Development Manager

Job Description

The Welsh Development Manager will lead the development of a portfolio of renewable energy projects across Wales, including greenfield, co-development, acquisition and repowering opportunities. The role will be responsible for progressing projects from identification and feasibility through to planning consent and Ready to Build status.

The role requires strong project leadership, commercial awareness, stakeholder management and strategic judgement. The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior Development team, particularly across land, community and repowering, to ensure a coordinated and high-quality approach to project delivery across Wales.

The Welsh Development Manager will also act as the lead development representative for Wales on designated strategic initiatives, contributing to regional development strategy, policy engagement and portfolio planning.

The Welsh Development Manager will embody Nadara's values of Impact, Care and Connection, delivering projects that create long-term value for communities, landowners, the environment and the wider energy system.

Main Responsibilities

Delivering Impact

• Lead the development of a portfolio of onshore renewable energy projects in Wales, taking responsibility for progressing projects safely, efficiently and in line with business objectives.
• Manage greenfield, acquisition, co-development and repowering opportunities, ensuring each project is assessed and progressed through a robust development process.
• Lead the assessment and development of repowering opportunities within Nadara's existing operational portfolio, evaluating technical, environmental, planning, commercial, land and stakeholder considerations to maximise long-term asset value.
• Prepare and present key development decision materials, including PAR submissions, Go/No Go recommendations, site prioritisation assessments, early-stage feasibility reports, business cases and investment papers.
• Manage project programmes, budgets, risks and critical path activities, ensuring projects are delivered in line with governance requirements and agreed development milestones.
• Oversee accurate project reporting and development governance, including financial forecasting, risk tracking, milestone reporting and project updates within Planisware and other internal systems.
• Lead opportunity origination and screening activities, including greenfield site identification, acquisition evaluations and co-development assessments through desk-based reviews, mapping checks, early constraints analysis and input to commercial business cases.
• Identify opportunities to enhance project value through design optimisation, innovation, continuous improvement and alignment with Nadara's wider portfolio strategy.
• Act as the lead development representative for Wales on designated strategic initiatives, contributing to regional development strategy, policy engagement, portfolio planning and the continuous improvement of development processes and best practice.

Building Connection

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with landowners, communities, local authorities, statutory consultees, politicians, regulators, industry bodies and other key stakeholders, acting as a trusted representative of Nadara in Wales.
• Work in close collaboration with the Senior Development team, particularly colleagues responsible for land, community and repowering, to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to project development, stakeholder engagement and portfolio strategy.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and public consultation activities, working closely with Community, Communications, Public Affairs and Senior Development colleagues to deliver meaningful, transparent and well-managed engagement.
• Support the development and implementation of landowner engagement strategies, community benefit approaches and repowering plans, ensuring lessons learned and best practice are shared across the development team.
• Build effective working relationships across internal teams, including Development, Construction, Legal, Grid, Engineering, Asset Management, Operations, Finance, Procurement and HSSE.
• Support commercial negotiations with landowners, development partners, consultants, infrastructure providers and other external parties, ensuring project value is protected while maintaining constructive long-term relationships.
• Actively contribute to a positive, collaborative and inclusive team culture, sharing knowledge and supporting colleagues across the wider UK Development team.

Demonstrating Care

• Ensure environmental, social, community and landowner considerations are embedded into project decision-making, design evolution and development strategy.
• Manage the appointment and performance of external consultants, ensuring high-quality technical, environmental, planning and engineering outputs are delivered on time, within budget and to the required standard.
• Lead the preparation and management of key technical and regulatory workstreams, including grid connection applications, environmental assessments, aviation assessments, planning strategy, land agreements and other deliverables required to achieve Ready to Build status.
• Manage planning and regulatory processes, including planning applications, appeals, statutory consultation responses, planning conditions, Section 106 obligations and other post-consent requirements.
• Work with Operations, Asset Management and Engineering colleagues to ensure repowering projects are developed with a clear understanding of operational constraints, asset performance, programme requirements and long-term commercial value.
• Promote high standards of health, safety, security and environmental performance, ensuring compliance with Nadara's HSSE policies and effective management of consultant and contractor activities.
• Mentor and support junior team members where appropriate, helping to build development capability, confidence and best practice within the team.

Key Requirements

Experience and Knowledge

• Typically 7-10 years' experience in renewable energy development, infrastructure development, environmental planning or a related sector.
• Proven experience managing complex development projects through feasibility, planning, consenting and development milestones.
• Strong understanding of the Welsh planning and consenting environment, including engagement with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), local authorities and statutory consultees.
• Experience of onshore wind development is strongly preferred; experience of solar, storage or wider renewable infrastructure would also be beneficial.
• Experience of repowering projects, operational asset optimisation or redevelopment of existing infrastructure assets would be highly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with repowering renewable energy assets, including planning policy, land agreements, stakeholder engagement, technical design and community considerations.
• Good commercial awareness, with experience managing development expenditure, evaluating project opportunities and contributing to business cases and investment decisions.
• Strong understanding of the technical, environmental, planning, grid, land and commercial considerations associated with renewable energy development.

Skills and Behaviours

• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility across a wide range of internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including land, community, planning, engineering, grid, legal, operations and asset management colleagues.
• Ability to balance competing stakeholder interests while maintaining focus on delivering positive outcomes for projects, communities and the business.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• High levels of emotional intelligence, cultural awareness and professional judgement, particularly when working with local communities and sensitive stakeholder groups.
• Results-oriented and proactive, with the ability to drive projects forward, resolve issues and maintain momentum through complex development processes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and project management tools, with experience of Planisware, GIS platforms and development management software advantageous.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel throughout Wales and the wider UK as required.
• Welsh language skills would be advantageous but are not essential.

Living Nadara's Values

The successful candidate will demonstrate Nadara's values through the way they lead projects, manage relationships and contribute to the wider team:

Impact

Creating lasting value through the delivery of renewable energy projects that support the energy transition, strengthen Nadara's portfolio and generate positive outcomes for communities and stakeholders.

Care

Acting responsibly, prioritising health, safety and environmental stewardship, and ensuring communities, landowners and colleagues are treated with respect and consideration.

Connection

Building trusted relationships, fostering collaboration across teams and disciplines, and developing strong partnerships with communities, landowners, regulators and industry stakeholders.

Location: The role can be based in Cardiff or anywhere else in Wales and will require a good amount of travelling across the region and the country.

Salary Range: ABS 70k + variable bonus and benefits.