Commissioning and Asset Adoption Manager in Bristol

Vattenfall is one of Europe’s largest producers and retailers of electricity and heat. Our main markets are Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the UK. The Vattenfall Group has approximately 21,000 employees. We have been electrifying industries, powering homes and transforming life through innovation for more than 100 years.

The (Quality), Commissioning & Adoptions Manager is responsible for leading the commissioning, operational readiness and adoption process for new, modified and adopted heat network assets within the region. The role ensures that assets are technically complete, safely commissioned, properly documented, operationally ready and suitable for acceptance into live operation. The title may be applied as Commissioning & Adoptions Manager or Quality, Commissioning & Adoptions Manager depending on the regional structure, project pipeline, asset base and the extent to which the role is required to provide technical quality assurance.

Where the Quality title is applied, it reflects responsibility for asset quality, installation standards, commissioning evidence, documentation quality, defects, snags and operational acceptance. It does not replace the Project Manager, designer, contractor QA function or wider ISO quality management arrangements. The role acts as the operational asset receiver and provides the link between Delivery and Operations during design, construction, commissioning, handover and early‑life operation. It provides the operational and technical view of whether the asset, commissioning evidence, statutory records, handover information, asset data, residual risks and operating arrangements are sufficient for adoption.

The role works with Operations Managers, Project Managers, Engineering, HSSEQ, Commercial, Customer Operations, Asset Management, contractors, designers, developers and specialist commissioning providers. It supports both internally delivered projects and assets adopted from third parties, ensuring that networks, energy centres, substations, risers, laterals, HIUs, meters, controls and associated systems meet Heat UK’s safety, operational, quality and maintainability expectations.

• Lead the regional process for commissioning, operational readiness and adoption of new, modified and adopted heat network assets.
• Act as the operational asset receiver during the transition from design to construction and from construction to operation.
• Provide operational input during design and construction to ensure access, maintainability, isolation, metering, controls, resilience, water quality, commissioning and handover requirements are properly considered.
• Participate in design reviews, HAZID, HAZOP, commissioning reviews, operational readiness reviews and handover gateways.
• Develop, review and agree commissioning plans, commissioning strategies and acceptance criteria with project teams, contractors and Operations.
• Witness key installation, pre‑commissioning, commissioning and performance testing activities where required.
• Confirm that commissioning records, test evidence and performance data are suitable to support operational acceptance.

• Develop, maintain and apply regional adoption requirements for commissioning evidence, O&M documentation, statutory records, asset data, training, spares, maintenance requirements, operating procedures and early‑life support.
• Coordinate onboarding of new assets with Operations and, where relevant, support Customer Operations with onboarding of new customers.
• Review handover information including O&M manuals, as‑built drawings, commissioning records, test certificates, valve schedules, control descriptions, cause‑and‑effect information, water quality records, pressure systems information, electrical certification and maintenance requirements.
• Maintain an adoption tracker showing the status of commissioning, documentation, asset data, training, snags, residual risks, statutory compliance and operational readiness.
• Ensure residual risks, incomplete items or conditional acceptance matters are formally recorded, accepted, owned and tracked.
• Where Quality forms part of the regional role, review whether installed assets meet agreed technical, operational, safety and quality requirements.
• Work with project teams, contractors and Operations to close out commissioning issues, quality concerns and adoption conditions.
• Conduct post‑adoption reviews and ensure lessons learned are fed back into future project requirements and commissioning standards.

• Work across matrix teams with Delivery, Operations, Engineering, HSSEQ, Commercial, Customer Operations and Asset Management.
• Advise external developer teams, contractors, designers and consultants on Heat UK’s commissioning, adoption and operational requirements.
• Communicate adoption status, blockers, risks and required decisions clearly and in a timely manner.
• Support asset evaluation activity where networks, customer connections or third‑party assets may be adopted or acquired.

• Experience in commissioning, asset adoption, operational readiness, technical assurance or operational handover within district heating, building services, utilities, energy centres, process plant or similar infrastructure.
• Ability to interpret technical design information, commissioning records, O&M manuals, specifications, controls narratives, statutory certificates and asset data.
• Understanding of maintainability, operability, access requirements, isolation philosophy, commissioning logic, defects management and early‑life support.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and supporting regulations, including CDM, DSEAR, PSSR, PUWER, LOLER, COSHH and L8.
• Experience contributing to HAZID, HAZOP, design reviews, commissioning reviews or operational readiness gateways.
• Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to challenge professionally where delivery pressure conflicts with operational readiness, asset quality or safe adoption.

• Experience with heat networks, energy centres, substations, risers and laterals, HIUs, metering, water treatment, BMS/SCADA, pressure systems, mechanical services or electrical services.
• Experience working with developers, contractors, consultants and specialist commissioning providers.
• Experience using asset management, document management or commissioning tracking systems.

• Technically credible, practical and operations‑minded.
• Structured, organised and detail‑focused.
• Confident in challenging incomplete evidence, poor‑quality installation or unresolved commissioning risks.
• Collaborative across internal teams and external partners.
• Calm under pressure and able to protect operational readiness where completion deadlines are challenging.

Degree, HND or equivalent experience in Engineering, Building Services, Commissioning, Operations, Asset Management or a related discipline. Relevant commissioning, operational readiness, asset adoption, quality or technical assurance experience. IOSH, NEBOSH, SMSTS, commissioning, asset management or technical compliance training is desirable.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the role, within their skills and abilities.

Our Offer: Good remuneration, a challenging and international work environment, and the possibility to work with some of the best in the field. You will be working in interdisciplinary teams and you can always count on support from committed colleagues. We offer attractive employment conditions and opportunities for personal and professional development.

Commitment to Diversity: Vattenfall is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of family‑friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums and services to support all our employees. Vattenfall works actively for all employees to have the same opportunities and rights regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, transgender identity or expression, religion or other belief, disability or sexual orientation.