Project Development Manager-Wind

Uniper; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Uniper in the UK is seeking an influential Development Manager specializing in wind to shape and accelerate our wind projects. You will lead development across the UK and Ireland, collaborating with internal teams and external partners to ensure viability and progression through milestones.

This role requires deep market knowledge, strong stakeholder management, and hands-on experience in permitting, land access, and grid connection workstreams.

Qualifications

• Experience developing utility-scale wind and energy storage projects.
• Understanding of all stages of development including land, permitting, environmental assessments, grid connections, and Final Investment Decision (FID).
• Track record delivering renewable energy projects through key development milestones.
• Knowledge of UK and/or Irish planning, permitting and regulatory frameworks.
• Ability to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders, consultants and development partners simultaneously.
• Strong project management with budgeting, scheduling, risk reporting.
• Commercial awareness with understanding of project economics.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Willingness to travel and work internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of utility-scale wind and BESS projects across the UK, Ireland and, where required, other Uniper markets.
• Manage full development lifecycle from origination through Final Investment Decision (FID), covering 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 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 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 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.

Skills

Wind development

Stakeholder management

Project management

Budget management

Scheduling

Risk management

Regulatory knowledge

Financial understanding

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Travel willingness

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Business, Economics, Law or related discipline

Job description

Project Development Manager-Wind

Reporting to the Head of Wind Development- UK, we are looking for an influential, innovative and experienced Development Manager specializing in wind 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 wind market in the UK and be able to develop key development partnerships externally as well as undertake in-house greenfield development of wind projects. The role supports hybrid/remote working with an expectation to spend time with the team at our office 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 wind 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 wind 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.
• Growth mindset with openness to new technologies and a willingness to continuously develop relevant skills and capabilities

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.

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!