Project Developer

Heartland is developing and scaling a next-generation infrastructure platform through its Evaporation-as-a-Service (EaaS) model, focused on solving complex industrial wastewater challenges. As we expand our project pipeline and advance a portfolio of large-scale hub developments across the U.S., we are looking for a Project Developer to help move opportunities from early-stage concept through final investment decision (FID).

This role sits at the center of the development process, working across commercial, technical, and financial teams to keep projects moving and aligned. It’s a good fit for someone who is comfortable taking ownership, navigating ambiguity, and driving progress across multiple workstreams.

Position Overview

The Project Developer will be responsible for advancing projects from origination through FID, helping to build and manage a pipeline of infrastructure opportunities. This role works closely with the Business Development team on early-stage opportunities and takes a lead role as projects move into active development. This includes working closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to develop commercially viable and financeable projects.

In addition to individual projects, this role will contribute to the rollout of Heartland’s EaaS Hub strategy by supporting cluster-based development and helping establish a more repeatable, scalable approach to project execution.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of projects from origination through commercial structuring and FID
• Manage a portfolio of projects, ensuring consistent progress across key development milestones
• Coordinate across engineering, finance, legal, and operations to align on project scope, design, and commercial structure
• Maintain momentum across parallel workstreams, proactively identifying risks or bottlenecks and driving resolution
• Lead permitting and regulatory processes by coordinating with internal teams, consultants, and relevant agencies
• Play an active role in structuring and negotiating key agreements, including customer contracts, feedstock and offtake arrangements, land access, and other commercial terms
• Work with finance to develop and refine project economics, ensuring alignment with target returns and overall investment criteria
• Help shape commercial strategy for each project, including pricing approach, risk allocation, and overall deal structure
• Contribute to the execution of the EaaS Hub strategy by helping identify target markets, prioritize development opportunities, and support more standardized approaches to project development
• Partner with the Business Development team to identify and evaluate host sites — including landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, industrial sites with excess heat, and other strategic locations
• Build trusted relationships with landowners, community stakeholders, regulators, and local officials to gain project support and facilitate approvals
• Represent Heartland at industry events, conferences, and with prospective customers and investors

Qualifications:

• 4–8+ years of experience in project development, infrastructure, energy, or a related field
• Experience working on complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and parallel workstreams
• Familiarity with commercial structuring and contract negotiation
• Solid understanding of project economics and key value drivers
• Ability to work cross-functionally with technical, legal, and financial teams
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities at once
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment with a high degree of ownership
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility both internally and externally

Nice to have:

• Experience in wastewater, energy, environmental, or industrial infrastructure.
• Exposure to permitting and regulatory processes
• Familiarity with BOO / infrastructure-as-a-service type models

Working at Heartland Water Technology:

We are a very collaborative and congenial team who really enjoys working together. To be successful at Heartland, in addition to critical skills and capabilities described in this role, you need to be someone with an ownership mentality and approach, a strong work ethic, a passion for solving problems, and the maturity to work (and play) well with others. Heartland Values and Behaviors are the foundation of our culture and are demonstrated on a daily basis by our team members.

We are pleased to offer a competitive total rewards package that includes comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision plans; Company Paid Life and Disability; 401k, Flexible Spending and Supplemental Life Insurance options; Paid Time Off, Cell and Internet stipend and Remote Work options! We are a drug-free workplace.

Heartland Water Technology, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment. We participate in E-Verify.