconstruction phases.
• Lead client facing meetings, proposal presentations, and commercial negotiations.
• Ensure client expectations are clearly understood, documented, and communicated internally.
• Represent Roncelli as a trusted EPC partner with developers, utilities, owners, and industry stakeholders.

Business Development & Proposal Strategy

• Lead preconstruction support for pursuits, including RFP/RFQ responses, pricing strategy, and execution narratives.
• Partner with Business Development to identify new opportunities, support capture planning, and expand market presence.
• Support development of commercial terms, risk allocation strategies, and contract exhibits.
• Participate in go/no go decisions and pursuit prioritization discussions.

Technical & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate closely with engineering, estimating, procurement, construction, commissioning, and quality teams.
• Ensure alignment between design assumptions, construction means and methods, and procurement strategies.
• Validate integration of major system components (PV modules, trackers, inverters, BESS, substations, interconnection scope).

Procurement & Subcontract Strategy

• Lead or support development of subcontract and supplier bid packages during preconstruction.
• Evaluate proposals for technical compliance, pricing, schedule, and execution risk.
• Support negotiation and selection of key subcontractors and vendors.

Risk Management & Decision Support

• Identify financial, schedule, constructability, and contractual risks during development.
• Develop mitigation strategies and clearly communicate residual risk to executive leadership.
• Support executive level decision making during pursuit and pre award phases.

Transition to Construction

• Ensure complete and effective handoff from preconstruction to execution teams.
• Deliver comprehensive development packages including estimates, schedules, assumptions, risk registers, and procurement strategies.
• Support early execution alignment and project kickoff activities.

Additional Leadership Responsibilities (Director Level)

• Provide strategic leadership for Roncelli’s preconstruction function across the Energy Group.
• Mentor and develop project development and estimating team members.
• Establish and refine preconstruction standards, tools, templates, and best practices.
• Support long range planning, resource forecasting, and organizational growth initiatives.
  

Skills and Knowledge

• Deep understanding of utility scale renewable energy projects (solar PV and BESS required; wind a plus).
• Strong command of construction estimating scheduling, procurement strategy, and risk analysis.
• Proven ability to lead client facing discussions and complex commercial negotiations.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Education:  Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Experience:  10+ years of progressive experience in preconstruction, project development, or estimating within the EPC or renewable energy sector, including senior level, client facing leadership
• Certifications:  OSHA 30 required (or ability to complete within 30 days); CPR and First Aid preferred
• Screening Requirements:  Preemployment and annual drug testing required; background check as required by client
• Valid Drivers License required.

Working Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in both office and field environments. Responsibilities include frequent computer use, meetings, and review of drawings and project documentation. Occasional site visits may expose the employee to typical construction conditions, including noise, dust, uneven terrain, and varying weather conditions. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required. The role may involve occasional standing, walking, or light lifting typical of site visits.

Roncelli, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and are committed to providing a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Roncelli are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other status protected by applicable law. Roncelli complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity.