Head of Development & Operations

Head of Development & Operations

Location: Pisa, Italy

Salary : €60-75k + bonus & benefits

Term : Permanent, office-based with a minimum of 4 days per week in our Pisa office

About the Company

Greenfield is an international developer of renewable energy and digital infrastructure projects, active across the UK and Europe. Our teams identify, design and develop sustainable infrastructure projects across renewable energy, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centres. We manage the development process across land, grid, planning and permitting, technical design, legal and commercial workstreams, working with internal specialists, external consultants, landowners, utilities, authorities, investors and international partners. As our activities in Italy continue to grow, we are looking for an experienced professional to take responsibility for the day-to-day coordination of our Italian business and project development activities.

About the Role

We are seeking a Head of Development & Operations - Italy to lead and coordinate Greenfield's activities in Italy from our Pisa office. This is a hands-on management role for an experienced professional who can bring structure, accountability and pace to a growing development organisation. The successful candidate will coordinate the Italian team, oversee the progress of multiple renewable energy and data centre projects and ensure that the different development workstreams are aligned and progressing according to agreed priorities. The role sits between senior management and the project teams. It is therefore important that the candidate is comfortable both managing people and becoming directly involved when required to resolve issues, coordinate stakeholders and move projects forward.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the day-to-day activities of Greenfield's Italian office.
• Manage and support the Italian team, establishing clear priorities, responsibilities and deadlines.
• Coordinate the development of renewable energy, BESS and data centre projects across Italy.
• Oversee project progress across land, grid connection, planning and permitting, technical design, legal and commercial workstreams.
• Ensure that internal teams, consultants and external advisers are properly coordinated and working towards agreed project milestones.
• Maintain clear project programmes, action lists and development priorities across the Italian portfolio.
• Identify delays, development risks and critical issues early and drive the appropriate actions to resolve them.
• Coordinate relationships with landowners, municipalities, regional and national authorities, DSOs/TSOs, consultants, engineering firms and other project stakeholders.
• Support negotiations and commercial discussions related to project development, land, grid, consultants and strategic partners.
• Work closely with Greenfield's UK and European management teams to ensure alignment between the Italian business and the wider Group strategy.
• Prepare concise and effective reporting for Group management covering project status, priorities, risks, budgets and upcoming decisions.
• Monitor development expenditure and consultant costs, ensuring projects are managed efficiently and within agreed budgets.
• Support the recruitment, development and organisation of the Italian team as the business grows.
• Help implement efficient internal processes and working methods across the Italian business.
• Represent Greenfield professionally with partners, advisers, authorities and other external stakeholders when required.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of professional experience, preferably within renewable energy, energy infrastructure, real estate development, utilities, data centres or major infrastructure.

Required Skills

• Demonstrable experience managing multiple projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong project management and organisational capabilities.
• Experience dealing with permitting, grid, land, engineering, legal and commercial stakeholders would be highly advantageous.
• Good understanding of the Italian infrastructure development and permitting environment.
• Experience working with senior management, investors, international partners or multinational organisations.
• Strong people-management skills combined with a hands-on and practical approach.
• The ability to prioritise and manage several projects simultaneously in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong commercial judgement and an ability to identify what is critical to move a project forward.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Fluent Italian and English are essential.
• Confidence working daily in English with colleagues and partners across different countries.
• Availability to work from the Pisa office at least four days per week, with travel within Italy and occasionally internationally as required.

Preferred Skills

• Experience dealing with permitting, grid, land, engineering, legal and commercial stakeholders would be highly advantageous.
• Experience working with senior management, investors, international partners or multinational organisations.

Pay range and compensation package

The role provides significant responsibility and autonomy without the bureaucracy typically associated with larger organisations.

What we offer

• The opportunity to play a central role in the growth of Greenfield's Italian business and work on a significant portfolio of renewable energy, energy storage and digital infrastructure projects.
• The position offers direct exposure to Greenfield's international management team and the opportunity to work across complex projects involving some of the most important areas of infrastructure investment in Europe.
• The role provides significant responsibility and autonomy without the bureaucracy typically associated with larger organisations.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Greenfield is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees