Project Development Manager - Solar (12 Month Fixed Term)

Uniper Energy; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Uniper Energy seeks an experienced Project Development Manager – Solar to lead utility-scale solar and storage development across the UK and Ireland. You will drive origination through Final Investment Decision, coordinating land, permitting, environmental work, stakeholders and grid connections.

You will manage external partners, ensure on-schedule delivery, align with commercial objectives and support acquisitions. Strong leadership and UK energy regulatory knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering utility-scale renewable energy projects.
• Knowledge of UK/Ireland planning, permitting and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven track record in achieving development milestones.
• Ability to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and investment appraisal understanding.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of utility-scale solar and storage projects across the UK, Ireland and other markets.
• Manage full project development lifecycle from origination through Final Investment Decision.
• Coordinate land, permitting, environmental assessments, stakeholder engagement and grid connection.
• Manage external development partners, consultants and contract developers to hit objectives, schedules and budgets.
• Lead project design, environmental assessments, planning applications and consent discharge.
• Support business development and acquisition activities with due diligence and value analysis.
• Monitor regulatory, planning and market developments to maintain competitiveness.
• Build relationships with landowners, authorities, grid operators and regulators.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Construction, Procurement, Asset Operations and Commercial teams to ensure a clear path to construction and operation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of development processes and best practices across renewables.

Skills

Experience in solar development

Stakeholder management

Project management

Regulatory & permitting knowledge

English fluency

Education

Degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Location: Birmingham, GB, B37 7YE Immingham, GB, DN40 3LU London, GB, SW1W 0EB Nottingham, GB, NG11 0EE

Country/Region: GB

Contract type:

Working hours: Full time

Compensation: Competitive

Project Development Manager - Solar (12 Month Fixed Term)

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 with a focus in Edinburgh.

We are Uniper

At Uniper, we are pro-actively transforming the world of energy whilst at the same time ensuring security of energy supply. As an internationally operating company, we work in very diverse teams with the greatest possible working time flexibility for our employees. Our corporate culture is characterized by equal opportunities, mutual appreciation, and respect. With us, you will be able to develop new business models, work on technological solutions for a modern, sustainable, and future-oriented energy supply as well as pro-actively help to shape changes. Interested? Then we will look forward to meeting you!

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

At Uniper, we not only reward our employees with attractive salaries, an excellent company pension and health related benefits for their hard work and dedication to shaping the future energy transition. You can also expect a supportive working culture that offers a wide range of creative and innovative ideas. We enable various flexible working arrangements, whilst also supporting with home office equipment.

Through regular training and workshops, together we work towards visualising yourself in our company as if it were your own. We support you in highlighting your individual potential, achieving your personal goals, and reaching your ambitions. We invite you to become part of our diverse company with international colleagues from more than 80 countries. As an employer, Uniper has committed itself to providing special support to certain areas:

• Personal development and Learning opportunities


• Enhanced company pension – With up to 12% company contributions


• 26 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays


• Electric vehicle charging at our sites


• In house Occupational Health Services


• Company funded Private Medical Insurance including free GP service


• Performance related benefits


• Access to a range of flexible benefits such as Share Incentive Plan, Dental, Critical Illness and Life Insurance, Cycle2Work, or buy and sell extra holiday


• Future career opportunities (UK & International) with a strong focus on Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Our employees are the reason for our success. Therefore, you will find many other benefits at the local level to help you reach your potential. Energy evolutionary wanted!

Your contact

Should you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact the UK Talent Acquisition Manager

[e-mail]

Job information

Contract type: Unlimited

Working Hours: Full Time

Start Date: ASAP

Deadline: 28/08/2026

Salary: Competitive

As an employer, Uniper is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. Therefore, we encourage applications from suitably qualified individuals whose capabilities match the role requirements regardless of gender, origin, disability, age, religion, ideology, sexual identity or marital status. We live inclusion and support flexible working.