Solar Business Development Director

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in New York.

📋 Description

• Enhance Montante Solar's relationships with customers and partners while generating top-tier solar and energy storage opportunities.

• Fortify the company's status as a premier distributed energy contractor and collaborator.

• Cultivate and broaden connections with IPPs, developers, asset owners, investors, and strategic allies.

• Establish Montante Solar as the go-to EPC and long-term collaborator in New York and targeted growth regions.

• Broaden relationships and the project pipeline across New York.

• Assist in executing market entry strategies for Pennsylvania and Illinois.

• Identify additional geographic markets that present appealing expansion prospects.

• Provide leadership with market intelligence on competitors, clients, developers, regulatory conditions, and emerging opportunities.

• Oversee and manage an active pipeline of qualified opportunities with precise forecasting and accountability for next steps.

• Build connections with commercial, industrial, municipal, educational, and institutional clients.

• Identify, assess, and advance distributed solar and energy storage opportunities.

• Generate new business through networking, referrals, strategic outreach, industry associations, and marketing initiatives.

• Collaborate with Marketing on campaigns, trade shows, customer communications, and thought leadership initiatives.

• Represent Montante Solar at industry events, conferences, trade associations, and community organizations.

• Maintain Sugar CRM as the primary database for business development activities.

• Lead the pipeline review and forecasting processes, ensuring opportunities, contacts, next steps, and forecasts are up to date.

• Develop reports and dashboards to enhance sales transparency and accountability.

• Coordinate Development, Engineering, Marketing, Estimating, and Construction resources to drive opportunities and deliver an outstanding customer experience.

• Guide prospect engagement from the initial contact through to contract execution.

• Facilitate customer discovery meetings to uncover client objectives.

• Prepare and present sales presentations, proposals, and business development materials.

• Lead responses to RFPs and competitive procurement opportunities.

• Assist in negotiating commercial agreements and project contracts.

• Assess prospective opportunities for both technical and commercial viability.

• Collaborate with Engineering and Development during project evaluation and preconstruction phases.

• Support project scoping, customer communications, and evaluations of incentives.

• Assist with utility interconnection, project economics, and activities related to incentive program development.

• Manage the handoff of projects to Development and Operations teams.

• Stay informed about distributed solar, battery energy storage systems, utility regulations, incentive programs, and market trends.

• Acquire a working knowledge of NYSERDA programs, utility interconnection processes, and distributed generation markets.

• Monitor policy, regulatory, and market changes that could impact project opportunities.

• Engage in professional development, educational workshops, and industry associations.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communications, sustainability, environmental studies, engineering, construction management, real estate, or a related discipline.

• At least 7 years of experience in B2B business development, sales, client relationship management, account management, project development, or a related area.

• Background in solar energy, energy storage, renewable energy, utilities, engineering, construction, infrastructure development, or a similar industry.

• Understanding of distributed generation markets, utility interconnection processes, incentive programs, and project economics.

• Experience in building relationships with commercial or public-sector clients.

• Comprehension of the renewable energy landscape.

• Capability to foster and maintain professional relationships across various stakeholder groups.

• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and negotiation skills.

• Experience with CRM systems and proposal writing.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Valid driver's license with the ability to travel regionally.

• Ability to establish trusted, long-term client relationships.

• Skillful in relationship building and networking.

• Expertise in business development and strategic prospecting.

• Proficient in consultative sales and negotiation techniques.

• Strong customer engagement and presentation abilities.

• Well-organized with project coordination skills.

• Financial acumen and business insight.

• Self-driven with a growth-oriented mindset.

• Capacity to learn and effectively communicate technical renewable energy concepts.

• Preference for candidates local to NY; exceptional candidates in Montante Solar's target markets will also be considered.

• Established relationships with IPPs, developers, asset owners, C&I customers, and other participants in the renewable energy market are preferred.

• Proven success in originating or developing commercial solar, distributed generation, BESS, or other energy infrastructure opportunities is preferred.

• Experience in developing new geographic markets or expanding an organization’s business into new territories is preferred.

• Existing renewable energy connections in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and/or other target markets are preferred.

• Experience in developing repeat business with institutional customers or development partners is preferred.

• Willingness to travel throughout New York and neighboring states as required, including occasional overnight stays.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical insurance with employer contributions towards premiums.

• Employer-funded life insurance.

• Long-term disability insurance paid by the employer.

• 401k retirement plan offering a 4% employer match with immediate vesting.

• Generous paid time off policy, starting with 15 days per calendar year.

• 8 paid holidays.

• Short- and long-term disability insurance.

• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

• Critical illness and accident insurance options.

• Legal and identity theft protection options.

• Pet insurance coverage.

• Community and employee engagement events and initiatives.

• Commission structure based on sales, allowing for unlimited earning potential.