Land Development Manager (UK)

Rivan Industries (Rivan.com) is a synthetic fuel company designed to decarbonise heavy industry. We aim to make synthetic fuel cheaper than fossil fuels and sustain life on earth by keeping the CO2 locked underground. We design and manufacture modular synthetic fuel plants consisting of a DAC system, an Alkaline Electrolyser, and a Sabatier Reactor, whilst vertically integrating with off-grid DC solar and the European gas-grid. We've recently deployed the UK's largest synthetic fuel plant and are planning to 1000x this scale in the next 2 years.

We're looking for a Land Development Manager to accelerate our origination strategy and grow our renewable UK energy pipeline. This is a role for someone who can operate independently, both working through land agents and self-sourcing land directly for our solar and synthetic fuel energy parks. You'll lead UK site selection strategy and framework agreements with land agents, and use a deep understanding of the energy market to negotiate land access agreements in line with project requirements. The role is UK-focused but works in close alignment with our colleagues in Spain and Portugal to share resource and strengthen our wider origination strategy.

The role:

• Identify, analyse, and evaluate potential sites for renewable energy projects that meet the company's strategy in collaboration with in-house GIS and wider development team including early screening for gas grid capacity and planning constraints.
• Meet with landowners and their agents to discuss land access agreements with a view to securing long term exclusivity, including assembling parcels held across multiple owners working through title related issues including unregistered land, restrictive covenants etc.
• Negotiate and secure Landowner Agreements and subsequent Option Agreements for development sites in consultation with wider business support functions.
• Negotiate and secure easements and other land agreements as necessary for renewable energy sites.
• Collaborate with legal and wider team throughout the land acquisition process to de-risk agreements.
• Review land title due diligence in conjunction with legal and development support to ensure land acquisition decisions are appropriately considered.
• Maintain accurate records of land agreements, contracts, and communication as necessary within each project.
• Collaborate with project development to ensure land acquisition strategy and rights afforded align with wider project and company timescales and budget.
• Assist with pre-submission boundary and title reviews as part of planning application submissions.
• Assist with community engagement strategy as required by the development team.
• Collaborate with external legal and interested associated parties (e.g. utilities) during post consent, lease entry discussions to ensure exercised legal agreements are afforded appropriate rights.
• Collaborate with the internal construction team and development team to ensure Option Agreements are exercised at the appropriate time for technical, construction, legal, or planning obligations.
• Stay up to date on emerging land/planning/origination trends across the UK where related to Rivan's interests.

Core skills:

• 5+ years professional experience in large-scale renewable and infrastructure land origination desirable, however other infrastructure and housebuilding origination will be considered.
• Able and willing to travel, meet with and represent Rivan to land agents, solicitors, land owners, farmers and relevant interested parties necessary.
• Bachelor's or Master's in a related field.
• Must have a clean driving license.
• Experience and aptitude for brilliant first-principles thinking and strategy.

Specifics:

• Significant share options as part of the early team.
• In-person work at our HQ in Bermondsey, South London.
• Extensive relocation support, including £6,000 per year extra to live close to our HQ.
• Private health insurance.
• Unlimited time off.