What you’ll do
(the role)

Summary

We are looking for an experienced planner with NSIP experience to lead and advise on our pipeline of NSIP and other projects. We have an ambitious pipeline of projects including large scale NSIP solar and energy storage projects across the UK and Ireland.

We are looking for a motivated planner, who is keen to work client side in the renewable energy industry in Lightsource bp’s in-house Environmental Planning Team. You will lead and advise on all aspects of a project’s life cycle, from initial site selection, application preparation, local authority liaison, stakeholder engagement, pre and post construction work.

NSIP experience is essential, with good knowledge of the Planning Act 2008, to lead projects, and develop our inhouse expertise.

We encourage close collaboration across teams including business 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

• Taking a key role in leading and managing the planning for NSIP scale and other projects.
• Developing Lightsource bp’s inhouse NSIP expertise.
• Providing expert planning advice to inform decision-making, identifying potential planning constraints which may impact site selection including desktop assessments, use of GIS tools and site visits.
• Managing the planning application process, including: project managing external consultant teams; reviewing and signing off content; collaborating with the internal Business Development, Design and Construction teams to define project design and detail, ensuring these respond to planning, environmental and community challenges and concerns.
• Reporting on planning progress and risks.
• Leading on stakeholder and community engagement for your projects – including running virtual and in person community engagement sessions, building relationships with case officers, Councillors and other key stakeholders.
• Undertaking handovers to Construction and Asset Management, to ensure planning, environmental and social obligations during construction and operation are clearly detailed and understood.
• Undertaking due diligence for potential M&A targets and reviewing warranties on project and asset divestments
• Mentoring junior staff and providing input into Team and Department strategy
• Developing strong relationships with internal team members and being involved in maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders, including politicians and Solar Energy UK

Who we’re looking for

Knowledge

• Comprehensive working knowledge of the UK planning systems, including the NSIP Development Consent Order (DCO) process in England, and the Development of National Significance (DNS) in Wales.

Experience & Education

• Extensive experience in planning (10+ years)
• Experience in ground mount solar PV preferrable, or other renewables energy/infrastructure projects.
• Degree level planning qualification required.
• MRTPI or IPI
• Fluent English essential

Why you’ll make a great member of the team

Work & General skills

• Excellent project management and communication skills with experience working with multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Driven with a hands-on, proactive approach to business, solutions focused, 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/