Development Planner - Renewable Energy in Birmingham

Our client is a pioneering provider of low‐carbon fuels, supporting the decarbonisation of road freight across the UK. With a focus on alternative solutions to diesel for heavy goods vehicles, they deliver advanced renewable fuel options and infrastructure to help major fleet operators transition to cleaner transport.

The company designs, builds and operates a growing national network of refuelling stations, working with many of the UK's largest logistics providers. Backed by significant investment, they are entering a high‐growth phase, expanding access to their refuelling infrastructure at key freight corridors and logistics hubs.

Their approach combines deep technical knowledge with a commercially agile team committed to helping customers meet sustainability targets without compromising operational performance.

As a result of the business's growth, they are now looking for an Engineering Manager. In this role, you will lead and develop a small team of technical subject‐matter experts covering cryogenics, field service, process, mechanical and process‐control disciplines who provide detailed expertise to support both day‐to‐day operations and project development and commissioning.

The role, with its reliance on strong leadership, problem‐solving and a form of escalation, ensures that technical engineering expertise is applied consistently across station design, operation, maintenance and upgrades, supporting the growth strategy while maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability and compliance.

• Leadership and Team Management

• Line‐manage and develop a team of 5 engineers across specialist disciplines.
• Provide technical direction, prioritisation and workload balancing, ensuring prioritised support across the Projects and Operations & Maintenance teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Provide clear, concise communication to the senior leadership team.
• Carry out Safety and Technical Competency (STC) assessments across the team, identifying competency levels, capability and training requirements.
• Own, develop and maintain relevant technical standards, procedures and body of knowledge, including oversight of technical document management systems and technical governance processes.
• Ensure compliance and conformance with all relevant regulations, codes, technical standards and best practices, including but not limited to COMAH, PSSR, DSEAR, ISO 16924 and 16923, IEC 61508 and 61511.
• Review, approve and sign off on technical designs, modifications and operating procedures.
• Lead the Management of Change (MoC) process, ensuring modifications are identified, risk assessed, approved and controlled effectively.

• Provide engineering oversight and assurance for new station builds, modifications and upgrades.
• Act as the technical authority for operational teams, ensuring solutions are practical, safe and cost‐effective.
• Support capital investment planning with robust technical input.
• Provide management direction and oversight for technical engineering projects at existing stations, including retrofits.
• Manage departmental budgets, forecasting and cost control to ensure value delivery and alignment with business priorities.
• Monitor engineering spends on technical projects, contractors and third‐party suppliers, ensuring effective use of resources.
• Provide technical assurance to station and equipment procurement to support value engineering and compliant solutions.

• Seek efficiencies and look at better ways of working.
• Partner with external suppliers, contractors and OEMs to ensure best practices and drive quality and reliable service solutions.
• Support the Head of Operations & Engineering and the CTO in developing clear, concise business cases, authority requests and investment proposals; as well as deputise where required.

Required Experience

• Degree‐qualified engineer (Chemical, Process, Mechanical or similar) or equivalent qualifications and experience; Chartered Engineer status preferred.
• Over 6 years' experience in the process engineering industry with a strong preference for the majority of that spent in LNG and/or cryogenic pressure systems applications.
• A fundamental understanding of technical engineering principles with experience of working with LNG and rotating machinery at small to medium scale.
• Strong people skills and proven track record in managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Involvement with wider business management teams, including experience of presentations to senior leadership and Board level.
• Strong understanding of UK safety legislation (PSSR, COMAH, DSEAR, PUWER).
• Experience of working in high‐hazard environments.
• Risk assessment and risk management, including HAZOP, LOPA & ALARP principles.