Project Development Manager Jobs in Arizona
Project Development Manager jobs in Arizona are active across the construction, real estate development, renewable energy, and infrastructure sectors, with openings at every level from junior project coordinator to senior development manager. Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale anchor the largest share of hiring, where established employers like D.R. Horton, Sundt Construction, and Salt River Project maintain consistent project pipelines. The most in-demand specialties are commercial real estate development, utility-scale solar and energy infrastructure, and municipal infrastructure projects tied to Arizona's sustained population growth. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 20+ Project Development Manager jobs
Senior Corporate Counsel – Project Development and Permitting
Join Resolution Copper at a pivotal moment following the successful completion of a long‑awaited federal land exchange and major legal milestone, enabling the project to advance into its next phase of development
Contribute to a critical materials project that supports U.S. domestic supply chains and the global energy transition through copper development
Excellent opportunity to work in-house in Arizona
Domestic Relocation Assistance may be considered
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About the role
We are looking for a Senior Corporate Counsel – Project Development and Permitting to help lead and coordinate the provision of legal support to Resolution Copper, a Rio Tinto-controlled joint venture with BHP that is simultaneously studying, developing and permitting the Resolution Copper Mine near Superior, Arizona.
This is a great opportunity for a seasoned, strategic, and commercially minded legal professional to lead and coordinate the provision of legal advice for Resolution Copper, working with direct and substantial interaction with business clients and cross‑functional stakeholders.
Reporting to the Chief Counsel, Copper, Americas and working in a collaborative, complex, and commercially focused in‑house environment within the Rio Tinto Legal function supporting Resolution Copper, you will be:
Providing strategic and commercially pragmatic legal advice and support to Resolution Copper, including managing legal risks, setting the legal parameters for strategic business objectives and providing guidance as to compliance and reputational issues.
Maintaining awareness of all material internal business and external legal developments that may lead to a need for legal advice.
Drafting and negotiate various legal documents.
Assessing the most appropriate means of providing legal advice for particular matters depending on business risk/opportunity and availability of resources.
With other parts of the business, assist with the development and maintenance of external stakeholder relationships.
Providing direct support for all operational and business matters for Resolution Copper including litigation, commercial, environmental compliance and permitting, communities, land use and regulatory issues, and compliance.
Giving legal training for executives and other relevant Rio Tinto and Resolution Copper employees.
Liaising, developing and maintaining close working relationships with operations personnel, members of Rio Tinto Legal, and Rio Tinto’s business units and functions, promoting collaboration and information sharing.
About you
A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
Networking skills that will enable you to develop relationships and collaborative approaches with other business functions and subject matter experts.
Significant experience in either (1) industrial operations or the natural resources sector; or (2) administrative or regulatory counseling and litigation for industrial clients.
Strong permitting experience, including permitting for large, complex infrastructure or natural resource projects such as mines, pipelines, powerlines, mining operations, oil & gas developments, or similar large-scale developments, with the ability to navigate multi-jurisdictional regulatory frameworks and stakeholder environments.
Demonstrated leadership of legal or business teams or the potential to lead legal teams.
A minimum of 10+ years of experience post qualification with a law firm or in-house as well as a minimum of 2+ years’ experience in-house.
A license to practice law in Arizona, or the ability to obtain a license to practice law in Arizona via examination, admission on motion, or as licensed house counsel within one year of commencement of employment.
What we offer
Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus.
Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program.
Attractive share ownership plan.
Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family.
Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing.
Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges.
Where you will be working
Once in operation, Resolution Copper has the potential to supply nearly 25% of US copper demand and create several thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Pioneer Mining District of Arizona, with an economic value estimated at several billion dollars over the mine life.
The project will rely on a block caving technique to extract the deposit that lies more than 2,000 metres below the surface. This method uses gravity to remove the ore and is the most viable way to recover the resource.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and Inclusion
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.
Senior Corporate Counsel – Project Development and Permitting
Join Resolution Copper at a pivotal moment following the successful completion of a long‑awaited federal land exchange and major legal milestone, enabling the project to advance into its next phase of development
Contribute to a critical materials project that supports U.S. domestic supply chains and the global energy transition through copper development
Excellent opportunity to work in-house in Arizona
Domestic Relocation Assistance may be considered
We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.
About the role
We are looking for a Senior Corporate Counsel – Project Development and Permitting to help lead and coordinate the provision of legal support to Resolution Copper, a Rio Tinto-controlled joint venture with BHP that is simultaneously studying, developing and permitting the Resolution Copper Mine near Superior, Arizona.
This is a great opportunity for a seasoned, strategic, and commercially minded legal professional to lead and coordinate the provision of legal advice for Resolution Copper, working with direct and substantial interaction with business clients and cross‑functional stakeholders.
Reporting to the Chief Counsel, Copper, Americas and working in a collaborative, complex, and commercially focused in‑house environment within the Rio Tinto Legal function supporting Resolution Copper, you will be:
Providing strategic and commercially pragmatic legal advice and support to Resolution Copper, including managing legal risks, setting the legal parameters for strategic business objectives and providing guidance as to compliance and reputational issues.
Maintaining awareness of all material internal business and external legal developments that may lead to a need for legal advice.
Drafting and negotiate various legal documents.
Assessing the most appropriate means of providing legal advice for particular matters depending on business risk/opportunity and availability of resources.
With other parts of the business, assist with the development and maintenance of external stakeholder relationships.
