Europe's energy transition is about more than infrastructure. It's about people.
Every renewable energy project has the potential to create long-term value for local communities. Building that trust requires meaningful engagement, responsible development and sustainability that goes beyond environmental compliance.
At SUNOTEC, we believe successful renewable energy projects are built together with the communities they serve.
As an international system integrator of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure, SUNOTEC has delivered more than 680 projects with over 15 GW of installed renewable energy capacity and 6 GWh of battery energy storage projects across Europe and beyond. Our teams work across power generation, battery energy storage, grid infrastructure and lifecycle services, delivering the integrated energy systems that support Europe's green energy transition.
Sustainability is embedded in everything we do. Guided by our Sustainability Strategy and its three pillars — Climate, Land & Resources, and People — we work to ensure our projects generate lasting environmental, social and economic value.
As our Independent Power Producer (IPP) portfolio continues to grow in Bulgaria, we're looking for a Sustainability Project Manager – Community Engagement to join our team and support the Environmental & Social aspects of our renewable energy and battery storage projects, with a particular focus on Northeastern Bulgaria.
Why this role matters
Renewable energy projects succeed when they create value not only for investors and the energy system, but also for the communities where they are developed.
In this role, you'll help shape the social impact of our projects by leading community engagement initiatives, supporting environmental and social management, and building trusted relationships with local stakeholders. Your work will directly contribute to the successful development and long-term operation of renewable energy projects across Bulgaria.
What you'll own:
- Lead community engagement activities and act as a community liaison for IPP projects in Northeastern Bulgaria, working closely with local authorities, citizens, NGOs, landowners, businesses and other key stakeholders;
- Lead community investment initiatives, identifying valuable and sustainable opportunities that create meaningful local impact and supporting the negotiation of potential community benefit agreements;
- Monitor local discourse and stakeholder sentiment around existing and planned renewable energy projects and proactively engage when needed;
- Serve as the Environmental & Social (E&S) lead for renewable energy and battery storage projects, with a particular focus on IPP developments;
- Support the Project Development team in liaising with local authorities and obtaining relevant legal, permitting and project documentation;
- Maintain active communication with local authorities on legal, permitting and environmental matters;
- Assess sustainable land use opportunities during the early development stages of potential renewable energy projects;
- Manage community investment initiatives from planning through implementation, ensuring timely, high-quality delivery and measurable outcomes;
- Support the creation and implementation of project-level E&S management plans covering construction and operational phases;
- Contribute to broader sustainability initiatives across SUNOTEC, supporting the continuous development of our ESG strategy and community engagement programmes.
What will help you succeed:
- A degree in Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, Community Engagement, Social Sciences, Legal, Engineering or another relevant discipline provides a strong foundation for this role;
- Around 5–8 years of experience in community engagement, sustainability, ESG, stakeholder management or a similar field;
- Strong project and programme management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously;
- A broad understanding of sustainability topics and their practical application within infrastructure, renewable energy or large-scale development projects;
- Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to navigate sensitive, challenging and emotionally charged situations;
- A strong understanding of Bulgarian culture, communities and stakeholder dynamics, enabling you to build trust and long-term relationships;
- Good knowledge of Bulgarian administrative and authority processes;
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, allowing you to manage complex projects effectively;
- A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to work successfully in a fast-paced, evolving environment;
- Good English communication skills to collaborate with international teams;
- Previous experience with renewable energy permitting, environmental matters or legal documentation would be an advantage;
- Previous experience within renewable energy, infrastructure or large-scale development projects would be an advantage;
- Flexibility to travel across Northeastern Bulgaria approximately 50–75% of the time;
- A valid Category B driving licence;
- A genuine passion for sustainability, renewable energy and creating positive community impact.
What you'll find at SUNOTEC
You'll join a business delivering large-scale renewable energy infrastructure across Europe, working on meaningful projects that combine power generation, battery energy storage and grid infrastructure.
From your first day, you'll collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across project development, engineering, project management and sustainability, gaining exposure to the full lifecycle of complex energy projects.
As our business continues to grow, you'll have opportunities to expand your responsibilities and contribute to increasingly complex renewable energy and infrastructure projects.
In addition, you'll benefit from:
- A competitive remuneration package reflecting your experience and qualifications;
- Full-time employment contract;
- The opportunity to work in a dynamic, international and rapidly growing renewable energy company;
- Additional health insurance, including dental care;
- Multisport card;
- 24 days of paid annual leave;
- Modern office facilities in Sofia;
- A positive working environment with team events, memorable team buildings, a relaxation zone, free drinks at the office and additional employee benefits.
If you'd like to contribute to renewable energy projects that create lasting value for both the energy system and local communities, we'd like to hear from you.
Please send us your CV in English.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Your documents and personal data will be treated as confidential and will be protected in accordance with Bulgarian Data Protection Legislation and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).