Project Development Manager - Solar & BESS

About the Company

Our client is a leading international solar and battery storage developer, part of a global platform backed by one of the world's largest energy companies. In Italy, the business has built a strong pipeline of ground-mounted PV and BESS projects, and is now shifting from a pure development model toward an independent power producer approach, following the lead already taken in other European markets.

With over 300MW moving toward financial close in the near term, including a first project reaching close imminently, this is a genuine opportunity to be part of a business scaling from origination through to construction and operation, rather than exiting projects at an early stage.

About the Role

The Italy team has grown quickly and is looking to add two Business Development Managers across its Milan-based teams. You will work across both legacy, advanced-stage projects heading toward financial close, and new greenfield origination in northern Italy, alongside selective opportunistic acquisitions further south. This is a full lifecycle role: from land acquisition and permitting through to financial close, with genuine autonomy and direct exposure to senior leadership from day one.

Responsibilities

• Lead land acquisition and stakeholder engagement with landowners, municipalities and grid operators
• Navigate the planning and permitting process independently, including managing applications with local authorities
• Coordinate across technical, financial and legal teams as projects progress toward financial close
• Manage project economics, including sources and uses, IRR impact of layout changes, and land agreement renegotiation
• Support route-to-market definition, EPC strategy and financial close preparation
• Work across both advanced-stage legacy assets and new greenfield origination in northern Italy

Qualifications

• Around 7 years of experience in renewable energy project development, with a strong preference for PV; BESS exposure is a plus (candidates with excellent, cross-functional exposure and slightly less experience will also be considered)
• Full cycle experience: land acquisition through to financial close
• Confidence negotiating directly with landowners and managing grid and municipality meetings independently
• Financially literate, comfortable with sources and uses and IRR-driven decision making
• Fluent Italian and strong English, and comfortable communicating with senior management
• A proactive, autonomous working style, and the emotional intelligence to work well within a close-knit, established team
• Wind-only or other non-solar technology backgrounds are less suited to this particular role

Required Skills

• Around 7 years of experience in renewable energy project development, with a strong preference for PV; BESS exposure is a plus
• Full cycle experience: land acquisition through to financial close
• Confidence negotiating directly with landowners and managing grid and municipality meetings independently
• Financially literate, comfortable with sources and uses and IRR-driven decision making
• Fluent Italian and strong English, and comfortable communicating with senior management
• A proactive, autonomous working style, and the emotional intelligence to work well within a close-knit, established team

Pay range and compensation package

Base salary in the range of EUR 70,000-80,000, depending on experience.

Annual bonus, paid consistently over recent years, plus a long-term incentive plan on top of cash bonus.

Hybrid working: 3 days in the Milan office, 2 days from home.

Meal vouchers and additional insurance coverage.

Equal Opportunity Statement

This suits someone who wants genuine ownership over projects and direct exposure to senior leadership, within a business moving decisively from developer to IPP. The team is tight-knit and has worked together for several years, so this suits someone who is proactive, takes feedback well, and is looking to build a long-term career within a stable, high-performing group rather than move on again quickly.