Development Manager

**Company Description**
The successful applicant will be able to join the Octopus Investments Australia team on their mission to accelerate Australia's transition to a future powered by renewable energy.

**About Octopus**

Octopus Group is one of the largest owners of renewable energy projects in Australia and Europe. It owns some 260 assets, on behalf of wholesale and institutional investors. Domestically, Octopus Australia is responsible for managing over $1 billion of assets for local and international investors.

Globally Octopus is on a mission to invest in the people, ideas and industries that will change the world. We have 2,500 employees and $25bn under management across investments, energy, ventures and real estate. From a standing start in 2010 Octopus grew its energy investment business rapidly to become Europe’s largest non-utility renewable energy investor and now has the equivalent of greater than $11bn energy assets under management. We also have one of the fastest growing energy retail businesses globally with almost 5 million customers.

**Octopus Investments Australia**

Established in 2018, Octopus Australia is a team of over 50 plus people across Melbourne, Sydney, and Auckland, and is growing rapidly. We have big ambitions to become the premier developer/owner/operator of renewable energy assets in Australia and have a strong pipeline of projects including solar, wind and grid battery storage across the country.
**Job Description** About the role**

You will be leading the development of renewable projects including wind, solar and battery storage that will need your stewardship through the development life cycle to financial close.

The role is based in our Melbourne or Sydney office - with site visits required to our development sites, stakeholders and communities. Our current portfolio consists of a mixture of greenfield through to late-stage assets, and with your help, we’ll be growing the pipeline to feed more projects into the construction phase.

Just as important as _what _you achieve in this role, is _how_ you perform the role. We’ll need you to be an engaged team member, who can cross pollenate your development expertise into an investment world. Be ready for a dynamic work environment, with a start-up mindset. You’ll be encouraged and supported to be bold in your thinking and leadership, whilst being a helpful colleague to those around you.

Flexible working arrangements are typical at Octopus with the team working from both home and office over the working week.

**Essential Job Functions**

**Project Development**
- Potentially anything that falls under the banner of Project Development from landowner liaison, development approvals, grid connection, EPC procurement, PPAs etc. Treat the projects as if they are your own.
- Assist the wider Investment Team through asset growth opportunities as required, including bringing your contributions and knowledge into project evaluations, acquisition bids, transaction and negotiation processes, due diligence work and supporting Investment Directors through internal approval processes.
- Develop sound relationships with relevant stakeholders including: landholders, community, regulators and policy makers.
- Manage project teams of multidisciplinary internal and external experts, including technical, planning, legal, grid, environmental and engineering advisors.
- Selecting advisors, consultants, OEMs and construction contractors (including EPC contractors), running procurement process and contract negotiations through to financial close.
- Negotiation of high value contracts including project construction (EPC) and transmission connection agreements.
- Manage the grid connection process, working closely with NSPs and grid consultants, to navigate the complexity of the technical, regulatory and commercial connection landscape.
- Manage the delivery of development works within allocated budgets in a timely, efficient and effective manner.
- Development of project execution plans including timelines, costs, risk assessments, communication of project financials and progress reports in a consistent manner across the assigned projects.
- Development of required inputs for management papers, board papers and commercial negotiations as required.
- Prepare and manage budgets for Capex and Opex, project schedules, and technical inputs into financial models, supporting overall project business case development.
- Support our fundraising efforts, including meeting with prospective investors, promoting the Octopus profile, and supporting our fund managers with development expertise as required.
- Support ongoing profile raising activities - networking with industry participants and at times engaging with energy policymakers to influence energy policy.

**Qualifications** Job Specific Experience/Technical Skills/Abilities**

**Ideally, you will have some or all the following qualifications, skills and experiences**:
**Outline of skills/exper