Job Title: Senior Business Development Manager - Brazil
Department: Development Brazil
Reporting to: Country Head Brazil
Location: Sao Paolo
About Lightsource bp
We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.
For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.
Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.
Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.
What You’ll do (the role)
SUMMARY
Based in São Paulo, with regular trips to the project regions, as Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for leading the commercial and strategic development of solar energy projects, from early-stage prospecting through to financial close and handover to construction. Your role will be key in expanding our renewable energy portfolio and securing new opportunities in Brazil.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
Greenfield Development Phase (from project origination until first PPA is secured)
- Support the “Development Manager – Greenfield Projects” in the definition of assumptions for the Business Plan before first/anchor PPA is secured (be it in government auctions or CPPAs);
Brownfield Development Phase (from first PPA secured until financial close)
- Accountable, as “project owner”, for development of the brownfield solar projects until Financial Close (i.e, until signature of long-term debt, typically with BNDES/BNB);
- Accountable to deliver the target project financial metrics at financial close (especially max equity check, IRR and NPV);
- Responsible for projects monthly Databook updates, along with all teams involved in development, collecting, analyzing and validating the inputs for the financial model;
- Responsible to coordinate the pure development activities so as to reach the ready-to-build permitting status (environmental, land, regulatory, grid connection etc);
- Responsible for organizing the project dataroom and Q&A processes for the Due Diligence to be carried by lenders, independent technical advisors, providers of Letter of Credit, insurance companies, investors etc;
- As a result of DD processes, support the negotiation of Condition Precedents related to the development of project for the drawdown of Debt, issuance of LCs etc;
- Support in the preparation of commercial and tender documentation especially for EPC, Independent Technical Advisors and PPA – Request for Proposals, Head of Terms, Contracts along with Legal team and Head of Development;
- Responsible for the coordination with the rest of the team of LSbp ensuring project deliverables, especially legal, environmental, land, procurement, engineering, construction, finance, PPAs.
- Ensure that projects are compliant with all regulatory requirements;
- Responsible for the project schedule and coordination of all the necessary works in order to achieve projects milestones in the right time, most importantly the financial close.
- Responsible for the projects budget management, until financial close, allocating resources according with project development requirements and ensuring no costs overruns;
- Responsible for elaboration of presentations to the company executives for follow-up/decision making/etc related to the project;
- Responsible, at financial close, for the hand-over of the projects to the Construction Team;
Construction Phase (starting at financial close until commercial operation) • Support the construction manager especially for the accomplishment of the CPs that will allow the first disbursement of the long-term debt (typically with BNDES/BNB);
- Support the analysis of “Return of Experience” / “Look Back” to be done when project reaches commercial operation and capture the lessons learned to improve the development of brownfield projects.
Asset Management / O&M Phase (starting at commercial operation)
- Support the analysis of “Return of Experience” / “Look Back” to be done at end of warranty period, especially concerning opex and revenue stream assumptions so as to capture the lessons learned to improve the development of brownfield projects.
Who we’re looking for
QUALIFICATIONS
- Undergraduate degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, or related fields;
- Fluent in Portuguese and English, both spoken and written.
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
- Solid experience in business development for utility-scale Solar PV projects in Brazil;
- Proven track record in managing the full project lifecycle — from greenfield development to financial close;
- Strong negotiation skills with landowners, partners, and public stakeholders;
- Experience working with cross-functional and cross-jurisdictional teams;
- Familiarity with regulatory, permitting, and grid connection processes in Brazil;
- Ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders;
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word);
- Willingness to travel to project sites and stakeholder meetings.
Why you’ll make a great member of the team
PERSONAL QUALITIES
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to build relationships and trust with a variety of stakeholders
- Driven with a hands-on proactive approach to business, and the ability to be flexible and adapt rapidly.
- Ability to identify, evaluate and communicate risks in an effective manner
- An ability to see opportunities for improvement and execute on these
- Strong multitasking ability and capacity to meet deadlines
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written;
Why you’ll want to work for us
Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow; a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you
We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible
Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.
Be recognized
Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.
Be inspired
Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. Initiatives to get involved with including our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project or our sustainability initiatives.
Our Core Values
Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.
https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/