Senior Project Development Manager

Great British Energy is looking for a Senior Project Development Manager to join our Onshore Development Director team. This role will play a key part in contributing to projects, objectives, and wider organisational goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multiple renewable energy development projects across the UK, including onshore wind, solar PV, battery storage and hybrid schemes, from early feasibility through planning, pre‑construction handover and Final Investment Decision (FID).
• Own and manage full project development programmes, including scope, budgets, schedules, resources and risk registers across complex, multi‑project portfolios.
• Coordinate and integrate multidisciplinary inputs spanning planning, environmental, technical, grid, land, legal and commercial workstreams.
• Ensure projects meet internal safety, ESG, investment, risk management and quality assurance standards throughout the development lifecycle.

Planning & Consenting

• Define and lead project‑specific development and consenting strategies across multiple UK planning regimes and jurisdictions.
• Act as the primary interface with planning authorities, statutory consultees and community stakeholders.
• Oversee Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes, ensuring robust environmental surveys and technical assessments are delivered to support high‑quality planning submissions.
• Proactively manage planning risk, including objections, appeals processes and mitigation strategies where required.
• Contribute to and review project financial models, capital and operating cost estimates, and value‑engineering decisions to optimise project viability.
• Support commercial structuring including land agreements, grid offers, option and lease agreements, joint venture arrangements and routes to market (e.g. PPA and CfD).
• Prepare and oversee project gate papers, investment committee submissions, board approval papers and formal FID recommendations.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Act as a senior escalation point and credible external representative for landowners, planning authorities, regulators, communities, consultants, grid operators and delivery partners.
• Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships to enable timely decision‑making and effective risk management.
• Support community engagement programmes and local value creation initiatives.

Team & Capability Leadership

• Line‑manage, mentor and develop Project Development Managers and supporting staff.
• Drive continuous improvement in development standards, processes and best practices across the portfolio.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and internal capability building within the development function.

Governance & Reporting

• Provide clear, accurate and timely reporting to senior leadership teams and governance forums.
• Identify and escalate key risks, issues and decision points early, with clear mitigation plans.
• Ensure compliance with internal governance, assurance, safety and ESG requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in renewable energy project development.
• Proven track record of successfully taking projects through planning consent and into delivery or Final Investment Decision (FID).
• Strong understanding of UK‑wide planning and regulatory systems, environmental assessment processes and grid connection requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent project management skills, including project scheduling, budget development, budget control and adherence to gated governance processes.
• Strong commercial awareness, with confidence working with financial models, investment cases and value optimisation.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and leadership skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Experience working across multiple renewable technologies, including onshore wind, solar PV and battery storage.
• Experience operating within public sector or quasi‑public sector delivery environments.
• Knowledge of joint ventures, partnerships or co‑development models for renewable energy projects.

Qualifications

• Professionally qualified in an engineering, environmental or planning discipline (e.g. CEng, IEMA, RTPI, RICS), or holding a relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Formal project management qualification, such as APM PMQ or PRINCE2.

Personal Qualities

• Takes ownership, shows confidence in decision‑making, and is willing to challenge constructively.
• Focuses on delivering meaningful outcomes and making a positive, lasting impact.
• Works collaboratively, valuing different perspectives and building inclusive relationships.
• Proactive and adaptable, with a curiosity to explore new ideas and improve ways of working.
• Resilient and resourceful in a fast‑paced environment.