Senior Project Development Manager - Renewables

Taylor Hopkinson | Powered By Brunel; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Taylor Hopkinson | Powered By Brunel is seeking a Senior Project Development Manager to originate and develop solar, BESS, hybrid and data centre projects across Australia, progressing them through feasibility, permitting and grid connection toward investment readiness and financial close.

You will work with the Country Manager and HQ teams, lead development workstreams, engage with landowners and councils, and mentor a development team based in Melbourne with interstate travel for stakeholder

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Five+ years of renewables project development experience.
• Experience obtaining planning permits or development approvals in Australia.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Willingness to travel interstate and be based in Melbourne.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of project origination and lead the development team to identify and secure opportunities.
• Develop and execute an origination strategy with priority regions and target sites.
• Lead site screening, due diligence, and engagement with landowners, councils and communities.
• Lead planning permit and development approval processes, consultant management and compliance.
• Coordinate grid connection milestones with the Technical/Engineering teams.
• Prepare development budgets, spend forecasts and tender materials for approvals.
• Manage development governance, stage gates and HQ initiation processes.
• Lead the development team and cross-department collaboration to deliver milestones.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Budgeting & financial oversight

Negotiation

Communication skills

Regulatory navigation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Renewable Energy

Bachelor's degree in Planning

Tools

GIS

MS Office

Project management software

Job description

The Senior Project Development Manager leads the origination and development of solar, BESS, hybrid and data centre projects across Australia, progressing opportunities through feasibility, permitting and grid connection toward investment readiness and financial close.

Will manage 1 team member.

• Opportunity to progress to Head of Project Development, with potential for further advancement to a Director role, subject to performance and business needs.

Working closely with the Country Manager, Headquarters (HQ) and internal technical, investment and legal teams, the role leads development workstreams, manages the development team and drives engagement with key stakeholders, including landowners, NSPs, councils and communities.

Data centre origination or development experience is an advantage but is not essential.

This position is based in Melbourne. Frequent interstate travel is required for key stakeholder meetings, community engagement and other development activities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Origination and Feasibility

• Take ownership of project origination and lead the development team in identifying, assessing and securing opportunities aligned with the company's investment objectives.
• Develop and execute an origination strategy, setting priority regions, target sites, sourcing channels and team responsibilities, and driving delivery against agreed milestones.
• Proactively identify opportunities using GIS and network data, and lead the Land Acquisition Manager in developing and executing sourcing strategies.
• Lead site screening, visits and due diligence across land, planning, environmental, technical and commercial factors, coordinating specialist advice to identify constraints and mitigation options.
• Lead early landholder discussions and coordinate land negotiations and preliminary layouts with land acquisition, legal and technical teams.
• Prioritise opportunities, allocate development resources, and prepare programmes, budgets and evidence-based recommendations on which projects to pursue, defer or discontinue.

Planning and Development Approvals

• Apply a strong understanding of Australian planning frameworks to determine approval pathways and lead solar and BESS projects through to successful planning permit and development approval outcomes.
• Select and manage consultants, defining scopes, budgets and schedules; critically review application documents and supporting studies for quality, consistency and compliance with assessment requirements.
• Lead regulatory engagement and community consultation, negotiate practical approval conditions, and manage compliance and secondary consent requirements.

Grid Connection Coordination

• Lead the integration of grid requirements, costs and milestones into project development plans, working with the Technical Manager and internal technical team.

Commercial and Financing Support

• Prepare and manage project-related development budgets, spending forecasts, reporting variances and funding requirements.
• Lead the preparation of development materials and submissions for investment approvals and tender processes.
• For project sales, lead development-related buyer due diligence, working with the M&A Manager to prepare data room materials, respond to RFIs and resolve development-related issues.

Project Governance and Professional Responsibilities

• Manage projects in accordance with internal SOPs, stage gates and approval requirements.
• Lead originated projects through the HQ project initiation review and approval process, working closely with the development team and HQ Project Management department. Direct the preparation and consolidation of project review reports covering site feasibility, land status, planning pathways, grid prospects, commercial assumptions, budgets, schedules and key risks. Lead presentations and responses to HQ enquiries, close outstanding review actions and drive projects toward HQ initiation approval and subsequent Investment Committee approval.
• Take ownership of budgets, schedules, risks and project outcomes; escpacket issues early and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate records and demonstrate professionalism, integrity and accountability.

Team Management and Cross-Department Coordination

• Lead and manage the development team, setting clear responsibilities and milestones, monitoring performance, and providing guidance and mentoring to ensure the development team operates effectively.
• Drive collaboration across internal departments, consultants and HQ teams, resolve dependencies and ensure actions are completed on time.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Renewable Energy, Planning, Environmental Science, Property, Business or a related discipline.
• At least five years of relevant project development experience in renewables energy industry.
• A proven track record of personally leading Australian renewable energy projects to successfully obtain planning permits or development approvals.
• Demonstrated results in project origination, feasibility, planning approvals and coordination of grid connection workstreams in Australia.
• Strong understanding of Australian planning frameworks, approval pathways, application requirements and approval conditions, with the ability to critically review consultant reports and manage specialist advisors.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills, including direct engagement with landowners, NSPs, councils and communities.
• Demonstrated direct people management experience, with responsibility for at least two direct reports, including work allocation, performance management, coaching and development.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, consultants, budgets and schedules and deliver agreed milestones with limited supervision.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including investment recommendations, project reports and stakeholder correspondence.
• Eligibility to work in Australia and willingness to travel frequently interstate.
• Ability to work from Melbourne, eligibility to work in Australia and willingness to travel frequently interstate.
• Data centre origination or development experience, including site selection and power, fibre, water or cooling coordination, is desirable but not mandatory.