Development Manager, Land and Energy Infrastructure - The Wonderful Company

The Wonderful Company is the world’s leading grower of tree nuts and America’s largest citrus grower. We farm 125,000 acres of land in California and an additional 30,000 acres across Texas and Mexico. In addition to farming, we also process, package, and market a diverse range of agricultural products including Wonderful Pistachios, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Halos & seedless lemons and wine (including JUSTIN, Landmark & Lewis Cellars).

This vertically integrated business model extends across our operations and has driven many successful B2B ventures in the sustainability space. Examples include the following: 

• We have built and operate 14 solar facilities totaling 75 MW in capacity with applications submitted to build another 34 projects, more than double our capacity
• We recently finalized large-scale lease agreements with developers that could facilitate over 2 GW of additional solar over the next decade
• We are currently scaling a business that aggregates & processes 300K tons/year of almond wood for sale as inputs to building materials 
• We’re the world’s leading provider of biorational products for crop protection & pest control (Suterra) 
• We are one of America’s largest beekeepers (~80,000 hives & 5 billion bees) 

This role will be based in West Los Angeles. We operate on a hybrid schedule with an in-office requirement Monday-Wednesday and the option to work remotely on Thursday and Friday.

To build upon these successes and scale our impact, we are looking for a Development Manager, Land and Energy Infrastructure. We seek an entrepreneurial-oriented professional who is passionate about working in the intersection of real estate development, energy strategy, and sustainability across The Wonderful Company.  Using strong analytical, problem solving, and communication skills, the ideal candidate will help identify and lead energy projects to drive both economic and environmental value. Projects could include, but are not limited to: 

• Net Zero Industrial Park Powered by Solar and Storage Assets: project development, land entitlement, target park occupant identification (e.g., hydrogen production, data centers, other energy-intensive users), marketing materials, strategy for behind-the-meter energy delivery to a new industrial park.
• Solar Lease Option Agreements on Fallow Land: existing lease active management, new lease negotiation and execution.
• Onsite Solar and Storage Development: site identification and sizing, financial assessment (including payback and storage arbitrage opportunity), grant applications, developer partner selection, project management.
• Industrial Heat Decarbonization: opportunity identification and sizing (e.g., electrification, energy-efficient equipment), grant applications, piloting innovative solutions, full-scale solution implementation.
• Energy Strategy at the Existing Wonderful Industrial Park: development of technical, regulatory, and commercial strategy for powering industrial / warehouse facilities in a capacity-constrained area.

Your contribution to sustainability at Wonderful

• Lead energy initiatives that drive economic and environmental value for the company.
• Identify, evaluate, and execute on energy investments from a strategic, tactical, impact, and financial point of view.
• Evaluate development opportunities for various project types including site investigation, permitting, and entitlements.
• Interface effectively with and foster support from local, county, state, and utility planners and officials as well as community groups to facilitate permitting and project approvals.
• Develop budgets, build and manage schedules, identify risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Hire, manage, and challenge external consultants towards clear objectives and outcomes.
• Take full ownership of new ventures, with a willingness to roll up your sleeves to ensure successful execution.
• Evaluate innovative climate and energy technologies. 
• Develop and communicate presentations based on technical and financial analyses for internal and external parties. 
• Enable project implementation with our partners, leading project execution and strategic direction. 
• Follow US, California, and international trends in climate change, clean energy, and carbon markets, communicating insights and recommended actions 

• Minimum 5-8 years of real estate, land, and energy development including industrial/business park/warehouse facilities development.
• Energy industry experience with onsite renewable energy and microgrid development including land development and CA energy regulations.
• Familiarity with high-intensity energy off-takers (e.g., hydrogen production, data centers, heavy duty truck electrification) is a major a plus.
• Hands-on experience interfacing with local/county/state/utility officials, leading meetings and presenting publicly.
• Deep understanding of financial tools for developing energy projects including local, state, and federal incentives.
• Self-motivated with a strong entrepreneurial drive including project management, implementation, and oversight. 
• Proven problem-solving skills, time management, and independent decision making. 
• Articulate and persuasive communicator, both one-on-one and in front of large groups. 
• Exceptional analytical skills and proven track record of rapidly building subject matter expertise in new topics. 
• Adept at building and maintaining collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners. 
• Humility, patience, and grit to drive impact with large, multi-stakeholder projects. 
• Master’s degree in engineering, energy/environment, business, environmental/public policy or a related field preferred.

Other 

• Travel required, primarily within California 

Please apply with your resume and a cover letter briefly explaining: 

• Why you're interested in The Wonderful Company and the Wonderful Renewable Solutions group 
• Your experience in leading projects from ideation to completion 

Pay Range: $175,000 - $200,000 and may include a discretionary bonus. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

• Competitive benefits package including Medical (including 24/7 online access to a physician), Vision, Dental and 401k with match eligibility
• Opportunities for development and internal mobility
• Manager and leadership training, biweekly L&OD webinars, and eLearning offerings
• Companywide problem solving and continuous improvement training
• Wonderful Giving (wonderfulgiving.com) - allowing you to donate company money to a cause of your choice
• Company prioritizes wellness through its Wonderful NOW (Nourish Our Wellness) initiative, which provides a robust suite of wellness offerings such as access to mental health resources and life coaching, employee community groups, cash rewards for healthy habits, and on-demand fitness videos

Headquartered in Los Angeles, The Wonderful Company is a privately held $6 billion company dedicated to harvesting health around the world through its iconic consumer brands. The company’s 10,000 employees worldwide are committed to bringing consumers everywhere the freshest, most wholesome pistachios, citrus and pomegranates; bottling the finest water and wines; and creating colorful bouquets that are sure to touch the heart. This commitment is reflected in the company’s market share: Wonderful Pistachios® is America’s No. 1 tree nut and America’s fastest-growing snack; Wonderful® Halos® is the No. 1 mandarin orange in America; POM Wonderful® is the No. 1 100% pomegranate brand in America; FIJI® Water is America’s No. 1 premium imported bottled water brand; JUSTIN® Wine has the No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon in California; and Teleflora® is the world’s leading floral delivery service. 

To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

The Wonderful Company’s connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back at its core. The company has a long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, including more than $1 billion invested in environmental sustainability; $65 million in charitable giving, education initiatives, and innovative health and wellness programs each year; and $143 million toward the construction of two charter school campuses in California’s Central Valley. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit csr.wonderful.com.

The Wonderful Company is an Equality Opportunity Employer that provides opportunities for advancement. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce that embodies a deep culture of acceptance, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories.

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