--- title: Principal Environmental Planner canonical: https://csrjobs.club/jobs/lightsource-bp-principal-environmental-planner-rzcw locale: en description: Lightsource bp is hiring a Principal Environmental Planner on CSR Jobs. Discover this in-house sustainability role and apply today. updated: 2026-10-12 company: Lightsource bp country: Australia contract: Full time seniority: Senior missions: Compliance, Stakeholders engagement, Strategic planning job_type: Sustainability Compliance Manager, Climate & Biodiversity Manager posted: 2026-10-12 valid_through: 2026-12-12 apply: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4477284256 source: CSR Jobs --- # Principal Environmental Planner This role takes full ownership of the environmental and planning lifecycle for utility-scale clean energy assets across Australia. Working client-side, you will steer site selection, secure critical development consents, and guide projects smoothly from early feasibility through construction and commercial operation. Developing large-scale solar, wind, and battery storage systems is vital to decarbonising the grid, but success hinges on balancing clean power with strict ecological and social stewardship. You will **safeguard local ecosystems and regional communities** by embedding rigorous environmental assessments, mitigating biodiversity impacts, and maintaining transparent dialogue with local authorities and stakeholders. This suits someone who is a seasoned Australian planning specialist passionate about driving the clean energy transition through practical, responsible infrastructure development. ## Job FAQs ### What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role? The Principal Environmental Planner leads planning and environmental approvals across the entire asset lifecycle, ensuring projects move seamlessly from concept to operational status. Key responsibilities include evaluating prospective greenfield sites, coordinating comprehensive environmental impact statements, and navigating statutory planning frameworks across various Australian federal, state, and local jurisdictions. Beyond statutory compliance, the role acts as an internal advisor to project development, engineering, and construction teams. You will manage specialist technical consultants, negotiate permit conditions with government authorities, and engage proactively with host communities and landowners to uphold strong social license throughout construction and post-construction phases. ### Key learning opportunities for this job Joining an international utility-scale developer exposes you to advanced clean energy deployment, combining large-scale solar photovoltaics with battery energy storage systems (BESS) and onshore wind. You will gain deep commercial insight into how environmental planning directly affects project finance, risk profiles, and commercial operation deadlines. Additionally, being part of Lightsource bp’s global environmental and social planning network provides collaborative exposure to worldwide best practices, emerging nature-positive initiatives like agrivoltaics and biodiversity net gain frameworks, and cross-border sustainability standards. ### How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)? The ideal candidate brings at least seven years of relevant statutory planning experience, ideally gained within renewable energy development, major infrastructure, or environmental planning consultancies. Strong command of Australian planning legislation, including state-significant development pathways and the Commonwealth EPBC Act, is fundamental. Essential attributes include proven project management capabilities, commercial acumen, and superior stakeholder relation skills. A degree in town planning, environmental planning, or a related discipline is required, with Planning Institute of Australia (MPIA) accreditation viewed favorably. ### Advice to stand out and make a successful application Highlight your direct track record in securing planning approvals for complex infrastructure, particularly utility-scale renewables, energy storage, or linear assets. Emphasize how you successfully resolved contentious environmental or community issues during assessment processes. Articulate your familiarity with state-specific frameworks (such as NSW SSD processes) and your ability to work effectively client-side alongside engineering, finance, and land acquisition teams. Tailor your application by reflecting Lightsource bp's values around safety, respect, and long-term sustainable growth. ### What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on? The core of this role lies in enabling the clean energy transition by delivering responsible decarbonisation infrastructure. Your work directly contributes to scaling renewable capacity while ensuring projects avoid, minimize, or offset detrimental impacts on biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Furthermore, the position focuses heavily on social sustainability and stewardship. You will integrate meaningful community consultation, respect Cultural Heritage values, and help implement company-wide ecological innovations such as land dual-use and biodiversity improvement on operational sites. ### What are the main challenges someone in this role might face? Navigating dynamic regulatory environments and planning bottlenecks across diverse Australian states presents a continuous challenge. Managing tight development timelines while ensuring thorough environmental assessments can create operational friction. Balancing technical and commercial objectives against strict regulatory conditions and local community concerns often requires high diplomatic acumen. Overcoming localized opposition and securing grid-adjacent land with minimal ecological sensitivity demands creative problem-solving. ### How could a typical day look like for someone in this position? A typical day might start with reviewing technical reports, such as ecological surveys or heritage assessments, submitted by external environmental consultants. You will collaborate with development and engineering leads to optimize site layouts and mitigate identified environmental constraints. In the afternoon, you might hold discussions with state planning departments, consult local councils, or prepare materials for public community meetings. Time is also regularly dedicated to tracking approval milestones, updating risk registers, and exchanging insights with the wider planning team. ### What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role? As the renewable energy market expands, this position offers significant leadership potential within the Australia and New Zealand business unit. You can progress into broader strategic planning director roles or lead specialized environmental, social, and governance (ESG) functions across the region. There are also international pathways within Lightsource bp and bp’s global low-carbon business, providing opportunities to lead cross-border environmental planning frameworks, strategic policy development, or major transnational infrastructure initiatives. ### The main stakeholders you might be interacting with Internally, you will collaborate closely with the Director of Planning ANZ, business development teams, civil and electrical engineers, structured finance professionals, and site construction managers. You act as the key link between technical project design and regulatory viability. Externally, key interfaces include federal, state, and local government planning authorities, environmental protection agencies, specialist technical consultancies, host communities, traditional owners, and private landowners. --- Source: https://csrjobs.club/jobs/lightsource-bp-principal-environmental-planner-rzcw