Project Development Manager Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Project Development Manager roles qualify for H-1B visa and EB-2 sponsorship when the position requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before you can start, and many large infrastructure and energy firms sponsor regularly. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Recurrent Energy, our mission is to power the world with solar energy and create a better and cleaner Earth for future generations. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., we are a leading global developer, owner, operator, and asset manager of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects.
Through Recurrent Energy Power Services, we provide operations, maintenance, monitoring, engineering, and asset management services that support renewable energy facilities across North America.
With a proven track record spanning six continents, Recurrent Energy brings together experts across every stage of the renewable energy lifecycle, from project origination, development, financing, and construction to operations, maintenance, and long-term asset management. Our work is helping shape a cleaner, more resilient energy future worldwide.
Backed by the innovation, strength, and global reach of Canadian Solar, we are helping accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future while creating meaningful opportunities for our employees to grow, innovate, and make a lasting impact. Guided by our values of Trust, Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, and Inclusiveness, we are building a cleaner world for generations to come.
If you're passionate about renewable energy and driven to make a difference, join Recurrent Energy to power the world with clean energy and create a better, cleaner future for generations to come.
SUMMARY
Reporting to the Director, Development, the Project Development Manager will be responsible for the development of solar PV and battery storage projects across the Central U.S., with specific emphasis on the ERCOT market. They will pursue both greenfield development and project M&A. The successful candidate will have experience in the energy industry, specifically in energy infrastructure development, with experience in project management, financial analysis, and contract negotiation. They will have the ability to communicate complex ideas and the enthusiasm to drive projects through completion.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULTS AREAS
- Responsible for project management and milestone advancement for new and existing project development.
- Develop strategies for identifying and filtering site acquisition targets to minimize cost and risk.
- Own project economics, including responsibility for each project's financial model, accuracy of inputs, adherence to corporate modeling standards, and coordination of updates with respective internal groups.
- Manage project-level progress, risks, opportunities, and economics. Provide insightful analysis and reporting to management.
- Lead project team meetings to coordinate communication of project events, issues, and challenges across an integrated, multidisciplinary team.
- Drive decisions and prioritize resources based on a deep understanding of schedule dependencies and economic impact.
- Support power marketing, permitting, EPC, and financing processes through document preparation, negotiations, and analysis.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Detailed understanding of ERCOT energy markets, including solar and storage technology incentives, utility rates and tariffs, interconnection processes, and policy and regulatory environments.
- Highly proficient in MS Excel, MS Project/Smartsheet, Word, PowerPoint, and Google Earth.
- Demonstrated ability to translate contracts and financing agreements into concise financial and economic analysis.
- Ability to manage a large workload, support processes managed by colleagues, prioritize tasks, and effectively manage competing deadlines.
- Detail-oriented with a strong sense of personal responsibility and ownership of work product.
- High degree of emotional intelligence and ability to work virtually in complex team environments.
- Four-year degree or equivalent work experience; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 1–5 years of experience in energy infrastructure development in wholesale markets, finance, or similar transactional industries.
- Successful track record of managing complex transactions and/or projects, preferably in real estate, sales management, power development, or finance.
- Experience with land, permitting, interconnection, and power marketing aspects of solar and/or renewable project development.
At Recurrent Energy, our mission is to power the world with solar energy and create a better and cleaner Earth for future generations. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., we are a leading global developer, owner, operator, and asset manager of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects.
Through Recurrent Energy Power Services, we provide operations, maintenance, monitoring, engineering, and asset management services that support renewable energy facilities across North America.
With a proven track record spanning six continents, Recurrent Energy brings together experts across every stage of the renewable energy lifecycle, from project origination, development, financing, and construction to operations, maintenance, and long-term asset management. Our work is helping shape a cleaner, more resilient energy future worldwide.
Backed by the innovation, strength, and global reach of Canadian Solar, we are helping accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future while creating meaningful opportunities for our employees to grow, innovate, and make a lasting impact. Guided by our values of Trust, Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, and Inclusiveness, we are building a cleaner world for generations to come.
If you're passionate about renewable energy and driven to make a difference, join Recurrent Energy to power the world with clean energy and create a better, cleaner future for generations to come.
SUMMARY
Reporting to the Director, Development, the Project Development Manager will be responsible for the development of solar PV and battery storage projects across the Central U.S., with specific emphasis on the ERCOT market. They will pursue both greenfield development and project M&A. The successful candidate will have experience in the energy industry, specifically in energy infrastructure development, with experience in project management, financial analysis, and contract negotiation. They will have the ability to communicate complex ideas and the enthusiasm to drive projects through completion.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES / KEY RESULTS AREAS
- Responsible for project management and milestone advancement for new and existing project development.
