Senior Project Manager - Octopus Australia

Company Description

We’re excited to offer an opportunity to become part of the Octopus Australia team in our Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane office.

The successful applicant will join Octopus Australia on our mission to harness capital and expertise to accelerate the renewable energy transition.

We are seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead the delivery of utility-scale renewable energy projects (with Wind experience highly regarded) across Australia.

This role is accountable for the end-to-end delivery of construction-stage projects, from Financial Close through to Commercial Operations Date (COD). The successful candidate will act as an Owner’s Representative, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in line with Octopus’ commercial and technical objectives.

Octopus Australia

Established in 2018, Octopus Australia is a renewable energy fund manager and developer. Our dynamic multi-disciplinary team of over 65 highly skilled people have the expertise required to manage a renewable energy fund and operate a renewable energy and storage portfolio.

We have an existing multi‑GW portfolio of operating and development assets, including utility‑scale solar, wind and battery storage facilities across the country. We are continuing to grow to create a long‑term business that can deliver a firmed energy product to meet the evolving needs of Australia’s energy future.

Job Description

1. Project Delivery (Owner’s Representative)

Lead end-to-end delivery from Financial Close to COD for utility-scale solar, wind and/or BESS projects.

Deliver against baseline schedule, budget and quality, ensuring safe execution through commissioning and handover.

2. Commercial & Contract Management

Own EPC and major supply contract administration (notices, variations, claims and obligations).

Protect Octopus’ commercial position via risk management, governance discipline and dispute avoidance.

3. Planning, Risk & Issue Resolution

Manage the integrated schedule and critical path, including impacts from change and constraints.

Own risks, issues and mitigations; drive cross-functional resolution across engineering, construction, commissioning and grid interfaces.

4. Stakeholder, Grid & Partner Management

Manage internal interfaces and external stakeholders (NSPs, advisors, contractors, investors) to enable delivery.

Secure timely decisions, approvals and information flow to keep programme milestones on track.

5. Reporting, Governance, HSE & Improvement

Provide concise monthly reporting on progress, cost-to-complete, key risks/issues and mitigations.

Prepare governance and investor updates that clearly link technical status to commercial outcomes.

Lead a safety-first culture and continuous improvement in delivery practices, compliance and lessons learned.

Qualifications

Core Experience

8–10 years’ experience delivering utility-scale renewable energy projects (solar, wind, and/or BESS)

Proven track record managing construction-stage delivery of large-scale renewable projects (with Wind experience highly regarded).

Experience operating in Owner’s Engineer, Developer, EPC or Client-side roles

Technical & Commercial Capability

Strong understanding of EPC contracts, risk allocation, and construction commercial frameworks

Demonstrated ability to manage complex contractor interfaces and delivery risks

Ability to assess technical issues within a broader commercial and investment context

Leadership & Decision Making

Proven ability to lead complex, multi-contractor project environments

Ability to make independent, risk-based decisions under time and information constraints

Strong stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior and investment-level stakeholders

Qualifications

Tertiary qualification in Engineering (Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, or related discipline)

Strong working knowledge of Australian regulatory frameworks and standards

Eligibility to work in Australia

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

Delivery of projects within approved schedule and budget baselines

Maintenance of strong safety performance (zero harm objective)

Accurate cost-to-complete forecasting and risk management

Achievement of timely COD and effective handover to operations

Clear, high-quality reporting and stakeholder communication

Additional Information

What we offer

A competitive salary package including annual bonus

A generous contribution to your private health insurance, when you join the Octopus Australia-sponsored Medibank policy.

✈️ An extra five days’ annual leave entitlement

Hybrid working arrangement.

Ongoing learning and career development opportunities including a LinkedIn learning subscription.

Monthly mobile phone allowance.

️Access to our employee wellness program, including an annual wellness allowance and Headspace subscription.

Access to novated leasing

️ The opportunity to apply your skills to the renewable energy transition.

Octopus Australia has built an exciting and inclusive high-performance culture where employees feel empowered. We understand the value of diversity, and we are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace environment. We welcome people of all backgrounds to apply.

Our Values

At Octopus Australia we don’t just focus on what we do but also how we do it. Everyone shares our values of being straightforward, helpful, bold and empathetic. Our culture is critical to our success and is built around four principles that underpin how we pursue our goals:

We empower people to:

Be Bold – make decisions quickly and be OK changing your mind if it turns out there’s a better way of doing things.

Be Helpful – behave like it’s always day one and remember that without our customers, there is no business.

Be Straightforward – have opinions and express them in a way that’s respectful and easy to understand.

Be Empathetic – care about others and take the time to understand different perspectives. It’s about listening, supporting, and creating an environment where everyone feels valued – so we can send our people home happy.