Project Development Manager M/F

Milan, Italy Potenza, Italy ● Permanent Contract ● Project development

Qair Italia develops, builds and operates wind, solar and storage plants in Italy. To support the growth of its pipeline, Qair Italia is looking for a Project Development Manager, reporting to the Head of Development.

You will be the go-to person for all aspects of your assigned projects, mainly at development stage: from origination and feasibility assessment, through the permitting process, up to Ready to Build (RTB) status and handover to the Construction team. You will proactively manage the three pillars of development - land, grid and permits - within scope, budget and schedule, in line with our strategy of taking part in competitive procedures (e.g. FER X).

The position is based in our Milan or Potenza office, with periodic presence at the Potenza office and frequent travel to project sites across Italy.

You are looking for a stimulating and empowering challenge, where innovation is rewarded? Join us and unleash your potential!

Main Tasks

• Identify, assess and propose new development opportunities (wind, solar, agrivoltaic, BESS), carrying out technical, economic and risk feasibility studies (land-use and environmental constraints, grid availability, preliminary yield analysis);
• Manage assigned projects from scouting to RTB, defining the most suitable permitting strategy (PAS, Single Authorisation, EIA/PAUR, national or regional procedures);
• Coordinate the preparation of design, environmental and landscape documentation, follow the Services Conferences and handle requests and comments from Authorities;
• Monitor changes in the national, regional and local regulatory framework (suitable areas, agrivoltaic rules, RES legislation) and assess their impact on the pipeline;
• Secure land rights (surface rights, options, easements) with the Land team, and obtain and maintain grid connection solutions (STMG/STMD) with the Grid Manager, in line with project timelines;
• Manage the budget, resources, schedule and risks of assigned projects, and report regularly on progress to management;
• Coordinate designers, technical, environmental and legal consultants and, where applicable, external co-developers, ensuring compliance with signed agreements and the quality and timeliness of deliverables;
• Provide project inputs and data to the Finance team for business plans, investment evaluations and bids in competitive procedures (e.g. FER X);
• Hand over projects to the Construction team and support it up to commissioning;
• Source and assess acquisition opportunities for projects at different development stages (up to RTB), supporting technical and permitting due diligence in M&A transactions;
• Manage relationships with Authorities (Regions, Municipalities, Heritage Offices, Ministries), landowners and local stakeholders, fostering the social acceptance of projects through site visits and local meetings;
• Support the optimisation of projects already in the pipeline and share your permitting expertise with colleagues.

Skills Required

The following skills are essential for the role:

• Proven experience in greenfield development of renewable energy projects in Italy (mainly wind and/or solar), from scouting to RTB;
• In-depth knowledge of national, regional and local RES permitting regulations (Legislative Decrees 387/2003 and 152/2006 as amended, suitable areas, etc.);
• Experience with grid connection requests and acceptance (Terna, e-Distribuzione) and with negotiating and managing land agreements;
• Strong project management skills (planning, budget and schedule control, risk management);
• Ability to manage several projects in parallel across different regions;
• Strong analytical, organisational and interpersonal skills;
• Autonomy, proactivity and result orientation in a fast-paced environment;
• Proficiency in professional Italian and English, written and spoken.

The following skills may help you stand out among applicants:

• Experience in managing the construction of utility-scale wind or solar plants up to commissioning;
• Experience with battery storage (BESS), agrivoltaic, hydrogen and/or Power-to-X projects;
• Knowledge of support and market mechanisms (FER X, MACSE, PPAs);
• Proficiency with GIS tools;
• Knowledge of French or other foreign languages.

This role may not be suitable for you if you are looking for a desk-based position with little travel, or if you prefer to focus on a single project or a single stage of development rather than steering several projects in parallel, from scouting to Ready to Build.

Benefits

• Gross annual salary between €40k and €70k depending on experience, plus an objective-based bonus (MBO);
• The opportunity to contribute to the growth of a fast-developing renewable portfolio within an international group;
• A collaborative, multicultural working environment with real opportunities for professional growth and training.

TYPE OF CONTRACT: Permanent Contract

JOB LOCATION: Milan or Potenza (Italy)