Environmental Planner

Job Title : Environmental Planner Department : Environmental and Social Planning Location : Sydney, Australia – hybrid working arrangements Reporting to : Director of Planning, Australia and New Zealand 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 renewable energy and storage solutions. Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024. What you’ll do (the role) Summary We are seeking an Environmental Planner with approximately 2–3 years’ relevant experience to join Lightsource bp’s Australian Environmental and Social Planning team. This is an opportunity to build your career in renewable energy while contributing to the development of onshore wind, solar and battery energy storage projects across Australia. Supported by senior team members, you will help coordinate environmental planning and approvals activities, including early site assessment, environmental impact assessment, project approvals and pre-construction planning. The role offers exposure to a broad range of environmental and social matters; however, your initial focus will be on delivering clearly defined tasks and workstreams appropriate to your experience. You will collaborate with colleagues across Development, Engineering, Grid, Commercial, Construction, Asset Management, Legal, Land, and Community and Stakeholder Engagement. You will also be part of Lightsource bp’s wider global environmental and social planning community. Responsibilities of the Role Support environmental planning and approvals for onshore wind, solar, battery storage and associated infrastructure projects. Assist with identifying environmental, planning and social constraints, opportunities and applicable approval pathways. Coordinate consultant and technical inputs to environmental assessments, planning applications, referrals, permits and responses to regulator requests. Assist with preparing consultant scopes and tracking deliverables, programs, budgets, risks and actions. Review technical reports and approval documentation, with senior guidance, for quality, consistency and alignment with project requirements. Support engagement with government agencies, councils, communities, landholders, Traditional Owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, working with relevant internal specialists. Maintain accurate project records, including approvals, commitments, risks, actions and compliance evidence, and support the handover of obligations to Construction and Asset Management. Monitor relevant changes in legislation, policy and industry guidance, and contribute to team learning, process improvement and a strong culture of safety, integrity and environmental responsibility. Specialist assessments may cover areas such as biodiversity, bird and bat risk, cultural heritage, landscape and visual impact, noise, traffic and transport, water and soils, bushfire, aviation and telecommunications, social impact and cumulative impacts. You will not be expected to be a specialist in all these areas; instead, you will help coordinate expert advice and develop your knowledge with support from senior team members. Why you’ll make a great member of the team Experience and Knowledge Required Approximately 2–3 years’ relevant professional experience in environmental planning, environmental assessment, town planning or a related field. Experience contributing to development applications, environmental impact assessments, planning approvals, permit applications or environmental management activities. A foundational understanding of Australian environmental and planning legislation and approval processes. Exposure to at least one Australian state or territory planning system, or a demonstrated ability and interest in developing this knowledge. Experience coordinating information or deliverables from consultants, technical specialists or multidisciplinary project teams. Ability to interpret legislation, policy, technical reports and approval requirements with support from more experienced colleagues. An interest in renewable energy and a willingness to develop knowledge of onshore wind, solar and energy storage projects. Relevant experience may have been gained in environmental or planning consultancy, government, renewable energy, infrastructure, resources or a related sector. Desirable experience The following would be advantageous but is not essential: Experience supporting environmental planning or approvals for onshore wind, solar, battery storage, transmission or other infrastructure projects. Exposure to a major-project assessment process in an Australian jurisdiction. Familiarity with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Exposure to renewable-energy issues such as biodiversity, bird and bat risk, noise, landscape and visual impact, aviation, traffic or cumulative impacts. Experience working with government agencies, local councils or regional communities. Familiarity with geographic information systems and environmental constraints mapping. Exposure to biodiversity assessment, cultural heritage, land-use planning, environmental compliance or post-approval activities. Membership, or eligibility for membership, of a relevant professional body, such as the Planning Institute of Australia or Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand. Candidates are not expected to meet every desirable criterion. We encourage applications from people who demonstrate relevant transferable skills and a strong interest in developing their renewable energy experience. Skills Required Clear written communication skills and the ability to prepare accurate reports, correspondence, registers and presentation materials. Strong attention to detail and an organised approach to document and information management. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work constructively with colleagues, consultants, regulators, landholders and communities. Ability to manage several tasks, meet deadlines and seek guidance when priorities or requirements are unclear. A collaborative, proactive and solutions-focused approach. Curiosity and a commitment to ongoing technical and professional development. Sound judgement and the confidence to raise environmental, social, safety or compliance concerns. Full working rights in Australia. A current driver’s licence and willingness to travel to project sites and stakeholder meetings. Education Required A relevant tertiary qualification in environmental planning, town planning, environmental science, environmental management, natural resource management or a related discipline. What success looks like During your first year, success in the role will mean: Delivering assigned environmental planning and approval tasks accurately and within agreed timeframes. Effectively coordinating defined consultant and technical workstreams with support from senior team members. Maintaining complete, accurate and current approval, commitment, risk and action registers for assigned projects. Producing clear, well-organised project documentation that requires progressively less review as your capability develops. Identifying emerging issues, communicating them clearly and escalating them at the appropriate time. Building effective working relationships with project teams, consultants and relevant external stakeholders. Developing a practical understanding of renewable-energy planning and approval processes in the jurisdictions relevant to your projects. Demonstrating increasing ownership of defined workstreams while recognising when guidance or specialist advice is required. Applying Lightsource bp’s values and safety expectations consistently in your work. 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 recognised: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, superannuation 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 https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/