About the job

Formative is partnering with an Independent Power Producer in Japan, backed by a leading private equity fund, to hire a Project Development Manager. This role focuses on developing renewable energy projects from the greenfield stage through permitting and pre-construction, with a strong emphasis on navigating Japan’s regulatory landscape and engaging with stakeholders at local, prefectural, and national levels.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Identify potential development risks and prepare preliminary due diligence lists of critical permits and local regulatory requirements.
• Lead meetings with local and prefectural offices to clarify development approval processes.
• Manage and execute permitting workstreams to secure all required authorisations for the successful development and construction of renewable projects.
• Oversee permit- and community-related due diligence for acquisitions of development-stage projects.
• Drive the agricultural land conversion process, where applicable for greenfield projects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local landowners, community leaders, and government stakeholders.
• Communicate project timelines, milestones, and risks effectively with internal teams and senior management.
• Conduct site visits and manage on-the-ground activities across Japan as needed.

 
Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in project development within Japan’s renewable energy sector (solar, wind, storage, or related).
• Strong track record of obtaining land rights and securing local, prefectural, and national permits for energy projects.
• Deep understanding of Japan’s regulatory framework for renewable energy development, including agricultural land conversion processes.
• Proven ability to manage due diligence processes for both greenfield and acquisition projects.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills with local stakeholders and authorities.
• Fluency in Japanese (native or near-native) and proficiency in English.
• Willingness to travel frequently to project sites across Japan.

 
Interested candidates are invited to submit their CVs to [email protected].

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