- Develop strategies for identifying and filtering site acquisition targets to minimize cost and risk.
- Own project economics, including responsibility for each project's financial model, accuracy of inputs, adherence to corporate modeling standards, and coordination of updates with respective internal groups.
- Manage project-level progress, risks, opportunities, and economics. Provide insightful analysis and reporting to management.
- Lead project team meetings to coordinate communication of project events, issues, and challenges across an integrated, multidisciplinary team.
- Drive decisions and prioritize resources based on a deep understanding of schedule dependencies and economic impact.
- Support power marketing, permitting, EPC, and financing processes through document preparation, negotiations, and analysis.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
- Detailed understanding of ERCOT energy markets, including solar and storage technology incentives, utility rates and tariffs, interconnection processes, and policy and regulatory environments.
- Highly proficient in MS Excel, MS Project/Smartsheet, Word, PowerPoint, and Google Earth.
- Demonstrated ability to translate contracts and financing agreements into concise financial and economic analysis.
- Ability to manage a large workload, support processes managed by colleagues, prioritize tasks, and effectively manage competing deadlines.
- Detail-oriented with a strong sense of personal responsibility and ownership of work product.
- High degree of emotional intelligence and ability to work virtually in complex team environments.
- Four-year degree or equivalent work experience; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 1–5 years of experience in energy infrastructure development in wholesale markets, finance, or similar transactional industries.
- Successful track record of managing complex transactions and/or projects, preferably in real estate, sales management, power development, or finance.
- Experience with land, permitting, interconnection, and power marketing aspects of solar and/or renewable project development.
See all 2,800+ Project Development Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Project Development Manager
Align your degree to the role
Project Development Manager positions must qualify as a specialty occupation under USCIS rules. Make sure your degree is in engineering, construction management, business, or urban planning, a general studies credential won't satisfy the directly-related-field requirement.
Target infrastructure and energy employers
Firms in renewable energy, utilities, and large-scale construction file LCAs for Project Development Managers far more consistently than general staffing companies. Search Migrate Mate to find employers with verified sponsorship history in this specific role category.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating
Your employer's LCA locks in a wage level before USCIS adjudicates your petition. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up prevailing wages for project development roles in your target city so you can flag underfunded offers early in the process.
Distinguish your PMP credential strategically
A Project Management Professional certification doesn't substitute for a qualifying degree, but it strengthens the specialty occupation argument when your employer documents the job requirements. Include it in your resume and ask your employer to reference it in the LCA job description.
Push for PERM if the role is permanent
If your employer intends to keep you long-term, request that they open a PERM labor certification alongside or immediately after your H-1B petition. DOL's PERM process establishes your priority date, which matters significantly if you're from a country with green card backlogs.
Clarify H-1B portability before resigning
If you're already in H-1B status at another employer, you can start with a new Project Development Manager role once your new employer files the transfer petition, there's no waiting period. Confirm with USCIS that portability applies before you give notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Project Development Manager role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
It depends on how the employer defines the position. USCIS requires that the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. If the job description allows candidates with any degree or substitutes experience freely for education, the petition is vulnerable to a Request for Evidence. Employers should document industry norms showing that project development at their organization requires specific technical or business expertise.
Which visa types are available to foreign nationals seeking Project Development Manager sponsorship?
H-1B is the primary path for most candidates, requiring a specialty occupation and a qualifying degree. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa under the same specialty occupation standard with no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to a recognized USMCA profession. Longer-term candidates should also discuss EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship with their employer, which typically requires PERM labor certification through DOL.
What degree is required to get visa sponsorship as a Project Development Manager?
USCIS looks for a bachelor's degree or higher in a field directly related to the job duties. Engineering, construction management, urban planning, environmental science, or business administration are common qualifying fields. A general business degree may suffice if the role involves financial modeling or stakeholder management, but a mismatch between the degree field and the job's technical requirements is one of the most common reasons H-1B petitions for this title receive RFEs.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor Project Development Manager roles?
Browse Migrate Mate to find employers with verified sponsorship history for project development and related roles. Filtering by industry, such as energy, infrastructure, or real estate development, helps you focus on sectors where international hiring is most common and sponsorship processes are already established.
Does the H-1B cap and lottery affect Project Development Manager candidates every year?
H-1B is subject to an annual cap and selection process, and the rules have changed recently, so the mechanics of the lottery can shift year to year. Cap-exempt employers, including certain nonprofits, government research organizations, and universities, can file outside the lottery entirely. If you hold a U.S. master's degree or higher, you're entered into a separate advanced-degree pool, which affects your overall selection odds under USCIS rules.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Project Development Manager jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.