Project Development Associate

Core Mission:

As a core member of our Japan business development team, you will lead utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project development from early-stage development through Ready-to-Build (RtB), while supporting project investment and financing activities in Japan.

The role will focus on building and managing a pipeline of utility-scale BESS projects, with the business targeting greenfield development, early-stage project acquisitions, and RtB investment opportunities across the Japanese market.

With significant investment committed to the development business over the coming years, this role provides an excellent opportunity for a proactive and entrepreneurial development professional to take ownership of large-scale BESS projects and contribute to the growth of the company's business in Japan.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Monitor and analyze the Japanese electricity market, including market structures, pricing mechanisms, JEPX, balancing markets, capacity markets, ancillary services, grid services, and relevant regulatory developments.
2. Identify, screen, and evaluate utility-scale BESS project opportunities, including greenfield, brownfield, and co-location projects at both pre-RtB and RtB stages.
3. Manage key project development workflows, including site selection, land acquisition, grid connection applications, environmental and planning permits, M&A activities, financial model inputs, and coordination of local resources.
4. Identify and originate new utility-scale BESS opportunities through various channels, including market intelligence, local developer networks, and data-driven approaches to identify potential projects and suitable land.
5. Oversee land acquisition activities, including direct negotiations with landowners and management of external land agents, consultants, and local partners.
6. Represent the company in discussions and negotiations with key external stakeholders, including utilities, local governments, relevant authorities, developers, consultants, landowners, EPC contractors, investors, and financial institutions.
7. Manage all aspects of the project development process, including grid connection, land acquisition, permitting, environmental studies, community engagement, stakeholder management, and project risk management.
8. Work closely with internal teams, including engineering, finance, legal, investment, procurement, and operations, to identify and mitigate project risks and implement solutions to maximize project value.
9. Work with internal technical teams and external consultants to support the grid connection process, technical assessments, and technical due diligence.
10. Create and manage project budgets, development schedules, and key milestones. Act as the internal project lead and oversee external consultants and development partners.
11. Support project investment and acquisition activities, including investment evaluation, commercial analysis, due diligence, transaction structuring, negotiations, and project closing.

Requirements:

1. Experience: Minimum 3 years in energy/power sectors, covering project development, technical, project M&A activities, and engineering management.
2. Skills:
3. Proven ability to deliver utility-scale renewable energy or BESS projects from inception through development and into the Ready-to-Build (RtB) stage.
4. Proven track record in Japanese utility-scale BESS or renewable energy project development, M&A, investment, or asset rotation.
5. Strong understanding of key aspects of project development in Japan, including:

• and acquisition and land rights
• Grid connection applications and utility coordination
• Grid connection costs and construction contributions
• Development and construction permitting
• Environmental requirements and local government consultation
• Project due diligence

1. Fundamental understanding of the technical, commercial, and financial factors required to develop a constructable and bankable utility-scale BESS project.
2. Experience in taking projects from RtB through Final Investment Decision (FID) and Commercial Operation Date (COD) will be considered a strong advantage.
3. Communication: Exceptional negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with developers, utilities, government authorities, investors, financial institutions, legal advisors, landowners, EPC contractors, and technical consultants.
4. Education: Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related fields.
5. Language: Fluent or business-level Japanese is required. Proficiency in English for communication within an international working environment is required. Chinese language skills will be considered a plus.