DCO Application Lead

Join us as we work to unlock the value of offshore wind! JERA Nex bp is a new joint venture between JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company, and bp, one of the world’s leading energy companies. Established to unlock the potential of offshore wind across the globe, our talented team, exciting pipeline and solid capital commitment give us the potential to become one of the world’s most successful offshore wind companies.

Why this role matters

The DCO Application Lead is responsible for managing and coordinating all consenting and application activities associated with Development Consent Order (DCO) and other relevant consenting regimes for Morven Hawthorn Pit Grid Connection Project. The role ensures the successful preparation, submission, examination, and post-submission management of consent applications, whilst maintaining compliance with statutory requirements, project governance, and consenting strategies.

The position acts as a key interface between the project team, legal advisors, consultants, and stakeholders, ensuring all application documentation, examination activities, risks, and programme requirements are effectively managed and delivered.

In this role you will:

• Application and Examination Management
  • Coordinate the preparation and delivery of all Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), application, and examination documentation.
  • Lead the management and delivery of all application documents required for submission.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for procedural matters relating to the DCO application and examination processes.
  • Ensure compliance with all Planning Inspectorate (PINS), DCO, Scottish Marine Licence, and other statutory consenting procedures, including production of Pre-application document requirements such as Programme Document and Issues Tracker.
  • Manage the submission of subsequent and supplementary during the acceptance and examination phases of the Project.
• Quality Assurance and Governance
  • Develop and implement quality assurance processes for all submission and examination documentation.
  • Ensure compliance with project governance requirements and the Project Consenting Strategy.
  • Maintain application-related action logs, change logs, document registers and issue registers.
• Examination and Stakeholder Coordination
  • Manage the Consultation Report and coordinate the consent compliance consultation-related activities.
  • Coordinate hearings accompanied site visits ensuring all actions and responses are effectively managed.
  • Act as the primary point of contact with the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) Case Team, managing all communications, coordinating responses to requests for information, and ensuring effective engagement throughout the application and examination process.
  • Main point of contact for consenting stakeholders, including the coordination and management of Technical Export Working Groups, meetings, updates, and associated actions.

To be successful in the role you will bring:

• Degree qualification in Environmental Planning, Town Planning, Environmental Science, Engineering, Law, or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of the Planning Act 2008, Development Consent Order (DCO) process, and Planning Inspectorate (PINS) procedures.
• Experience supporting or managing DCO applications, examinations, or other major infrastructure consenting regimes in England and/or Scotland.
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams, competing priorities, and programme milestones while delivering high-quality outputs to statutory deadlines.
• Fluent in written and spoken English, with excellent communication skills and the ability to prepare high-quality reports, submissions, briefing materials, and stakeholder correspondence.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with regulators, statutory consultees, technical specialists, legal advisors, and project teams.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and resilient, with experience in quality assurance, document management, problem-solving, and adapting to evolving project requirements.

What you can expect from us:

• A collaborative and inclusive work culture, with space for team-building and social activities.
• Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home, with regular in-person connection.
• Opportunities for career growth and professional development in a fast-growing international company.

As we build our company, we are driven by:

• Care for each other and our world – we leave egos at the door, are inclusive, collaborative and open to new ideas.
• A spirit of ingenuity - we are pioneers and innovators making the impossible possible.
• A commitment to unlocking value from offshore wind – we aim to make offshore wind sustainable, affordable and accessible to the countries & communities we serve.

About JERA Nex bp

JERA Nex bp is a purpose-built offshore wind company committed to unlocking the power of offshore wind by developing high-quality, competitive projects. A 50:50 joint venture between JERA Co. and bp, JERA Nex bp is an end-to-end developer, owner and operator with more than fifteen years of experience in operating offshore wind projects. Headquartered in London, with offices across Europe, Asia, US and Australia, JERA Nex bp has a portfolio of operational and development projects across nine countries, and draws on a rich heritage of pioneering offshore wind in Asia Pacific and the North Sea.