Project Development Manager Jobs for OPT Students
Project Development Manager jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in engineering, business, or urban planning. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions when tied to technical project portfolios. Your 12-month OPT window, or up to 36 months with a STEM extension, gives employers a meaningful runway to evaluate you.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Growing RE Development leader— make an impact on the world with an ethical company!
This Jobot Job is hosted by: Ruby Voight
Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button and sending us your resume.
Salary: $140,000 - $175,000 per year
A bit about us:
We are a U.S.-based renewable energy platform focused on the development, ownership, and operation of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects. Our portfolio spans multiple major wholesale power markets across North America, with projects ranging from early-stage greenfield development to operating assets. Backed by long-term institutional capital, our team brings decades of experience across project development, financing, engineering, construction, and asset management. We are builders at heart — focused on delivering large-scale clean energy infrastructure that strengthens grid reliability and accelerates the energy transition. Our organization combines the agility of an entrepreneurial platform with the discipline and sophistication of an established infrastructure investor. As our project pipeline continues to expand, we are adding experienced professionals who want to help shape and execute complex energy infrastructure projects across competitive U.S. power markets.
Why join us?
- Meaningful Impact – Work on large-scale solar and storage projects that directly contribute to grid stability and decarbonization.
- High-Visibility Role – Lead projects from early-stage development through construction readiness, with real ownership and decision-making authority.
- Institutional Backing + Entrepreneurial Culture – Benefit from strong capital support while operating in a nimble, execution-focused environment.
- Cross-Functional Exposure – Collaborate closely with origination, transmission, finance, legal, EPC, and M&A teams.
- Market Diversity – Develop projects across major U.S. wholesale markets, gaining broad exposure to regional regulatory and interconnection dynamics.
- Growth Opportunity – Join during a significant expansion phase with room to grow alongside the platform.
This is an ideal opportunity for a development professional who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys solving complex permitting and siting challenges, and wants to take full lifecycle ownership of projects.
JOB DETAILS
Experience
- 4+ years of experience in North American energy infrastructure development
- Direct experience advancing utility-scale renewable energy projects
- Working knowledge of competitive wholesale electricity markets
- Experience managing projects from greenfield or acquisition through construction start
- Familiarity with interconnection processes, permitting, and environmental compliance
- Strong experience in WECC, SPP, and ERCOT
Preferred
- Experience siting infrastructure projects across private and public lands
- Background in data center siting or development
- Experience with conventional generation (e.g., natural gas) development
Core Competencies
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of power market dynamics
- Ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, schedules, and stakeholders simultaneously
- Skilled negotiator with experience in land agreements, tax abatements, and local stakeholder engagement
- Ability to synthesize complex technical and regulatory issues into clear, actionable strategies
- Comfortable collaborating cross-functionally with finance, engineering, transmission, legal, and M&A teams
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and accountable
- Resourceful, proactive, and energized by entrepreneurial environments
Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button.
Want to learn more about this role and Jobot? Click our Jobot logo and follow our LinkedIn page!
INTRODUCTION
Growing RE Development leader— make an impact on the world with an ethical company!
This Jobot Job is hosted by: Ruby Voight
Are you a fit? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button and sending us your resume.
Salary: $140,000 - $175,000 per year
A bit about us:
We are a U.S.-based renewable energy platform focused on the development, ownership, and operation of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects. Our portfolio spans multiple major wholesale power markets across North America, with projects ranging from early-stage greenfield development to operating assets. Backed by long-term institutional capital, our team brings decades of experience across project development, financing, engineering, construction, and asset management. We are builders at heart — focused on delivering large-scale clean energy infrastructure that strengthens grid reliability and accelerates the energy transition. Our organization combines the agility of an entrepreneurial platform with the discipline and sophistication of an established infrastructure investor. As our project pipeline continues to expand, we are adding experienced professionals who want to help shape and execute complex energy infrastructure projects across competitive U.S. power markets.
Why join us?
- Meaningful Impact – Work on large-scale solar and storage projects that directly contribute to grid stability and decarbonization.
- High-Visibility Role – Lead projects from early-stage development through construction readiness, with real ownership and decision-making authority.
- Institutional Backing + Entrepreneurial Culture – Benefit from strong capital support while operating in a nimble, execution-focused environment.
- Cross-Functional Exposure – Collaborate closely with origination, transmission, finance, legal, EPC, and M&A teams.
- Market Diversity – Develop projects across major U.S. wholesale markets, gaining broad exposure to regional regulatory and interconnection dynamics.
