Project Development Manager

Project Development ManagerClayton Services is searching for a Project Development Manager to join a thriving company in Houston, Texas. The Project Development Manager will be responsible for leading projects in the Front-End Loading (FEL) stagesfrom Concept Selection through Pre-FEEDdeveloping and justifying projects prior to procurement, FEED, and Final Investment Decision (FID). This role requires a balance of strategic planning, commercial analysis, and technical project definition, ensuring projects are positioned for long-term success.Job Type: Direct Hire Pay Rate: $135,000 - $175,000/year Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, stock options, and more.Project Development Manager Responsibilities:Provide transparent progress reporting and actionable recommendations to leadership.Engage with clients, vendors, and external partners to gather technical and commercial inputs.Define subcontractor requirements for reporting, scheduling, cost, and risk deliverables.Facilitate workshops, reviews, and decision gates to drive project advancement.Drive project evaluation, concept selection, and alignment with company strategy.Support stage-gate readiness and provide decision frameworks.Develop early project roadmaps, including RACI matrices to clarify roles and responsibilities.Build organization plans, governance deliverables, and stage-gate documentation.Establish preliminary long-lead equipment lists and early supply chain visibility.Lead preparation of Project Charters, Business Cases, and Project Objectives & Strategy (POS).Define contracting strategies for future FEED and execution phases.Create and maintain vendor lists to support long-lead equipment planning and procurement.Set up scope tracking, risk registers, and mitigation strategies.Lead cross-functional teams across technical, commercial, and operational functions.Develop early cost estimates (Class 4/5) and Level 1 schedules to guide project progression.Interface with senior leadership and marketing to identify and prioritize opportunities.Other duties as assigned.Project Development Manager Skills and Abilities:Collaborative leadership across technical and business functions.Strong project leadership and self-management capabilities.Excellent written and verbal communication, including executive-level reporting.Proactive risk identification and disciplined project control.Systems thinking and structured project development skills.Strong analytical rigor and business acumen.Tenacity and resilience in driving projects through ambiguity.Project Development Manager Education and Experience:8+ years of experience in capital project development (energy, chemicals, industrial gas, or related).Experience with project justification, business case development, and governance processes.Bachelor's degree in Engineering (preferred), Business, Project Management, or related field.Proven knowledge of FEL methodologies, early-phase estimating, and scheduling.Experience in syngas, hydrogen, or carbon capture projects is preferred.Familiarity with stage-gate processes and investment approval frameworks is preferred.Background in contracting strategy, subcontractor management, and risk planning is preferred.Exposure to cost modeling, scenario analysis, and execution strategy definition is preferred.Project Development Manager - Immediate need. Apply today!