Project Development Manager - Solar

Uniper; Immingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Uniper is seeking an influential Development Manager specializing in solar development to join its UK team. The role drives utility-scale solar and energy storage development, orchestrating origination, permitting, land access, grid connections and consents to move projects toward final investment decisions.

You will manage internal and external partners, coordinate due diligence for acquisitions and monitor regulatory shifts to maintain competitive projects.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing utility-scale renewable energy projects, preferably solar and energy storage.
• Understanding of all development stages: origination, land, permitting, grid connections and FID.
• Track record delivering renewables through key milestones and securing viable projects.
• Knowledge of UK/Irish planning, permitting and regulatory frameworks for renewables.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders, consultants and partners concurrently.
• Strong project management with budget, schedule, risk and progress reporting.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project economics and investment criteria.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work across Engineering, Construction, Legal, Finance, Commercial and Asset teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of utility-scale solar and BESS projects across the UK and Ireland, ensuring commercial viability.
• Manage full development lifecycle from origination to Final Investment Decision.
• Secure land, permitting, environmental assessments and grid connections.
• Coordinate external partners, consultants and contract developers to meet milestones and budgets.
• Lead design and consenting activities, including planning applications and consent conditions.
• Support due diligence for business development and acquisitions, assessing risks and value creation.
• Monitor regulatory and market developments to keep projects compliant and competitive.
• Build relationships with landowners, grid operators, authorities and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure pathway to construction and operation across projects.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Financial understanding

English fluency

Education

Engineering degree

Environmental Sciences/Business/Economics/Law

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.