Head of Engineering in Leatherhead

The Head of Engineering - Heat will be responsible for driving the development and delivery of strategic heat and utilities projects from pre-contract stage through to implementation to some of the most prestigious developments in the UK. You will be the ESP subject matter expert across all design matters on heat networks, directly accountable for the technical development of projects, bringing engineering rigor to the pre-sales and pre-contract stages.

This includes managing the pre-contract process, developing innovative strategies and concepts, reviewing and approving consultant designs, and working closely with both ESP commercial, delivery, and operational teams as well as equivalent teams from our partners, to ensure our solutions are technically robust, commercially viable, deliverable, and ultimately contracted.

You will be responsible for:

• Developing energy strategies, commercial and technical business cases that meet ESP financial requirements to enable the growth of the ESP heat portfolio.
• Supporting the ESP commercial team to present strategies to internal, external and customer stakeholders and be ESP representative in key industry forums.
• Helping develop ESP technical strategies and specifications to be compliant with Heat Network Technical Assurance Compliance.
• Supporting the business change, implementation and operational teams with development of pre-contract design, engineering and delivery systems and processes, and taking a key governance role to ensure once implemented, these processes are adhered to.
• Leading change readiness and handover to operational teams, ensuring processes and systems are embedded and business-as-usual readiness is achieved.
• Coordinating and managing data flows for third-party service providers for network operations, metering & billing, and CRM, ensuring contractual and business performance standards are met prior to contract execution.
• Delivering high-quality customer experience across all touchpoints.

Key Responsibilities

• Be the SME for all heat project initiatives. Using your in-depth technical knowledge and relationships with consultant teams, technology providers and regulators you will lead the ESP response to the emerging and ever evolving heat initiatives within the heat market.
• Produce in-depth business cases for new scalable and repeatable products and offerings as commercial opportunities arise.
• Responsible for project and program management of complex projects during RIBA stages 1 to 3, managing the internal and external teams, including client design and development management teams, our technical consultants, and industry stakeholders in the delivery and implementation of projects to time and budget.
• Collaborate with client teams to define heat strategies aligned with decarbonization targets.
• Assess opportunities for 4th and 5th generation heat networks and integrated energy systems.
• Evaluate heating and cooling generation options (e.g., heat pumps (air, water, ground), waste heat recovery, heat network zoning).
• Drive innovative, low-carbon design solutions that meet regulatory and sustainability goals.
• Scope, tender, review, make tender recommendations, and manage the external design and/or project management teams appointed to undertake detailed design works on behalf of ESP.
• Oversee and manage feasibility studies, concept design, and technical due diligence acting as overall design approval authority for these systems.
• Work with and support the ESP Head of Network Design to establish the protocols and systems for simple network design, design variations and design approvals to be conducted via in-house personnel.

Business Case Development

• Establish, prepare, present and implement detailed business cases to internal and external senior stakeholders including revenue projections and tariff structures, operational, capital, and lifecycle replacement costs, risk analysis and sensitivity modelling.
• Identify and structure third-party funding opportunities and financial models.
• Prepare final P&L and reports for the board to enable project approvals.

Funding & Grant Applications

• Manage and coordinate applications for government and industry funding schemes such as Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES), and other regional or national grant programs.
• Ensure compliance with eligibility criteria and reporting requirements.

Project Readiness & Regulatory Oversight

• Working with the ESP Regulatory, Business Change, Operational and Compliance Teams to establish the systems needed for pay as you go, meter data management and customer relationships management platforms.
• Ensure that safe, compliant and efficient heat network assets are specified correctly and meet design, regulatory and operational specifications.
• Work closely with project delivery and operational teams to review designs, installation plans, commissioning processes, and handover to operations including development of full asset management plans to ensure smooth and seamless handovers from pre-contract to delivery, and subsequently to operations.
• Support the Manager of Heat network Operations on post-installation and asset inspections and acceptance processes to verify assets are installed in accordance to the agreed design specifications, including support with compliance, completions and records assurance.
• Identify and resolve issues related to asset performance, durability, and lifecycle management.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Manage relationships with client teams and senior decision-makers, internal technical and commercial teams, regulators and statutory bodies.
• Represent the business in industry forums, conferences, and working groups.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to senior client stakeholders and boards.
• Act as a thought leader in heat and utilities, and on behalf of ESP contribute to national policy discussions and the development of industry best practice.

Qualifications & Experience

• Essential: Proven experience in heat networks, district energy, or utilities infrastructure. Strong understanding of low-carbon technologies and heat network design principles. Ability to develop financial models and business cases for major projects. Familiarity with UK heat policy, regulatory frameworks, and funding schemes. Excellent stakeholder management and presentation skills.
• Preferred: Chartered status in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, or related discipline. Professional accreditation (CEng, PMP, APM). Experience with 4th and 5th generation heat networks and integrated energy systems. Knowledge of grant funding processes and public sector procurement.