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Sustainability Project Manager - Community Engagement

SUNOTEC • Bulgaria • Added on Aug 27, 2026
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This role centers on bridge-building between large-scale renewable energy infrastructure and the local communities that host them. You will lead community engagement for solar and battery storage projects in Northeastern Bulgaria, acting as the primary liaison for authorities, NGOs, and citizens. Beyond communication, you will manage community investment initiatives and ensure projects meet rigorous environmental and social standards during development and operation.

Energy transitions are as much about social license as they are about engineering. By securing meaningful local impact and navigating the delicate balance of land use and stakeholder sentiment, you directly enable the deployment of 15+ GW of clean energy. This role transforms abstract ESG goals into concrete local benefits, ensuring that Bulgaria’s green transition is perceived as a shared success rather than a top-down imposition.

This suits someone who possesses deep local cultural fluency and the diplomatic finesse to handle sensitive public discourse. You should be a resilient communicator with a legal or environmental background who enjoys spending time in the field building long-term trust.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core mission involves acting as the primary interface between SUNOTEC's energy projects and the local communities in Northeastern Bulgaria. You will be responsible for leading community engagement strategies, monitoring local sentiment, and proactively addressing concerns from landowners, local authorities, and NGOs. Beyond communication, you will own the Environmental and Social (E&S) management of projects. This includes identifying sustainable land-use opportunities, managing community investment budgets, and ensuring that all project development activities align with international sustainability standards and local permitting requirements. Finally, you will serve as a strategic advisor to the Project Development team, providing critical insights into local administrative processes and helping to draft E&S management plans that cover both the construction and operational phases of energy assets.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this position, you will gain deep expertise in the social dimensions of the energy transition, moving beyond theoretical ESG to practical, field-based stakeholder management. You will learn how to navigate complex Bulgarian permitting and administrative frameworks within a high-growth sector. Exposure to the full lifecycle of Integrated Energy Systems, including solar PV and battery energy storage (BESS), will provide a unique technical foundation. You will also develop skills in negotiating community benefit agreements and measuring the social return on investment (SROI) for localized sustainability initiatives. Working within an international integrator offers a perspective on how global sustainability strategies are localized in specific regional contexts, providing a masterclass in change management and diplomatic communication.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings between 5 and 8 years of professional experience in stakeholder management, community relations, or environmental social governance. A background in social sciences, law, or environmental engineering is preferred to handle the multidisciplinary nature of the work. Cultural fluency is non-negotiable; you must have a profound understanding of Bulgarian community dynamics and the ability to build rapport with diverse groups, from rural landowners to high-level municipal officials. Fluency in both Bulgarian and English is essential for bridging local realities with international reporting standards. Because this role involves significant field presence, a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and a valid driving license are critical. You should be comfortable navigating emotionally charged public discussions with composure and empathy.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to move from conflict to consensus. Use your cover letter to provide a concrete example of a time you managed a sensitive stakeholder negotiation or turned community opposition into a collaborative partnership. Show an analytical understanding of the renewables landscape in Bulgaria, particularly the specific socio-economic challenges of the Northeastern region. Highlighting any previous experience with environmental impact assessments or local land-use laws will give you a significant edge. Align your application with SUNOTEC’s three pillars: Climate, Land & Resources, and People. Illustrating how you have balanced environmental compliance with social value in past roles will resonate strongly with their sustainability strategy.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on the Social (S) and Governance (G) aspects of ESG. Specifically, it addresses 'social license to operate,' ensuring that large-scale infrastructure projects are socially acceptable and beneficial to local populations. Environmental focus is also high, particularly regarding sustainable land use and biodiversity during the project development phase. You will ensure that battery storage and solar installations minimize ecological footprints while maximizing land-sharing benefits. Lastly, you will contribute to the transparency and integrity of the company's sustainability reporting by providing real-world data on community investments and the effectiveness of social management plans.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary hurdles is managing misinformation or resistance toward renewable energy projects. You will likely face 'Not In My Backyard' (NIMBY) sentiments and must be prepared to address complex concerns about land use and environmental impacts with factual, empathetic communication. Balancing tight project timelines with the slow, relationship-driven nature of community trust-building can be difficult. You will need to manage expectations between internal development teams and external stakeholders who operate on different schedules. Additionally, navigating the varying local administrative requirements across different municipalities in Northeastern Bulgaria requires high attention to detail and persistence to ensure all legal and permitting documentation is flawless.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a field visit to a project site in Northeastern Bulgaria to meet with local landowners or inspect the progress of a community-funded initiative. You might then hold a meeting with a municipal mayor to discuss permitting documentation. Afternoons are often spent on strategic documentation, such as drafting Environmental and Social management plans or analyzing local media and social discourse to gauge community sentiment. You will likely coordinate with the Sofia-based sustainability and engineering teams via video calls. Your day could conclude by preparing a briefing for the Project Development team, highlighting potential social risks or land-use opportunities discovered during your local interactions to inform future project iterations.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

As SUNOTEC expands its Independent Power Producer (IPP) portfolio, this role offers a path toward senior sustainability leadership or regional management. Successful execution could lead to a 'Head of Community Engagement' position covering broader geographies. There is also the opportunity to specialize in E&S Risk Management or Sustainable Development strategy, influencing how the company designs its energy systems from the ground up to be more socially inclusive. Given the international nature of the company, there may be future opportunities for cross-border knowledge sharing, leading community engagement frameworks for projects in Germany, the UK, or new emerging markets.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internal stakeholders include the Project Development and Engineering teams, who rely on your social and environmental assessments to design and permit projects effectively. You will also report to the Sustainability/ESG department to align local actions with corporate goals. External stakeholders are broad, ranging from local government officials and regulatory bodies to private landowners and business owners. Building relationships with local NGOs and environmental advocacy groups is also a key component of the role. Finally, you will interact directly with the general public and community leaders, acting as the 'face of the company' and the primary point of contact for any grievances or suggestions regarding local energy projects.

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