Environment and Consent Lead

Join our rapidly growing and expert team at Copenhagen Offshore Partners, where we are leading the development and construction of offshore wind projects worldwide. At COP, we thrive on a fast-paced and exciting environment, working collaboratively and empowering our team members to make a meaningful impact on the energy transition. We are a bold, dynamic company with an unwavering focus on our people, enabling them with the skills, experience, and trust to make a difference - on the job and for our renewable energy future.

**Brief Description of the Position**:
We are looking for an **Environment and Consent Lead** to be part of the team developing Star of the South, Australia’s most advanced offshore wind project. Proposed to be located off the south coast of Gippsland, it has the potential to supply up to 20% of Victoria’s electricity needs, continuing Gippsland, and the Latrobe Valley’s proud history of power generation into the future.

As our new Environment and Consents Lead, you will take the lead on consenting activities on our projects in Australia and manage consultants undertaking Environmental Assessment work and other permitting/consents works to allow for the various phases of development, construction, and operation of our offshore wind pipeline in Australia.

As a part of the Global Environment and Consenting practice and reporting to the Head of Approvals, Australia, the Environment and Consents Lead works in a small team to help drive implementation of the assessments and approval.

The Star of the South project is undertaking a complex approval process with a combined Environment Effects Statement and Environmental Impact Statement.

The role is integral to obtaining community and industry views and reporting to inform the project’s decision-making, as well as the Project’s EIS/EES submissions to state and federal Government.

**You will support initiatives including**:

- Develop and implement project planning and approvals strategies, provide authoritative advice on strategic planning processes, and set clear direction and objectives to achieve approvals under relevant legislative processes.
- Oversee and coordinate assessments and approvals required for offshore, ports & harbours, and onshore related matters.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with regulators, external stakeholders, government agencies and other relevant bodies to understand project impacts and proposed mitigations, championing a collaborative approach towards project development.
- Ensure the project is compliant with its permitting responsibilities and obligations, working with colleagues to ensure appropriate controls, policies, and processes are adopted.
- Day-to-day management of the marine ecology program and offshore assessment consultants; and responsible for the management (cost control), optimisation and reporting of this spend against DEVEX budgets.
- Undertake continuing relevant professional development to assist with the understanding of best practice in relation to environmental and planning impact assessment and the global offshore wind industry.
- Participate in community and stakeholder engagement activities, especially when related to impact assessment processes or topics.

**To succeed in this role, you have**:

- Offshore wind experience ideally in development phase approvals.
- Demonstrated experience in major infrastructure project planning and delivery (or comparable field) and/or awareness of legislative instruments and policies relevant to the renewables sector.
- In-depth knowledge of environment planning and impact assessments, with a refined partnership approach and ability to persuade and influence.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in a suitable field of study to perform the duties of the role.
- Strong project management and ability to work across disciplines and deliver on priorities in a complex, ambiguous environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, along with excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Critical to success in the role will be a commitment to excellence, the ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, and relevant experience in offshore wind and/or within a major infrastructure project, preferably in the renewables sector.

**What we offer**

We provide a unique opportunity for you to build trust and take on significant responsibilities right from your first day. You will have the chance to work on complex renewable energy projects, contributing to the growth of our rapidly expanding organization. Joining our team means becoming part of a dynamic work environment, collaborating with over 400 employees from diverse backgrounds representing over 40 nationalities.

We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package - all of which we will be delighted to inform you of during the interview process.

**About COP**

We are a global leader in offshore wind project origination, developm