Environmental Planner

Job Title: Senior Environmental Planner Department: Environmental & Social Planning Reporting to: Head of Environmental Planning Portugal Location : Lisbon We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development. For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise. Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security. Lightsource bp operates with five core values: Safety , Integrity , Respect , Sustainability , and Drive . We seek to attract and hire individuals who share our commitment to creating a safe workplace, uphold the highest standards of integrity, and demonstrate respect for colleagues, communities, and the environment. Our recruitment process promotes sustainability by valuing long-term growth and responsible practices, while seeking candidates with the drive to innovate and lead in the global energy transition. Together, these values shape how we engage, assess, and welcome talent to join us in delivering transformational solar power solutions worldwide. Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024. What you’ll do (the role) Summary Working on environmental and planning matters for our growing Portuguese pipeline of utility scale solar farms, you will work closely with our Portuguese development team and other internal teams, as well as external co-development partners. The role will involve working on all aspects of the planning process. The focus will be on the management of environmental processes ongoing within the portfolio, liaising with local authorities and engaging and managing consultants to prepare environmental assessments and planning applications/amendments. It will also include initial site assessment of new development leads and due diligence of acquisitions at various stages large scale solar energy projects across Portugal. Role and Responsibilities Identifying and reporting on environmental and permitting risks, requirements processes and timeframes across project pipeline. Due diligence assessments - reviewing environmental planning/permit applications and authorisations Planning constraints analysis, including desktop assessments, use of GIS tools, and site visits. Close management of consultants in the preparation of environmental and planning assessments and management plans Manage ecological monitoring activities, ensuring compliance with industry best practices Undertaking stakeholder engagement for new solar farm developments (including managing consultants and attending meetings and consultation events) Engaging with environmental authorities Preparing technical specifications and consultant scope of works for contracts undertaking post-construction planning compliance audits for operational assets. Analyze relevant upcoming legislation and assess its potential impact on our projects Undertaking post-construction planning compliance audits for operational assets Travel around the country for site visits, community information events, and meetings with planning authorities is likely. Why you’ll make a great member of the team Knowledge/Experience Applicants must have a solid knowledge of the Portuguese environmental and planning system; At least 5 years experience of managing environmental planning applications Experience working on renewable energy projects, including wind or similar infrastructure/development will also be a benefit Experience in using GIS tools for constraints mapping (ArcGIS or similar) Personal qualities Excellent technical, project management and communication skills to manage the assessment and preparation of planning applications, EIAs and management plans. Ability to foster teamwork and assume increasing responsibilities Fluent Portuguese and English Full driver’s license Education and Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree or higher (master’s degree) in Environmental Engineering, Biology or Forest Engineering is required 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 projects are responsible. 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. These include our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project, or volunteering on our VIBES committee to name a few. 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. For further information on our career opportunities and life at Lightsource bp, please visit Why you’ll want to stay with us At Lightsource bp, you’ll work within agile, cross-functional teams where diverse perspectives come together. Our culture embraces open knowledge sharing and collaboration, empowering you to learn from others and accelerate progress collectively. Your career growth is our priority and a shared journey. We are committed to developing talent from within and prepare you for career advancement so you can shape a fulfilling and lasting journey here. In today’s fast-changing world, a learning mindset is essential and therefore we proactively support upskilling to help you push your skill boundaries and stay ahead in your field, so you can not only keep pace with change but confidently shape a brighter future. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation related to LSbp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us to request accommodations.