Project Manager

Bute Energy; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 62,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job description

At Bute Energy, our mission is to create renewable energy projects that deliver a wealthier, healthier Wales – we want to make the Welsh weather work for Wales through the biggest business investment in the rural economy in a generation. We will create thousands of jobs, give millions of pounds a year to community funds and help rural communities get ready for a net zero future. All of this while helping to reduce energy bills in the long term – onshore wind is the cheapest electricity on the grid.

Bute Energy has built up a market-leading pipeline of Energy Park projects in Wales, which will combine the latest technology for onshore wind and solar generation to provide projects that will be delivering the biggest business investment in rural Wales in a generation.

At Bute Energy, our core values of courage, passion, community and integrity are central to our mission to work towards a sustainable world, now and for future generations; and to deliver green energy generation and infrastructure that benefits local communities and society as a whole.

We are a business that truly has people at the heart of everything we do, and we work hard to ensure that our people are supported and encouraged to succeed. We are proud of our culture and values and strive to ensure that every one of our people have that "feeling of belonging” and can bring their whole selves to work. This is an exciting opportunity to join a high growth business and contribute to helping Wales reach its Net Zero targets.

What you can expect as a Bute Energy colleague

• Flexitime with the ability to work core hours and take time back in lieu throughout the week.
• Fridays are allocated as ‘no meeting’ days to ensure down time at the end of the week.
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Private Medical Insurance from day 1 with cover for immediate family including spouse or partner and children, including direct mental health pathways and support.
• Annual pay review and discretionary bonus up to 25%.
• Employer pension contributions up to 7%.
• Ability to opt into the Pension Salary Exchange scheme equating to an extra 0.7% of employer pension contributions.
• Electric car scheme via salary sacrifice.
• Life assurance cover and income protection.
• Travel insurance.
• Suite of enhanced policies and provisions to support colleagues through all the moments that matter.
• Regular team socials, activities, sporting events and charity fundraisers.

The Role

SALARY: Starting from £62,000 per annum (Skills and experience dependent)

LOCATION: Cardiff - Flexible working options

Main Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to the Senior Project Manager (SPM) for a Cluster, specifically responsible for leading and managing Projects and their workstreams to deliver Energy Park Projects (more than 1, typically 2) in line with the development strategy, from land identification through to planning consent and pre-construction and Final Investment Decision (FID) / Financial Close;
• Responsible for setting and delivering the Project schedule (as maintained and controlled by the Project Management Office (PMO) Scheduler) in collaboration with SPM and driving portfolio/programme/project implementation in line with strategy;
• Co-ordination with the Associate Project Manager (APM) for the Cluster, ensuring alignment and support for Project Management, Reporting and Accounting;
• Responsible for the development of the Project business case and commercial strategy, working with the SPM for the Cluster to ensure handover to Delivery;
• Responsible for the appointment and management of external consultants associated with stakeholder consultation, Project design, scoping, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and all planning application submissions, working with the SPM for the Cluster to ensure handover to Delivery;
• Responsible for liaison with and coordination of external and internal technical or engineering support in relation to the Project design, due diligence, access, wind resource assessments, and grid connection strategies;
• Responsible for supporting the SPM in the appointment and management of various external consultants, co-ordinating with the Strategic Planning & Consents Director and the Head of Procurement and Contracts, to include the tendering, and contracting of lead services associated with stakeholder consultation, Project, scoping, EIA, and all planning application submissions, together with procurement of any other required consents or related planning applications;
• Take ownership of the management of and drive forward Energy Park Projects (more than 1, typically 2), helping ensure all objectives/plans are met/exceeded;
• Management of early-stage feasibility and assessment work including pre-planning surveys;
• Support obtaining other licences, and permits, as may be required by the Project(s);
• Lead on (with the support of the SPM) relevant external stakeholder relationships, including those with landowners, local communities, planning authorities, local elected members/groups and other key influencers, all consultees statutory or otherwise, network operators, suppliers, regulators and media;
• Understand the key indicators which determine what constitutes a viable onshore wind project and play a lead role in increasing competitiveness of all sites by constantly challenging business performance assumptions/ norms;
• Manage all Project budgets and spend (incl. Project Accounting (Raising POs, receipting POs) and risks using appropriate tools and contracts;
• Management of environmental assessments, planning submissions, together with procurement of any other required consents or related planning applications, with support from the Strategic Planning & Consents Director;
• Identify and work to mitigate Project risks to maximise Project deliverability;
• Liaison with Bute internal teams (land, grid, community benefit, external affairs, transport, design) to secure necessary support and technical input; and,
• Ensure high standards of governance and project management on Projects.

What we look for in return

Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent written, verbal, numerical and interpersonal skills;
• Effective communication and liaison skills to work with external consultants, internal teams etc to ensure project success;
• Strong personal resilience and ability to adapt to different situations;
• Have an ability to manage a wide and complex workload;
• An understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with onshore wind development;
• Knowledge of planning processes (including under the Town & Country Planning Act, and the DCO / DNS regimes) and an understanding of planning policy relating to renewable energy, including Environmental Impact Assessment;
• Knowledge of the development of a Project Business Case;
• Motivated and comfortable working as part of a team or on an individual basis;
• Excellent organisation skills, and an eye for detail to support project planning, feasibility studies, and pre-construction activities;
• critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to address issues that may arise during the project lifecycle;
• Handling and co-ordinating specialist and technical inputs from external consultants and project team members;
• Welsh language skills would be an advantage.

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience in developing and managing Project Schedules;
• Experience of coordinating a multi-disciplinary project team;
• Hold a full UK driving licence and be willing to travel across Wales (and nationally if required).
• Demonstratable experience working in-house in a development company or consultancy; with a track record in managing projects, environmental impact assessments, and planning applications associated with the development and assessment of large scale renewable energy projects;
• Hold a professional/academic qualification in Commercial, Engineering, Planning or Environmental discipline;
• Exposure to and experience in dealing with external stakeholders, including members of the public, contractors, external consultants and team members.; and,

Proven track record for :

• successfully coordinating outputs from team members and other stakeholders, and,
• reporting on, planning, executing, controlling and closing projects and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously with minimal supervision.
• Association of Project Management (APM) Certification (PMQ) is preferred.

What does our culture mean to us and you?

At Bute Energy we are committed to having a workplace that encourages and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion. This means taking account of social or personal challenges that some colleagues may face and making available, the right workplace environment, resources and opportunities, which allow all of us at Bute Energy, to THRIVE.

Our culture and the way we do things is centred around ‘belonging’ and we hang everything off #belongatbute. We believe that everyone should be able to be their true authentic self at Bute Energy and encourage this through promoting an inclusive environment which values and encourages different perspectives, thoughts, ideas and backgrounds, to ensure a truly innovative and exciting place to work.

We do not accept any discriminatory attitudes or behaviours. Every single colleague and potential colleague who wishes to join us, should feel confident in equality of opportunity and be free from any bullying, discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We hope and encourage all suitably qualified individuals to feel comfortable and energised to join our dedicated team and contribute to Wales’ shift towards sustainable energy solutions.