Project Development Manager - Solar

Uniper; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Uniper in the UK seeks an influential Development Manager specializing in solar to shape and accelerate our journey toward delivering the group’s ambitious goals. You will drive external partnerships and in-house greenfield development across the UK and ROI, reporting to the Head of Solar Development- UK.

The role requires expert knowledge of the UK solar market, strong project leadership, and the ability to manage land, permitting, grid connections, and due diligence.

Qualifications

• Experience in development of utility-scale renewable energy projects.
• Understanding of UK/Ireland planning and permitting.
• Proven track record delivering projects through development milestones.
• Fluent English language skills.
• Ability to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects across the UK and Ireland.
• Manage full project development lifecycle from origination to Final Investment Decision.
• Secure land agreements, permitting, environmental assessments and grid connections.
• Oversee external partners to meet objectives, schedules and budgets.
• Lead design, consenting processes and regulatory compliance activities.
• Support business development through due diligence and value assessment.
• Monitor regulatory and market developments to maintain competitiveness.
• Build relationships with landowners, authorities, grid operators and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Construction and Commercial teams to enable construction.
• Contribute to development process improvements and best practices.

Skills

Solar development

Stakeholder management

Project management

Regulatory compliance

English fluency

Education

Master's degree in Engineering/Environment/Business

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Solar Development- UK, we are looking for an influential, innovative and experienced Development Manager specializing in solar development to join our growing UK team and to help shape and accelerate our journey to delivering our goals. As a key member of the UK team the role will provide expert understanding of the solar market in the UK and RoI and be able to develop key development partnerships externally as well as undertake in-house greenfield development of solar projects. Our current team is geographically spread across the UK.

Your responsibilities

• Lead the development of utility-scale solar and BESS projects across the UK, Ireland and, where required, other Uniper markets, ensuring projects achieve commercial viability and are successfully progressed through all development milestones.
• Manage the full project development lifecycle from origination through to Final Investment Decision (FD), covering both greenfield developments and acquired project opportunities.
• Secure and manage critical development workstreams, including land agreements, permitting, environmental assessments, stakeholder engagement and grid connection activities.
• Manage external development partners, consultants and contract developers to ensure delivery against agreed project objectives, schedules and budgets.
• Lead project design and consenting activities, including environmental assessments, planning applications, appeals and the discharge of consent conditions.
• Support business development and acquisition activities by conducting technical and development due diligence, assessing project maturity, risks and value creation opportunities.
• Monitor, interpret and respond to regulatory, planning and market developments, ensuring projects remain compliant and commercially competitive.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landowners, permitting authorities, grid operators, community stakeholders, regulators and other key external parties.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Construction, Procurement, Asset Operations, Commercial, Energy Offtake and other internal teams to ensure projects are developed with a clear pathway to construction and operation.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development processes, standards and best practices across the renewables business.

Your profile

Essential

• Experience in the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects, ideally solar and energy storage projects.
• Understanding of all stages of project development, including site origination, land agreements, permitting, environmental assessments, grid connections and progression to Final Investment Decision.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering renewable energy projects through key development milestones.
• Knowledge of UK and/or Irish planning, permitting and regulatory frameworks relevant to renewable energy development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders, consultants and development partners simultaneously.
• Excellent project management skills, including budget management, scheduling, risk management and progress reporting.
• commercial awareness, with an understanding of project economics, development value drivers and investment decision criteria.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, including Engineering, Construction, Legal, Finance, Commercial and Asset Management functions.
• Good understanding of financial concepts, project valuation methodologies and investment appraisal principles.
• Fluent English language skills.

Desirable

• Experience negotiating and managing development agreements, land agreements, co-development agreements, service agreements and project acquisition transactions.
• Experience undertaking development due diligence for project acquisitions and partnership opportunities.
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to represent Uniper effectively with external stakeholders and development partners.
• Technical expertise in solar PV and/or energy storage systems.
• Degree (Master's or equivalent) in Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Business, Economics, Law or a related discipline.
• Solution-oriented, resilient and proactive approach, with the ability to perform in a dynamic development environment.
• Willingness to travel and work effectively within an international and multicultural organisation.
• Growth mindset with openness to new technologies and a willingness to continuously develop relevant skills and capabilities.