Project Development Manager - Environmental & Land Planning

PERMITTING, ENVIRONMENT & LAND LEAD (JAPAN) Location: Tokyo, Japan Company: Confidential (on behalf of a leading international renewable energy developer) Function: Development Reporting to: Development Director THE CLIENT Taylor Hopkinson is supporting a confidential, well-capitalised international renewable energy platform with a growing footprint in Japan. The business is actively developing a pipeline of utility-scale BESS, solar PV, and onshore wind projects, with strong backing and long-term market ambitions. THE ROLE We are supporting the hire of an Environment, Permitting & Land Lead to take ownership of all environmental, permitting, and land access workstreams across the client's Japan portfolio. This is a critical, standalone role responsible for de-risking projects from a permitting and land perspective across the full development lifecycle, through to construction handover. The position will act as the strategic owner of EPL-related risks, ensuring compliance, land security, ESG alignment, and close coordination with internal engineering, grid, and development functions. The role offers strong autonomy, with responsibility for managing external consultants and stakeholders, and the opportunity to build and lead an in-house team as the platform scales. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Define and implement permitting strategies across greenfield development and project acquisitions Interpret national and local regulatory frameworks and assess associated project risks Anticipate regulatory changes and evaluate their impact on project feasibility Identify, prepare, and manage permit applications across BESS, solar PV, and onshore wind projects Lead engagement with regulatory authorities, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and timelines Identify and secure land opportunities, conducting due diligence and risk assessments Negotiate land agreements including leases, easements, and access rights with landowners and local stakeholders Oversee environmental compliance from development through to construction, including coordination of environmental studies and mitigation strategies Ensure alignment with ESG standards set by investors and stakeholders, managing community and stakeholder engagement processes Manage external consultants and advisors, including tendering, contracting, and budget control Provide structured reporting on development progress, including risk analysis for internal decision-making Build and maintain long-term relationships with landowners, municipalities, regulators, and other key stakeholders REQUIREMENTS 8+ years' experience in land development and/or renewable energy permitting in Japan Proven track record of successfully navigating complex permitting processes Strong understanding of Japanese land-use regulations (BESS and solar experience preferred; wind advantageous) Solid knowledge of environmental and ESG frameworks Demonstrated experience managing external consultants and advisors Ability to operate independently with a strategic, risk-aware mindset Strong ownership mentality and accountability Experience working within an international or multinational reporting environment Native-level Japanese language capability is essential Business-level English proficiency OPPORTUNITY This is a high-impact role within a growing international platform, offering the opportunity to take ownership of a critical function in one of Asia's most active renewable energy markets. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping project success and enabling future pipeline growth in Japan. For a confidential discussion, please contact Taylor Hopkinson.