Senior Business Development Manager

Job Summary:

The Senior Manager – Business Development is responsible for leading, guiding, and managing the Business Development team to drive sustainable growth in Leader Energy's renewable energy portfolio, covering utility-scale and Commercial & Industrial (C&I) projects.

This role focuses on strategic opportunity development, deal origination, commercial structuring, team leadership, and execution oversight, ensuring alignment with Leader Energy's growth strategy, financial targets, and long-term market positioning.

Job Description:

Strategic Business Development Leadership

• Lead and manage the Business Development Managers to deliver annual and long-term growth targets.
• Translate corporate strategy into actionable BD plans, market focus areas, and pipeline priorities.
• Identify new markets, customer segments, and partnership models for renewable energy expansion.

Deal Origination & Pipeline Management

• Oversee the development and management of a robust pipeline for utility-scale and C&I renewable energy projects.
• Review and validate project feasibility, commercial assumptions, and investment rationale.
• Ensure effective prioritization of opportunities based on risk, return, and strategic fit.

Job Description

Commercial Structuring & Negotiation

• Provide leadership in structuring complex deals, including PPAs, corporate PPAs, joint ventures, land/rooftop lease agreements, and strategic partnerships.
• Lead or support high-value negotiations with utilities, corporates, investors, EPC partners,and government stakeholders.
• Work closely with finance on project economics, IRR, tariff structures, and funding strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with Engineering, Finance, Legal, Project Development, and Operations teams to ensure seamless progression from opportunity to financial close.
• Support bid strategy, proposal positioning, and approval processes for tenders and
• negotiated deals.
• Ensure risks, assumptions, and obligations are clearly communicated across teams.

Team Management & Capability Development

• Coach, mentor, and performance-manage Business Development Managers and Executives
• Build a high-performing BD team with strong commercial, negotiation, and market execution capabilities.
• Set clear KPIs, performance expectations, and development plans.

Stakeholder & Market Engagement

• Maintain strong relationships with key industry stakeholders, utilities, regulators,
• customers, financiers, and partners.
• Represent Leader Energy in industry forums, conferences, and strategic discussions.
• Monitor market trends, policy developments, and competitive landscape.

Reporting & Governance

• Provide regular pipeline, forecast, and performance reports to senior management.
• Ensure BD activities comply with internal governance, approval frameworks, and risk management standards.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, Finance, or Renewable Energy–
• related field.
• MBA or Master's degree in Business / Energy (preferred).
• PMP, CFA, or solar-specific credentials (e.g., Solar PV Design) are a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in business development, commercial strategy, or project development within renewable energy, power, or infrastructure.
• Proven experience leading and managing Business Development teams.
• Strong track record in utility-scale and/or C&I renewable energy projects, including successful deal closures.
• Experience working with PPAs, project financing, joint ventures, and investment approvals.
• Strategic and commercially minded with a strong focus on long-term value creation.
• Confident leader with the ability to guide, mentor, and influence Business Development Managers/Executives.
• High integrity with strong governance, ethics, and accountability in deal execution.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to perform effectively under pressure and ambiguity.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities.
• Data-driven decision maker with sound commercial judgment.
• Passionate about renewable energy and sustainability.