Project Development Manager

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER UK

Employer : NatPower Development Limited

Function : Development

Location : London (UK)

About NatPower

NatPower is a global group specialised in renewable energy assets development, with operations in several countries. We launched in the UK market over a year ago and are aiming to become one of the industry leaders in the next 3-5 years.

We are looking to hire people with vision, and a passion for renewable energy and national NetZero goals into our growing development team. This is an excellent opportunity to learn and advance your career as part of an exciting scale-up business. You will need to be ready to work in a flexible environment where everyone is aligned in a common goal to advance the company, the environment, and themselves.

If this sounds like you, then hit the apply button, we’d love to hear from you!

The Working Environment

This is a long-term opportunity to work with experienced professionals at the top of their respective fields and utilise the experience gained in a dynamic, people centric environment. We encourage flexibility in the workplace and remote working.

Team-work is vital to our company culture and we want everyone to enjoy the opportunity develop and grow with NatPower. We believe in independence, in fairness and sustainability.

We are looking for people with a shared vision and offer a strong base compensation and incentive package, including cash bonuses and plan to be designed which encompasses LTIP, insurances and other benefits depending on the role level.

The Role

The Development Manager will support the NatPower UK Development Director and team in managing the development of renewables projects across the UK (focussing on stand alone utility scale battery storage and large scale co-located solar and battery with onshore wind projects within the next period) and will be directly responsible for all the development activities of the projects, including site appraisal and feasibility (this will include working alongside our GIS manager), landowner negotiations, planning permissions (including management of external consultants), liaison with our grid connection manager, set-up and day-to-day management of the project management processes, procedures, and systems (planning, reporting, project development budgeting, etc). You will take full ownership of the development of the projects and report directly into the Development Director.

Job Activities Description

Some of these activities are performed coordinating the work of external consultants or internal team members.

Project Management

• Prepare and manage periodic internal meetings (e.g project development progress updates and strategy)
• Manage internal decisional tools (decision tracking), collect report on activities progression
• Support the integration of project reporting tools with decision making tools including project Gantt charts and development budget cashflow forecasts
• Support the identification of suitable external consultants. Oversee and manage their work and ensure compliance with the respective project engagement contracts
• Support with grid applications for transmission and distribution connected projects
• Undertake early stage assessment of prospective projects to identify and appraise planning, environmental and technical constraints, issues and opportunities
• Lead on land identification, stakeholder engagement, and negotiation of Heads of Terms
• Manage the relationship with landowners ensuring the project has all the necessary rights and the relationship remains commercial and supportive
• Manage the planning application process including liaison with local authorities, consenting bodies and statutory agencies
• Prepare and implement a stakeholder relations strategy for individual projects, including liaison with the public, community groups, elected members and the media
• Monitor current planning and environmental legislative and policy issues (nationally and locally) that may affect the company’s development activities, communicating this with the Development Director and managing appropriate responses
• Appraise and monitor technical, planning, grid, land, environmental issues and/or constraints at all stages of the development process, including managing the resolution and mitigation of arising issues
• Contribute to the project financial model inputs

Planning & Control

• Set-up and manage the projects development plan, setting up the individual project development strategy
• Generate the periodic management reporting including key development issues and development risks alongside possible risk mitigation

Project Development Budget

• Set-up and manage the individual project development budgets alongside the Development Director
• Generate the monthly project budget update reports and forecasts
• Manage the project development cashflows with a focus on cost optimisation
• Identify and propose opportunities for individual project cash flow optimisation

External Stakeholders and Advisors

• Manage payments to external advisors/consultants to ensure invoicing periods are optimised and payments are made accordingly
• Ensure compliance of all aspects of land agreements, grid connection agreements, planning processes, and all agreements with service providers for the development process.
• Monitor the performance of external advisors/consultants against standard procedures for suppliers management in compliance with Group standards
• Lead on local community engagement

What we are looking for:

• proven experience of project development for solar PV and/or BESS in the UK. (including site assessments, grid and technical understanding, planning process, etc.),
• good quantitative and qualitative skills in project management, technical risk assessment, financial risk assessment at project level.
• impressive impact with the team members for coaching and leading by example. Good motivator.
• organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Proven knowledge of the electricity market in the UK, including but not limited to interaction with grid operators, knowledge of the regulation for permitting, land agreement management.
• knowledge of solar/BESS technology and costs (e.g., panels, BOS, EPC, O&M). Basic knowledge of ancillary technologies. (e.g., batteries, T&D networks, hybrids, etc.)
• fully accustomed to work in an international corporate environment with very good interpersonal and communication skills, strictly following internal processes, respecting compliance policies, etc.

What's on Offer

benefits in line with NatPower UK policies.

Generous performance-based Bonus structure

Hybrid/remote working arrangements – role dependant