Project Development Manager

JOB SUMMARY
Our client is seeking an experienced Project Development Manager to lead the front-end development of carbon storage and associated infrastructure projects from early-stage evaluation through construction readiness.

The Project Development Manager will lead projects through screening, appraisal, concept selection, and definition before transitioning them to an execution Project Manager for construction. The role requires managing projects in a developing environment where technical, regulatory, commercial, land, and permitting requirements may continue to evolve throughout development.

This individual will be responsible for progressing projects through uncertainty while ensuring each opportunity reaches construction with a clearly defined scope, reliable cost estimate, executable schedule, appropriate risk management, and thorough supporting documentation.

The position works closely with project management, engineering, subsurface, land, regulatory, commercial, environmental, and other technical teams. Candidates with experience developing natural gas processing, compression, pipeline, or midstream infrastructure projects are particularly encouraged to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead Class II and Class VI carbon storage projects from concept through appraisal, selection, definition, and construction readiness.
• Translate commercial requirements, including volumes, rates, CO2 specifications, and timing, into project scope, schedule, cost estimates, and authorization packages.
• Coordinate technical and support disciplines including geology, reservoir, wells, land, regulatory, pipelines, facilities, environmental, and stakeholder relations.
• Lead through influence across multidisciplinary teams where resources may not directly report to the position.
• Coordinate permitting efforts, including Class II and Class VI applications and associated pipeline, air, environmental, and local permits.
• Define surface-facility requirements, including compression, dehydration, flowlines, laterals, utilities, and site power.
• Develop and maintain project economic models, validate assumptions, evaluate alternatives, and support investment decisions.
• Advance projects through established stage-gate/project development processes, maintaining cost estimates, schedules, risk registers, and decision-support documentation.
• Coordinate closely with execution Project Managers to ensure an effective transition from development into construction.
• Manage engineering firms and consultants supporting concept development, pre-FEED, FEED, site characterization, and permitting.
• Identify opportunities to improve project-development efficiency through scheduling, cost controls, reporting, AI tools, automation, and data analysis.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 10 years of oil & gas engineering experience, including significant experience developing or managing natural gas processing, compression, pipeline, or other midstream projects.
• Owner/operator project experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success advancing capital projects through front-end development/FEL or comparable stage-gate processes to construction approval.
• Working knowledge of subsurface and well concepts with the ability to effectively coordinate with geoscience, reservoir, drilling, and other technical specialists.
• Strong experience developing and challenging project cost estimates, schedules, and economic evaluations.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, advanced Excel, and Power BI or comparable tools.
• GIS experience is a plus.
• Experience adopting AI, automation, or other emerging technologies to improve productivity and work quality.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to leadership, partners, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Ability to operate effectively in an evolving industry where regulatory requirements, markets, and project definitions may change.
• Strong commitment to safety and understanding of process safety considerations in project design.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with CCS/CCUS projects, CO2 storage, Class VI or Class II permitting, or CO2 pipelines.
• Familiarity with carbon capture technologies and processes.
• Experience planning power supply, utilities, or electrical interconnections for industrial facilities.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering required.
• Master's degree in Engineering or MBA preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Position may be based in Texas or Colorado, with significant flexibility for remote work.
• Travel of up to 25% may be required for project sites, meetings, regulatory coordination, and other business needs.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.