- Growth Opportunity – Join during a significant expansion phase with room to grow alongside the platform.
This is an ideal opportunity for a development professional who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys solving complex permitting and siting challenges, and wants to take full lifecycle ownership of projects.
JOB DETAILS
Experience
- 4+ years of experience in North American energy infrastructure development
- Direct experience advancing utility-scale renewable energy projects
- Working knowledge of competitive wholesale electricity markets
- Experience managing projects from greenfield or acquisition through construction start
- Familiarity with interconnection processes, permitting, and environmental compliance
- Strong experience in WECC, SPP, and ERCOT
Preferred
- Experience siting infrastructure projects across private and public lands
- Background in data center siting or development
- Experience with conventional generation (e.g., natural gas) development
Core Competencies
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of power market dynamics
- Ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, schedules, and stakeholders simultaneously
- Skilled negotiator with experience in land agreements, tax abatements, and local stakeholder engagement
- Ability to synthesize complex technical and regulatory issues into clear, actionable strategies
- Comfortable collaborating cross-functionally with finance, engineering, transmission, legal, and M&A teams
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and accountable
- Resourceful, proactive, and energized by entrepreneurial environments
Interested in hearing more? Easy Apply now by clicking the "Easy Apply" button.
Want to learn more about this role and Jobot? Click our Jobot logo and follow our LinkedIn page!
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Project Development Manager
Lead with your technical project experience
Project Development Managers are expected to manage complex deliverables from conception to completion. Highlight specific projects you've led or contributed to, including scope, stakeholders, and outcomes. Employers need evidence you can own a project lifecycle independently.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility upfront
If your degree is in engineering, computer science, or a related STEM field, you likely qualify for a 24-month STEM extension. Mentioning this early removes a common employer hesitation and signals you've thought through your authorization timeline already.
Target employers with active project pipelines
Construction firms, infrastructure developers, tech companies, and energy organizations regularly hire for this role. Companies with multi-year project roadmaps are more motivated to sponsor long-term because turnover mid-project is costly to them operationally.
Earn a PMP or CAPM certification before applying
Project Management Professional credentials signal credibility to hiring managers and reduce perceived risk in sponsoring an OPT candidate. Even a CAPM, which has lower experience requirements, meaningfully strengthens your application against candidates with longer work histories.
Address sponsorship directly in your cover letter
Employers often assume OPT sponsorship is complicated. A brief, confident explanation that you're authorized for 12 months with potential STEM extension, and that H-1B sponsorship comes later, removes ambiguity and prevents early-stage rejections based on misunderstanding.
Quantify project outcomes on your resume
Generic descriptions like 'managed projects' won't stand out. Use metrics: budget controlled, timeline adherence percentage, team size, or efficiency improvements delivered. Quantified results help employers assess your readiness for independent project ownership quickly and confidently.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Project Development Manager on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Project Development Manager roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. If your degree is in engineering, business, urban planning, or a related discipline, this role typically satisfies that requirement. You can work for any employer willing to hire you without needing USCIS approval for each job change during your OPT period.
Does a Project Development Manager role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title itself. If you hold a qualifying STEM degree, such as engineering, computer science, or information systems, and the Project Development Manager role involves applying that technical knowledge, your employer can sign the required training plan (Form I-983) to support your 24-month STEM extension. Roles in tech, infrastructure, and energy development are especially strong fits for this designation.
How do I find Project Development Manager jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Browse Migrate Mate to find Project Development Manager openings from employers who are actively open to sponsoring F-1 OPT and visa candidates. Filtering by sponsorship willingness saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that an employer won't support work authorization. Focusing your search this way also improves your conversion rate from application to interview.
Will employers sponsor H-1B after my OPT ends for this type of role?
Many employers in construction, technology, infrastructure, and energy do sponsor H-1B visas for Project Development Managers because replacing mid-project leadership is expensive and disruptive. Your best indicator is whether the company has sponsored H-1B candidates in the past, which is publicly searchable through USCIS disclosure data. Prioritize employers with a documented sponsorship history when evaluating opportunities.
What degree backgrounds qualify an OPT student for Project Development Manager jobs?
Employers most commonly accept degrees in civil or mechanical engineering, construction management, urban planning, business administration, or environmental science for this role. The key requirement is that your coursework and skills are demonstrably relevant to managing project development workflows. Degrees in engineering or technical fields also open the door to STEM OPT, which significantly extends your authorized work period and improves your candidacy for sponsorship conversations.
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