Project Director, Solar & Battery Energy Storage

Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

Location: Duke Energy Plaza, Charlotte, NC but other Carolina's locations may be considered by hiring manager.

This Project Director (PD) role is responsible for the predictable and successful pre-construction delivery of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage (BESS) projects, with activities beginning after project initiation, through funding approval, and culminating with construction kickoff with the selected contractor.

Reporting to a General Manager within Duke Energy's Project Management & Construction (PMC) organization, the PD is responsible for setting up our most complex projects for timely and low-risk construction, to include establishing scope, schedule, cost, risk management, and stakeholder alignment.  Instrumental to this position is successful negotiation of contractor and equipment supplier agreements that are vital to these large construction projects.

Our projects are primarily executed through Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts and range in value between $100M and $500M. The PD leads a matrixed team of internal subject matter experts, originates the EPC contractor relationship, and integrates all owner responsibilities required for successful project delivery. This includes coordination with development, engineering, construction, transmission, operations, plant integration, project controls, supply chain, environmental, permitting, stakeholder engagement, and other support organizations to ensure owner-furnished equipment, grid interconnection requirements, operational readiness, and contractual obligations are successfully delivered.

Project Management & Construction (PMC) is responsible for building Duke Energy's next generation of power infrastructure and is supporting one of the largest capital investment programs in the company's history.

As Duke Energy works to meet growing customer demand and advance a reliable, affordable, and increasingly cleaner energy future, PMC is actively constructing utility-scale solar generation, battery energy storage facilities, natural gas generation, advanced nuclear, pumped storage hydro, and other emerging energy technologies across the company's service territories.

PMC serves as Duke Energy's owner organization for project execution, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to transform approved investments into operating assets. Our project leaders are responsible not only for construction delivery, but also for integrating engineering, operations, transmission, supply chain, regulatory, and commercial requirements necessary to safely place assets into service and deliver long-term value for customers.

This role provides the opportunity to lead projects that are helping shape the future of the energy industry while working alongside experienced utility professionals, industry-leading EPC partners, and multidisciplinary teams across Duke Energy.

Project Leadership

• →Lead utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects after initiation, through funding approval and contracting.
• →Own pre-construction project performance, including scope, cost, schedule, risk, and stakeholder alignment.
• →Lead multidisciplinary matrixed project teams and drive effective coordination across the organization.

EPC Contractor Management

• →Serve as Duke Energy's primary interface with EPC contractor leadership.
• →Establish strong working relationships while holding contractors accountable for contractual commitments, schedule, and project outcomes.
• →Lead resolution of project issues, recovery plans, claims, and commercial matters.

Project Integration & Execution Readiness

• →Coordinate owner scope, owner-furnished equipment, grid interconnection requirements, and operational readiness activities.
• →Partner with internal project development teams to ensure projects that are originated will be constructed within scope, schedule, and cost expectations and within acceptable risk levels.
• →Manage critical interfaces among EPC contractors, suppliers, transmission organizations, original equipment manufacturers, and internal stakeholders.

Commercial & Risk Management

• →With internal partners, establish project budgets, forecasts, contingencies, and execute contracts.
• →Identify and mitigate project risks and ensure timely escalation of significant issues.
• →Support resolution of commercial matters, contractor claims, and key business decisions.

Executive Communication

• →Provide transparent and accurate project reporting to senior leadership.
• →Present project risks, opportunities, decisions, and recommendations clearly and effectively.
• →Build confidence through proactive communication and issue management.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Project Management, or a related field and 9 plus years' related work experience.
• In lieu of Bachelors degree(s) AND 9 plus year(s) related work experience listed above, High School/GED AND 13 plus year(s) related work experience.

• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible experience leading complex capital projects.
• MBA, Master's degree, PMP, PE, AACE, or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience delivering utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, power generation, transmission, industrial, or other major infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing EPC, design-build, or similar contracting arrangements from an owner or contractor perspective.
• Experience managing engineering, grid interconnection, and/or operations of utility-scale generation assets.
• Familiarity with utility operations, project controls, commercial management, and contract administration.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

Occasional travel (up to 20%) is an essential function of this role. To develop and maintain relationships, the PD will be expected to travel to current and future project sites, visit supplier manufacturing locations, and attend internal and external face-to-face meetings as needed.

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