Head of Project Development in Edinburgh

We are recruiting a Head of Project Development to oversee and lead the progression of a growing 3GW+ renewable energy project pipeline across the UK from origination handover through development, consenting, and technical/commercial maturation, with the objective of delivering late-stage, fully de-risked projects ready for handover to the Project Delivery team.

The role is accountable for ensuring that projects are consented, grid-secured, commercially optimised, and technically robust, such that residual development risk is minimised prior to final investment. The successful candidate will bring a proven experience in renewable energy project development, with a demonstrable track record of progressing UK projects to late-stage or ready-to-build. The role will be based at our office in Edinburgh or Glasgow, and there will be some requirement for UK travel depending on site locations.

What you will do

• Reporting to the Managing Director you will take ownership of projects from origination handover stage through to late stage (planning consent, grid contracted, land secured, commercially optimised).
• Lead, manage and motivate internal project developers and other key team members.
• Define and lead the execution of development strategies for wind, solar, and BESS projects.
• Lead the preparation and presentation of high-quality investment papers to senior management and Board, ensuring clear articulation of project risks, opportunities, and value drivers; actively track the progression of project investment cases and drive timely, well-informed decision-making at key milestones.
• Plan and allocate resource to ensure the project team can deliver against agreed targets.
• Lead planning strategy & execution across UK jurisdictions including stakeholder engagement strategy.
• Oversee, drive and support implementation of development project grid connection strategies with TOs and DNOs.
• Commercial: support and inform financial modelling & valuation tracking of all approved projects, drive commercial optimisation across the portfolio (capex/opex, contract negotiations, land agreements).
• Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including landowners, statutory consultees and regulatory authorities.
• Ensure smooth transition of portfolio projects to EPC, Head of Project Management, or internal investment teams.
• Review and implement processes for project development, risk and programme management, and commercial cost control, ensuring that portfolio projects are contracted, implemented and delivered safely, on time & to budget.

What you’ll need to succeed

• Significant experience and track record in UK renewable energy project development.
• Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Planning, or related field.
• Proven track record delivering projects to de-risked late development stage.
• Excellent proven understanding of UK planning system (TCPA, NSIP, Section 36 consents), grid connection process, EIA and environmental constraints.
• Experience across both onshore wind and solar PV.
• Strong leadership skills with proven track record of leading project teams to successful results.
• Commercially strong with good experience of managing challenging projects, complex investment cases, and contract negotiations.
• Understanding of CfD auctions, and route to market considerations.
• Organised and pragmatic with an ability to find solutions to challenging problems.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills.
• Risk management and problem-solving.
• Ability to make strategic decisions considerate of technical, legal, commercial, consenting influences.
• Excellent communication skills, both written (presentations, reports, MS applications) and spoken.
• Excellent commercial insight for assessing key value drivers of projects.
• Building strong, cooperative and productive relationships with the key internal and external teams involved in developing and advancing projects.
• In possession of the right to work in the UK.

Being part of a highly motivated ever-growing and multicultural team that drives forward the energy revolution.

Benefits

• Hybrid Working
• Private Health Insurance
• Life Assurance Cover
• Company Pension Scheme
• Flexible Working Environment
• Yearly Discretionary Performance Bonus Scheme
• Mental Health First Aid support
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides all employees with 24/7 access to telephone and online counselling
• Access to an online benefits portal which includes travel and shopping discounts, healthy living advice & a financial well-being resource bank

BayWa r.e. UK Limited is part of the international BayWa r.e. group of renewable energy businesses, with our main office based in Edinburgh, and with other locations in Cork and Glasgow. The BayWa r.e. UK team focuses on renewable project development, acquisition and construction, both in the UK and Ireland.

We are committed to promoting equity and inclusion and welcoming diversity among our people, both those already present and those yet to join the company! We welcome every candidate, regardless of gender, gender identity, nationality, religion, social, cultural or ethnic background, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other category covered by relevant laws. Every hiring decision is based on business needs, job requirements, and qualifications. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer, ensuring an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.