Providing direct support for all operational and business matters for Resolution Copper including litigation, commercial, environmental compliance and permitting, communities, land use and regulatory issues, and compliance.
Giving legal training for executives and other relevant Rio Tinto and Resolution Copper employees.
Liaising, developing and maintaining close working relationships with operations personnel, members of Rio Tinto Legal, and Rio Tinto’s business units and functions, promoting collaboration and information sharing.
About you
A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.
Networking skills that will enable you to develop relationships and collaborative approaches with other business functions and subject matter experts.
Significant experience in either (1) industrial operations or the natural resources sector; or (2) administrative or regulatory counseling and litigation for industrial clients.
Strong permitting experience, including permitting for large, complex infrastructure or natural resource projects such as mines, pipelines, powerlines, mining operations, oil & gas developments, or similar large-scale developments, with the ability to navigate multi-jurisdictional regulatory frameworks and stakeholder environments.
Demonstrated leadership of legal or business teams or the potential to lead legal teams.
A minimum of 10+ years of experience post qualification with a law firm or in-house as well as a minimum of 2+ years’ experience in-house.
A license to practice law in Arizona, or the ability to obtain a license to practice law in Arizona via examination, admission on motion, or as licensed house counsel within one year of commencement of employment.
What we offer
Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
Competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive bonus.
Access to top-tier family-friendly health programs including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, and various voluntary benefits.
Excellent retirement plan including up to 6% defined company contribution; Generous 401k matching program.
Attractive share ownership plan.
Comprehensive leave policies which cover all the moments that matter in life: PTO (paid time off), paid holidays, and paid bereavement leave.
A generous parental leave policy, which ensures you’re able to spend quality time with your new family.
Discount programs for leisure purposes and access to Virgin Pulse with incentives supporting your wellbeing.
Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides confidential counselling or expert guidance for you and your family to help get through life’s challenges.
Where you will be working
Once in operation, Resolution Copper has the potential to supply nearly 25% of US copper demand and create several thousand direct and indirect jobs in the Pioneer Mining District of Arizona, with an economic value estimated at several billion dollars over the mine life.
The project will rely on a block caving technique to extract the deposit that lies more than 2,000 metres below the surface. This method uses gravity to remove the ore and is the most viable way to recover the resource.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Respect and Inclusion
Rio Tinto is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel safe, respected and valued. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome but are essential to our success. We treat all our people fairly and with dignity.
Rio Tinto participates in E- Verify to confirm work authorization. Please visit http://www.ucis.gov/ for more information.
See All 20 Project Development Manager Jobs in Arizona
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Find JobsProject Development Manager Jobs by City in Arizona
Where Arizona roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Development Manager Job Market in Arizona
A snapshot from current Arizona openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Arizona Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project development manager jobs across Arizona.
- Bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, business, or a related field
- PMP certification or active pursuit of Project Management Professional credentials strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience managing full project lifecycle from entitlement through construction close-out
- Proficiency with project management platforms such as Procore, Primavera P6, or Microsoft Project
- Familiarity with Arizona municipal permitting processes, zoning regulations, and entitlement workflows
- Strong stakeholder coordination skills across contractors, engineers, and public agency representatives
Project Development Manager Jobs in Arizona: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project development manager in Arizona?
Most project development managers in Arizona enter through a bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, urban planning, or business, followed by project coordinator or project engineer roles that build hands-on experience. Arizona does not require a state-specific license for the project development manager title, but earning a Project Management Professional credential through PMI strengthens candidacy considerably. Large Arizona developers and general contractors typically promote from within after several years of demonstrated project execution experience.
How much do project development managers make in Arizona?
Project development managers in Arizona earn a median of about $99,050 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $62,050 for the lowest 10% to over $161,870 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire project development managers in Arizona?
Employers hiring project development managers in Arizona right now include Colliers Engineering & Design, EPS GROUP, and Atwell, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Arizona's concentration of large homebuilders, commercial developers, and utility companies means consistent year-round demand rather than seasonal spikes.
Which Arizona cities have the most project development manager jobs?
Phoenix, Mesa, and Chandler have the most project development manager openings in Arizona. Phoenix drives the largest share of demand as the state's primary hub for commercial real estate, infrastructure, and corporate development activity, while Tempe and Scottsdale attract technology campus and mixed-use development projects tied to major employers headquartered in the East Valley corridor.
Are there remote project development manager jobs in Arizona?
Yes, but they're limited. Project development management involves regular site visits, contractor coordination, and in-person stakeholder meetings that make fully remote work uncommon. About 56% of project development manager openings tied to Arizona are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those arrangements typically apply only to pre-development planning, financial modeling, or administrative coordination phases rather than active construction oversight.
How can I get hired as a project development manager in Arizona with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a project coordinator or project engineer role at a Phoenix-area general contractor, homebuilder, or commercial developer. Companies like Sundt Construction and D.R. Horton run structured new-graduate programs and hire entry-level coordinators regularly. A PMP exam application, even before passing, signals commitment. Adjacent roles in estimating, scheduling, or development analysis also feed directly into project development manager tracks at mid-size Arizona firms.
Where can I find and apply to project development manager jobs in Arizona?
You can find and apply to project development manager jobs in Arizona on Migrate Mate, which lists current Arizona openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and target location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 20 Project Development Manager Jobs in Arizona
Find roles in Arizona that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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