THE ROLE
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting Starlight in designing and implementing the development strategy of renewable energy assets (not only solar PV), managing the existing and new relationships, and leading the operating activities in strict coordination with other divisions of Starlight and NextEnergy Group.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop detailed agricultural plans during the project design phase of agrivoltaic plants, including crop rotations, selection of plant species compatible with agrivoltaic infrastructure, and strategies for continuous improvement of agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability
- Collaborate with engineers and technicians to optimally integrate agrivoltaic infrastructures with agricultural practices tailored to each project, both in the design phase and in the context of the operation of the agrivoltaics system
- Assist the development team, during the project design phase, and the asset management team, after the completion of agrivoltaic installations, providing agronomic expertise to ensure the sustainability and productivity of the agricultural component of the projects
- Take a pivotal role in setting up the entire agricultural operation activity in advance, in order to be ready once the agrivoltaic pipeline under development enter into operation. This comprehensive responsibility includes establishing a robust supply chain and identifying potential customers, thereby creating a sustainable and profitable business model. The expert will ensure the project's compliance with regulatory requirements and lead initiatives that foster sustainable and environmentally respectful agricultural practices
- Plan and oversee agricultural activities (to be delegated to third party farmers) within the agrivoltaic installations, ensuring continuity of production and increasing productivity in accordance with the prescriptions issued by the entities involved in the authorization process of agrivoltaic plants
- Establish and maintain relationships with universities, research bodies and farmers associations. These collaborations will focus on identifying the best agricultural practices and the latest monitoring systems that can be integrated into our agrivoltaics operations. The Agronomic Expert will be instrumental in incorporating cutting-edge research and advancements into the agrivoltaic model, thereby contributing significantly to its ongoing evolution and the optimization of its implementation
- Apply his/her expertise to agrivoltaic projects across the various countries in which Starlight is active, starting from Italy. This global perspective will not only ensure the adaptation and implementation of global best practices but also enhance the role's visibility by contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide, also through the participation to sector conferences and research initiatives.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:
- Entrepreneurial approach and problem-solving mindset – development business needs strong adapting skills to a number of different scenarios in order to reach the target
- Project management mastering – development activities require strong capabilities to structure and then follow-up complex and overlapping processes, which entail the involvement of internal and external counterparties
- Delivery focus – it may sound obvious, but the ability to proactively churn through work at pace and deliver quality outputs really matters
- Excellent communication and commercial skills (in English, Romanian, and other languages if possible) – ability to organize thoughts in a way that others find them clear, compelling and commercially sounding is of paramount importance. And this is expected to be done well in writing, through grammatically correct communications as well as verbally
- Time management and prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage him or herself and workload is critical
- Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in the approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelled out in the job description
- Intellectual curiosity – the role embraces a broad and nuanced field and Starlight is looking for someone who is truly interested in the sector and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas into the team
- IT literacy – it is required to be comfortable with IT systems and working with data (an at least intermediate-level of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint is a must)
- Passion for the group mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy"
- Alignment with the group values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, or a related field
- Proven experience in managing agricultural operations, preferably within the context of renewable energy integration
- Strong understanding of sustainable agricultural practices and regulatory compliance
- Excellent relationship-building skills with academic institutions, farmers' associations, industry partners, and international stakeholders
- Fluent in English, with proficiency in additional languages considered a plus.
WHAT WE OFFER
- A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn
- International scope – we operate in over 8 countries
- Hybrid working - we consider remote work
- Annual discretionary bonus.
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in this opportunity, please follow the link to apply or send your application to careers@nextenergygroup.com. If you have been shortlisted for the next stage, we will be in contact within 14 days.
By selecting “Apply” or sending us your CV, you indicate you have read and acknowledged NextEnergy Group’s Candidate Privacy Notice.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of our values. Our entrepreneurial culture inspires us to try new things, be open to different viewpoints and be bold. Our Group is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of connectedness that values difference and gives space for individual expression. The collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent and hard work form the bedrock of who we are and who we aspire to be.
We are committed to equal employment and advancement opportunity irrespective of race, color, ancestry, social background, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity.