PROJECT MANAGER- LAND USE PLANNING & ENTITLEMENT 

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AES Clean Energy is seeking a Project Manager, with dual function as a land use planner and zoning analyst, to join our West region’s land use entitlement and environmental resources planning and permitting team. In this position, you will provide expertise in State/local land use and zoning regulations for renewable energy development projects-related siting, planning, permitting, and social licensing within the western U.S.  

This position will work collaboratively with our in-house multidisciplinary team in helping AES navigate the State/local regulatory frameworks, making better-informed land planning and development decisions, and contributing to regulatory permitting and risk/impact assessment and mitigation.      

This position is remote, working from home, with periodic travel of about 15% to project sites in western U.S. or to AES regional offices located in Louisville, CO or Salt Lake City, UT. Prefer candidates located in Pacific, Mountain, or Central time zone. The position reports to the WECC region’s land use & environmental permitting manager. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO:   

Regulatory Analysis and Strategy− 

• Track and review existing and emerging State & local regulations related to renewable energy development & permitting in western U.S. states. 

• Complete regulatory impact analyses on emerging State & local regulations and related project entitlement/permitting requirements for utility-scale solar energy development. 

• Perform environmental compliance reviews (physical, biological, cultural, social, & economic aspects) for the development of utility-scale, grid-connected solar energy projects. 

Land Use Zoning and Entitlement-  

• Complete regulatory setting reviews to evaluate site permitting constraints and feasibility for utility-scale solar energy development. Identify project-based land use, environmental, and construction permitting requirements and the regulatory pathway roadmap. .   

• Lead/support local land use zoning and entitlement-related process and technical aspects, with an emphasis on county and city-level planning & zoning regulations & best practices, community & regional plans (comprehensive & future land use plans), zoning changes or modifications (rezoning, zoning text/map amendments, and zoning variances), and land development-based site permitting (permitted use, conditional use, special use, or others).  

• Collaborate with site prospecting, development, and design teams to identify land use and environmental resources-related opportunities & constraints, including entitlement issues & risks, to ensure project feasibility. Complete process and political/community risk assessments related to local land use entitlements that potentially impact project schedule & cost. 

• Communicate and coordinate with local AHJ personnel and applicable resource agencies,  support community outreach & stakeholder engagement, participate in public meetings &  hearings on site permits or approvals, and manage disagreements and disputes related to land management/development issues.   

• Perform project management functions through planning, execution, monitoring & controlling of scope of work, schedule, and budget. Implement risk management and quality assurance methods when engaging professional/consulting service firms. 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING:   

• Bachelor’s degree in law, community & regional planning, public administration, land use & environmental planning, or a related field. Master’s degree in planning is preferred and AICP certification is a plus; or Master of Legal Studies (MLS) or Master of Studies in Law (MSL) with an emphasis on land use & zoning law is an advantage. 

• Experienced professional (5-10 years of relevant work experience) with knowledge & experience in zoning & land use due diligence reviews, regulatory strategies planning, land use/site development-related environmental studies or assessments, land use permits & zoning approvals, community outreach & engagement, and project management. Past experience in land use entitlement/permitting with local jurisdictions (counties & cities) for land or real estate development projects in western U.S. (Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, and/or Washington) is preferred. 

• Feel comfortable and fit well in a high-performance culture (focus, collaboration, accountability, & results). Self-motivated with ability to work in a collaborative team environment and work independently with minimum supervision. Strong skills in communication (written & verbal, including public speaking), relationship-building & advocacy, persuasiveness & negotiation, adaptive problem solving & decision making, conflict management, and planning & organizing (incl. time management).