Senior Project Development Manager - Data Centres

Brunel; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leadership role

Direct access to Country Manager

Data centre exposure

Competitive salary

Job summary

Brunel is seeking a Senior Project Development Manager to lead development of utility-scale solar and BESS projects in Australia, reporting to the Country Manager, and building a high-performing team.

You will own projects from site search to ready-to-build, drive land strategy, manage permitting and grid connection, and contribute to expanding data centre development activity in Australia.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of project development experience in the Australian renewable energy sector, ideally in solar and/or BESS.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of utility-scale solar and BESS projects, from land search and site analysis through to ready-to-build
• Drive site selection, landholder engagement and land strategy in partnership with the land acquisition function
• Oversee planning, environmental and permitting pathways, managing approvals risk and timelines
• Lead grid connection strategy and negotiations with network service providers and AEMO
• Work closely with in-house technical, legal and M&A specialists to progress projects through key investment milestones
• Build, mentor and lead a high-performing project development team
• Help establish and grow the company’s data centre-related development activity in Australia
• Provide regular pipeline and project reporting to the Country Manager

Job description

A global developer and investor in utility-scale green energy projects is seeking a Senior Project Development Manager to lead development activity in Australia. Reporting directly to the Country Manager, you will own projects from early-stage site identification through to ready-to-build, and take on people leadership as the Australian platform scales. As the business moves into data centre development, you will play a central role in shaping that pipeline.

The role

• Lead the end-to-end development of utility-scale solar and BESS projects, from land search and site analysis through to ready-to-build
• Drive site selection, landholder engagement and land strategy in partnership with the land acquisition function
• Oversee planning, environmental and permitting pathways, managing approvals risk and timelines
• Lead grid connection strategy and negotiations with network service providers and AEMO
• Work closely with in-house technical, legal and M&A specialists to progress projects through key investment milestones
• Build, mentor and lead a high-performing project development team
• Help establish and grow the company’s data centre-related development activity in Australia
• Provide regular pipeline and project reporting to the Country Manager

About you

• Minimum 5 years of project development experience in the Australian renewable energy sector, ideally in solar and/or BESS
• Proven experience across the full development lifecycle, including site origination, land analysis, permitting, grid connection and reaching ready-to-build
• Background within a renewable energy developer, IPP or utility; consultancy-only experience will not be considered
• A genuine interest in becoming heavily involved in data centre developments (direct data centre experience is advantageous but not essential)
• Prior people management experience is not required. High-potential individuals from flatter organisational structures ready to step into leadership are encouraged to apply

What’s on offer

• Leadership role with the opportunity to build and lead a team
• Direct access to the Country Manager and a close-knit Australian team of around 20 across development, land, technical, grid, legal and M&A
• Exposure to both utility-scale renewables and the emerging data centre market
• Competitive base salary, superannuation and performance bonus

Next steps

If you have a background in developing utility-scale solar and/or BESS projects in Australia, and you are ready to step into a leadership role, we would like to hear from you.