Principal Environmental Planner
Job Title: Principal Environmental Planner
Location: Milan
About Lightsource bp
Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy and storage projects. We are a 50:50 joint venture with bp with a mission to help drive the world’s transition to low carbon energy.
With solar set to increase tenfold in the next 20 years, we are well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. By joining the Lightsource bp team, you will ‘be the change’ on the world’s energy transition to a more sustainable future.
We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to push the boundaries of an ever-changing energy landscape. By choosing a career with us, you can expect a challenging and fulfilling role surrounded by people who are passionate and have brilliant ideas about sustainable technology, innovation and making the world a better place.
What You’ll do (the role)
Summary
You will be leading on environmental and planning matters for our development pipeline of solar PV and Battery Storage Facilities projects across Italy, as well as our future operational assets. The role will involve managing all aspects of the environmental planning process on projects, including site selection, feasibility assessments, individual project approaches.
We encourage close collaboration across teams and you will work closely with other internal teams, including development, design, construction, asset management and structured finance.
You will also be part of the wider global environmental planning community at Lightsource bp, with the opportunity to get involved in company level initiatives that interest you.
Duties and responsibilities
- Providing expert planning advice to inform decision-making on-project / portfolio acquisitions, greenfield strategy, including site selection and approaches taken on planning applications and stakeholder engagement
- Providing direction and support on approaches to community and stakeholder engagement and developing community benefit agreements with the support of Business Development.
- Management of consultant selection and tracking of key pipeline milestones
- Collaborating with relevant department Heads and Directors to progress our development pipeline to achieve our targets, including identifying and reporting on planning risks, and ensuring asks to other teams are clear
- Lead on high level relationships with external planning and environmental consultants – ensuring we receive expected value and quality
- Overseeing handovers to Construction and Asset Management, to ensure planning, environmental and social obligations during construction and operation are clearly detailed and understood
- Reporting and tracking progress on planning compliance matters on future operational solar farms, working with our Asset Management and Delivery teams
- Reporting to the Director of Environmental and Social Planning on resource, budget and key issues.
- Developing strong relationships with internal team members and being involved in maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders
- Feeding into and working with Director of Environmental and Social Planning on implementing departmental strategic objectives
Who we’re looking for
Knowledge
- Comprehensive working knowledge of the Italian planning systems
Experience & Education
- Extensive experience in planning (7+ years) – ideally with in house or consultancy experience
- Experience in ground mount solar PV or other renewables energy/infrastructure projects.
- Experience in delivering effective stakeholder and community engagement
- Degree in Environmental Sciences, Biology or Forest Engineering is required.
- Fluent Italian and English essential
Why you’ll make a great member of the team
Work & General skills
- Excellent technical, project management and communication skills with experience working with multi-disciplinary teams and cultures.
- Ability to motivate and lead a team
- Ability to evaluate and convey risks/opportunities to others in an effective manner
- Driven with a hands-on proactive approach to business, and the ability to be flexible and adapt rapidly.
Why you’ll want to work for us
Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow; a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible
Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.
Be recognized
Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.
Be inspired
Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. Initiatives to get involved with including our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project or our sustainability initiatives.
Our Core Values
Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.
https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/