Job description
SB Energy is seeking a Community Development Manager to serve as a local point of contact in the communities we are partnering with to develop digital infrastructure. This role will build trusted relationships and strategic partnerships, lead day-to-day outreach, and turn community priorities into community benefits throughout project development, construction, and the transition to operations. The Community Development Manager has local knowledge and community relationships that they will bring into project planning, help residents understand project activities, and coordinate timely responses to questions and concerns.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain relationships with residents, local officials and staff, schools, chambers of commerce, nonprofits, civic groups, and emergency responders.
- Execute community engagement strategy. Organize briefings, listening sessions, small group discussions, community dinners, open houses, and other outreach suited to the project and community.
- Represent SB Energy at community events and relevant public meetings; keep the development up to date on emerging concerns, local developments, and opportunities to strengthen community partnerships.
- Anticipate emerging community issues and ensure local feedback informs project planning, construction, and operations. Own the coordination of community concern resolution, including tracking issues, assigning internal owners, escalating when needed, and following through with residents.
- Draft project updates, project website, FAQs, presentations and other materials necessary to keep community stakeholders current on project information.
- Identify community priorities and drive company investment in grants, sponsorships, and partnerships in areas such as education, youth programs, workforce development, and public safety.
- Build relationships with local schools, technical colleges, workforce organizations, and local businesses. Lead strategic efforts to establish or build workforce development training and career pathways.
Qualifications/Requirements
- A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in related field. Masters or JD is preferred but not required.
- 6+ years in community engagement, business development, market development, economic development, public policy, or program/project management.
Previous Experience
- Proven track record engaging and building trust with diverse community stakeholders (local municipalities, non-profit decision makers etc.) for large infrastructure or technology projects.
- Experience with creating and implementing external communications plans, including crisis communication management, utilizing modern communication strategies.
- Experience integrating community benefits (workforce, education, infrastructure support) into development strategies.
- Strong public speaking and facilitation skills.
- Ability to manage sensitive political and reputational issues.
- Experience managing contractors, agencies, or other third-parties.
- Understanding and experience in developing and presenting strategic recommendations from a broad range of data sources (e.g., survey data, social intelligence, qualitative research, online telemetry, business metrics).
- Collaborative and adaptable, with experience working across government, community, and corporate teams.
Location
Austin, TX; Round Rock, TX; Milam County, TX; Bell County, TX; Lee County, TX
The position requires up to 15% domestic travel.
Base Pay - $140,000 - $165,000
The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks-while ensuring internal parity across our teams. The compensation range provided reflects base pay. Total rewards may also include performance-based bonuses, equity grants, and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.
Our Health & Wellness Benefits
At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:
- 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
- 12 Weeks Parental Leave
- Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
- Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
- Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
- Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
- Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
- Device Purchase Support
At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we're proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now!
SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.
To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.
Pay & benefits
About this role
About SB Energy
Company Overview
SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp.
HeadquartersSan Francisco, CA, United States
Founded2019
SizeApproximately 50-200 employees (source: solarplaza.com). No public revenue figures reported for 2023 or later.
What They Do
SB Energy is a U.S.-based renewable energy developer that serves as the primary platform for SoftBank Group Corp. to deploy solar power, energy storage, and related climate infrastructure across North America (source: sbenergy.com). The company focuses on utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and grid-integrated solutions, which are essential for delivering flexible renewable energy generation (source: sbenergy.com). SB Energy's offerings include greenfield development, project acquisition, and the operation of solar farms and storage facilities, with a notable framework agreement with ESS Inc. to deploy 2 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of long-duration iron flow batteries by 2026 (source: sbenergy.com). The company targets the U.S. utility sector, data centers, and high-demand clean energy customers, having raised over $10 billion in total project financing since its inception, including more than $4 billion in tax equity and debt (source: sbenergy.com). SB Energy's competitive edge lies in its rapid execution, having brought nearly 2 gigawatts (GW) of solar online within two years of its founding, leveraging SoftBank's AI and technology ecosystem alongside Ares' infrastructure expertise (source: sbenergy.com).
Projects & Track Record
SB Energy has achieved operational status for nearly 2 GW of solar capacity within just two years of its founding in 2019, although specific project names and individual capacities are not detailed in available records (source: sbenergy.com). The company is currently engaged in major projects, including the deployment of 2 GWh of ESS long-duration storage across multiple sites through 2026, with the first delivery slated for California (source: sbenergy.com). SB Energy's client base includes partnerships with ESS Inc. for storage technology and leading financial institutions that have provided over $4 billion in financing for its projects (source: sbenergy.com). The company also has a significant presence in Japan, where its operations powered approximately 128,180 households through 34 solar plants, totaling over 408.5 MW as of October 2017 (source: solarplaza.com). SB Energy's U.S. operations are primarily based in California, with plans for further expansion across North America, distinguishing itself from SoftBank's divested international arms (source: climatebase.org).
Recent Developments
In the past two years, SB Energy secured a landmark strategic equity investment of up to $600 million led by Ares Management, aimed at accelerating its U.S. renewables platform and scaling digital infrastructure (source: sbenergy.com). The company also finalized its agreement with ESS Inc. for the deployment of 2 GWh of long-duration storage by 2026, marking a significant milestone in hybrid energy solutions (source: sbenergy.com). While no major acquisitions or new funding rounds beyond the Ares deal have been reported for the U.S. entity, SoftBank's broader divestitures included selling control of its Japanese SB Energy to Toyota Tsusho in February 2023 (source: wikipedia.org). Additionally, the company pursued a sale of its 80% stake in the India unit, which has a 7.7 GW portfolio, although this deal was later called off (source: pe-insights.com). SB Energy has also received recognition as a Great Place to Work, highlighting its positive workplace culture (source: greatplacetowork.com).
Working There
SB Energy offers a variety of roles across several departments, including development and origination, grid integration, operational excellence, finance, capital markets, and legal/compliance (source: sbenergy.com). The company is primarily hiring for positions at its San Francisco Bay Area headquarters and project sites, particularly for its California storage deployments, aligning with its U.S.-centric growth strategy (source: sbenergy.com). SB Energy's culture emphasizes an ownership mindset, team learning, and growth, welcoming diverse perspectives and ideas while pursuing its mission with enthusiasm (source: sbenergy.com). The company has been certified as a Great Place to Work since its founding in 2019, indicating a commitment to positive employee experiences (source: greatplacetowork.com). Specific benefits packages have not been publicly documented in available sources.
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