Planning Manager

Core behavioural responsibilities for all employees
 

Agility	We Lead with Agility
Integrity	We Act with Integrity
Excellence	We Empower Excellence
Care	We Value Care

 
Integration of our four core values into our employment processes and frameworks allows Elgin to recognise and respect individual employees for their personal contributions to their roles, their colleagues, stakeholders, and ultimately to the renewable energy sector. We see sustainability as every employee’s responsibility and weaving sustainable practices into our values is paramount to the culture we seek to create.The Role: 
In this role you will report to the Planning Project Manager. You will manage input and advise on all planning issues and requirements in-house for large-scale ground mounted Solar PV, BESS (Battery Energy Storage System), and Co-located projects that have obtained a grant of planning in both Ireland and UK, with an opportunity to work in other jurisdictions. You will progress projects through planning compliance, apply for additional planning applications as required, prepare the projects for construction and support any planning requirements during the operational period. There will be opportunities to support and advice the Development, Pre-Construction, Construction, and Asset Management teams in relation to planning requirements across the full development cycle. The role also includes management of project specific technical requirements which are required to progress projects to construction stage.  

Travel to sites will be required.
 
What you will do:  

• Reviewing planning applications prior to submission. Liaising with and assisting the Development team to address findings and foresee any potential planning issues that could arise during the Pre-Construction and Construction phases.
• Reviewing and advising on draft planning conditions.
• Managing the discharge of pre-commencement and compliance conditions.
• Managing submission of post-determination supplemental planning applications and amendments. 
• Preserving planning permissions.
• Obtaining the required permissions, permits, and licences from statutory bodies for cable connections, site accesses, ecology, and archaeology.  
• Obtaining topographical, geotechnical, and other surveys as required for the pre-construction phase. 
• Liaising with all sectors of the company as required for the above tasks - Development, Construction, Legal, Grid, Operations, and Asset Management teams, including external consultants, Local Planning Authorities, and statutory bodies to ensure the planning and permit requirements for projects are progressed and delivered in a timely manner.
• Advising and supporting the Elgin Transactions team in relation to the planning considerations for the purchase of early, mid, and late stage development Solar, BESS and Co-located projects.
• Providing other planning advice and support as required to the Elgin Transactions, Operations, Development, Grid, Construction, Asset Management, and Legal teams.
• Keeping up to date with planning requirements and policies across various jurisdictions.
• Supporting the Planning Project Manager in all areas of business.   
• Site visits as required

What you will need:

• A planning related post-graduate degree, or equivalent and be chartered (or in the processes of gaining chartership) with IPI or RTPI or relevant professional body.
• 5+ years’ experience with the planning processes in the Ireland & UK.  
• It would be useful to have experience of the development, pre-construction, and construction processes for ground mounted large-scale Solar PV, BESS, and Co-located projects.
• Have excellent critical and analytical thinking and enjoy problem solving.  
• Commercially astute and process driven. 
• Ability to manage relationships with multiple stakeholders effectively. and experience of working with multi-disciplinary teams on a range of complex projects. Excellent inter-disciplinary communication and presentation skills. 
• Strong time management, organisational and report writing skills. 
• High level of self-motivation and ability to work independently. 
• Proficient in the use of software packages including MS Office, MS Excel, MS Project. 
• High focus on setting priorities, keeping up with deadlines, communication, and organizational abilities. 
• Have excellent critical and analytical thinking and enjoy problem solving.