Lead Renewables Developer in Edinburgh

About the role

We are recruiting a Lead Project Developer for progressing a selection of renewable energy projects from origination handover through development, consenting, and technical/commercial maturation, delivering late‑stage, de‑risked projects ready for handover to the Project Delivery team. Reporting to the Head of Project Development, the role will take ownership of a selection of projects within an overall growing 3GW+ pipeline of onshore wind, solar PV, and BESS assets across the UK. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring assigned projects are consented, grid‑secured, and commercially optimised, with development risks identified and actively managed through to pre‑construction. 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

• Take ownership of a selection of onshore wind and solar projects from origination handover stage through to late stage (planning consent, grid contracted, land secured, commercially optimised).
• Lead and line manage a number of project developers and other key team members.
• Ensure strict alignment of assigned projects with internal investment criteria and project programme targets.
• Support, oversee and implement consenting strategies for a variety of projects across UK jurisdictions.
• Manage planning applications, EIA processes, and coordinate external consultants.
• Lead project/regional‑level stakeholder engagement, including local authorities, statutory consultees, and communities.
• Lead project‑level grid connection strategy, working with grid engineers on interfaces with TOs, and DNOs.
• Coordinate technical inputs including layout design, yield assessments, and technology assumptions.
• Support financial modelling, lead on project budgeting, and project valuation tracking.
• Identify and implement commercial optimisation opportunities (capex/opex, contracting, land agreements).
• Lead on the preparation of project investment papers for gate approvals and budget investment committees.
• Take ownership for assigned projects, the implementation and continuous improvement of development processes, including risk management, programme tracking, and cost control.
• Ensure a structured and well‑documented handover of assigned projects to EPC, Project Delivery, or internal investment teams.

What you’ll need to succeed

• Demonstrable experience and track record in UK renewable energy project development.
• Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Planning, or related field.
• Proven track record progressing commercial scale projects through key development milestones.
• Direct experience in progressing projects through the UK planning system (TCPA, NSIP, Section 36 consents), grid connection process, EIA and environmental constraints.
• Experience across both onshore wind and solar PV.
• Commercial awareness with experience of managing challenging projects, contract negotiations, cost management processes.
• Understanding of CfD auctions, and route to market considerations is an advantage.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously.
• Experience working on complex projects, with the ability to identify risks and develop practical mitigation strategies.
• Organised and pragmatic, with a solution‑oriented approach to problem‑solving.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, experience working with landowners, local authorities and consultees, internal multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both written (reports, presentations, applications) and verbal.
• Proven risk management and problem‑solving.
• Ability to make decisions considerate of technical, legal, commercial, consenting influences.
• Strong attention to detail combined with the ability to see the bigger picture across a project lifecycle.
• In possession of the right to work in UK.

What’s in it for you?

• Being part of a highly motivated ever‑growing and multicultural team that drives forward the energy revolution.
• Innovative and fast‑changing market and working environment.
• 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.

Benefits can vary depending on the location and are not legally binding.

About us

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 wind project development, acquisition and construction, both in the UK and Ireland.

You matter to us

At BayWa r.e. we are fully committed to fostering equity and inclusion and embrace diversity, of all our people, both present and those yet to join us! We welcome applications from everyone, irrespective of gender, gender identity, national origin, religion, social-, cultural-, or ethnic‑background, sex, sexual orientation, age, non‑disqualifying physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other status protected by appropriate law. All hiring decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and qualifications. We are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer for all by providing an inclusive environment free of discrimination or harassment.