Development Manager- Renewable Energy

Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Company pension

Private medical insurance

Salary protection

Death benefits schemes

Discretionary bonus

25 days holidays

Job summary

Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group is representing a fast-growing renewable energy company in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, with a Hybrid role for a Development Manager to lead planning, environmental consenting and project development.

You will manage EIARs, planning applications, and environmental permits across biogas and biomethane projects, coordinating with internal teams, consultants, regulators and local authorities.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent) in Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering or related.
• Minimum of 10 years' relevant professional experience in planning, environmental consenting and project development.
• Experience delivering EIARs, Appropriate Assessments, planning applications and environmental permit applications.
• Experience in the renewable energy sector, ideally biogas/ biomethane or energy infrastructure.
• Strong working knowledge of planning and environmental legislation, regulatory requirements.
• Proven experience engaging with planning authorities, environmental regulators and local communities.
• Project management experience delivering projects to agreed programmes, budgets and specifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning process to secure permissions and consents for large-scale biogas/ biomethane projects.
• Coordinate EIAR, EIA screening, AA and related studies for planning.
• Prepare, review and submit planning application documentation.
• Mitigate planning, environmental and permitting risks across design and development.
• Support environmental regulatory applications including PPC licenses and Animal By-Product approvals.
• Manage pre-construction planning and discharge of planning conditions.
• Coordinate planning appeals, hearings and provide expert witness when required.
• Engage stakeholders including authorities, regulators, landowners and communities.

Skills

Planning

Environmental consenting

Project development

EIAR

Planning applications

Stakeholder engagement

Education

NFQ Level 8 degree in Planning / Environmental Science / Environmental Engineering

Job description

Job Title: Development Manager

Location: Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin / Hybrid

We have an excellent opportunity for an experienced Development Manager to join our client, a fast-growing renewable energy company developing and operating large-scale projects across Ireland and the UK.

The organisation is focused on developing and operating industrial-scale renewable gas infrastructure, contributing to decarbonisation, energy security and the transition to a more sustainable energy system.

With a substantial pipeline of projects and the backing of infrastructure investment, the business is entering an important phase of development and expansion.

This is a senior opportunity for an experienced development professional to take responsibility for planning, environmental consenting and project delivery across a portfolio of renewable energy projects.

The Role

The Development Manager will be responsible for managing the planning, environmental consenting and development process for large-scale biogas and biomethane projects, from early-stage site assessment and project development through to planning approval and pre-construction compliance.

Working closely with internal project teams, external consultants, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders, the successful candidate will play a key role in progressing projects through the development lifecycle and ensuring delivery within agreed timescales, budgets and specifications.

Key Responsibilities

Planning, Consenting and Environmental Management

• Lead and manage the planning process to secure planning permissions and consents for large-scale biogas and biomethane projects.
• Coordinate and manage external consultants undertaking Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIAR), EIA screening, Appropriate Assessment (AA), Ecological Impact Assessments and other technical studies required for planning applications.
• Oversee the preparation, review and submission of planning application documentation.
• Work closely with project design teams to identify, assess and mitigate planning, environmental and permitting risks throughout the design and development process.
• Support the preparation and submission of environmental regulatory applications, including Industrial Emissions and Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) licences, as well as other relevant permits, including Animal By-Product approvals.
• Manage pre-construction planning and environmental compliance, including the discharge of planning conditions and liaison with planning and environmental authorities.
• Coordinate planning appeals, oral hearings and public inquiries, including the preparation of evidence and provision of expert witness testimony where required.

Stakeholder Engagement and Public Consultation

• Manage engagement with relevant stakeholders, including local authorities, environmental regulators, statutory bodies, landowners, neighbouring residents, utility providers and other public bodies.
• Plan and deliver public consultation programmes, community engagement activities and public information events.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with regulators, statutory consultees and other stakeholders throughout the project development process.

Project Development and Commercial Support

• Support the identification, assessment and development of strategic project opportunities across Ireland and the UK.
• Undertake site selection assessments, planning appraisals and environmental due diligence for potential development sites and acquisition opportunities.
• Support the commercial team with market analysis, sector intelligence and the identification of potential development and acquisition opportunities.
• Monitor developments in biomethane and renewable energy policy, legislation, planning decisions and regulatory frameworks.
• Contribute to policy reviews, industry engagement and lobbying activities relevant to the development of renewable gas infrastructure.

Project Management and Reporting

• Take responsibility for delivering development projects in line with agreed objectives, specifications, programmes and budgets.
• Manage external consultants, technical workstreams and project resources to ensure the effective progression of development activities.
• Identify, manage and report project risks, consenting challenges and potential delays.
• Provide regular progress reports and updates to the Chief Operations Officer, highlighting project milestones, emerging risks and key decisions.
• Undertake other relevant activities in support of the wider development and business objectives.

Candidate Profile – Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will be an experienced planning, environmental or renewable energy development professional with a proven track record of securing consents and delivering complex infrastructure projects.

Essential Requirements

• Degree-level qualification (NFQ Level 8 or equivalent) in Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years' relevant professional experience in planning, environmental consenting and project development.
• Demonstrable experience managing and delivering EIARs, Appropriate Assessments, planning applications and environmental permit applications for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Experience in the renewable energy sector, ideally involving biogas, biomethane, anaerobic digestion or other energy infrastructure.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant planning and environmental legislation, regulatory requirements, codes of practice and technical standards.
• Proven experience engaging with planning authorities, environmental regulators, statutory bodies and local communities.
• Demonstrable project management experience, including responsibility for delivering projects to agreed programmes, budgets and specifications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with technical, commercial and regulatory stakeholders.

Whats on offer:

• Hybrid working model
• Pension: Eligible for company pension scheme with a 5% employer contribution.
• Insurances: Participation in private medical insurance, salary protection, and death benefits schemes.
• Bonus: Discretionary annual bonus based on personal and company performance.
• Holidays: 25 days paid holiday per year (pro-rated if applicable).

For further details about this opportunity please contact Gillian Nicholson [e-mail] 353 90 6450665