Project Development Manager in Leeds

We have an exciting opportunity for a Project Development Manager to join the Energy Team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers.

Benefits

• Competitive salary (£50,622 - £63,277) depending on experience
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to £1,000 for the performance year)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Development opportunities aligned with the Project Development Manager progression plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, plus 2 extra wellness days
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• Health cash plan, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more

Location

This role will initially be based in Bradford but will move to Leeds Valley Park in summer 2026. Hybrid working is typically 1–2 office days a week with ad hoc site visits.

What we do

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. We look after communities, protect the environment, and provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, playing a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity. New environmental legislation, unprecedented investment and changing expectations from customers make it an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Energy Team is key to meeting changing expectations of customers and regulators. The Energy Projects team sits in Kelda, the parent company of Yorkshire Water, and is part of the wider Commercial Services Team. The team delivers energy projects to meet the goal of 40% self‑generation by 2030 while supporting initiatives around EV deployment, power resilience and heat recovery/use. This is achieved by delivering new assets and optimising existing ones. The team also supports the wider business with innovative projects that add value from assets, raw materials and waste products. The department handles commercial and contractual arrangements across the supply chain and delivers world‑class contract management processes.

Where you fit in

As our Project Development Manager, you will:

• Identify and champion opportunities within the energy sector that can deliver value for Yorkshire Water and the wider Kelda Group.
• Develop robust business cases supported by market research, technical analysis and evaluation of emerging technologies and innovative commercial models.
• Act as the primary liaison with the Yorkshire Water Innovation Team, fostering strong collaboration and ensuring alignment between innovation initiatives and business objectives.
• Engage with stakeholders across the organisation to understand operational challenges, uncover opportunities for improvement and identify where innovative technologies, processes or partnerships can drive tangible benefits.
• Lead the development and implementation of a business‑wide waste heat strategy, identifying opportunities to maximise energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and unlock value from existing assets.
• Work collaboratively across departments to translate business needs into practical and innovative solutions, supporting strategic and operational goals.
• Build, nurture and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, creating a culture of trust, collaboration and shared success to enable effective delivery of energy and innovation initiatives.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies and market developments to keep Yorkshire Water at the forefront of innovation and sustainable energy practices.
• Promote a proactive and forward‑thinking approach to problem‑solving, encouraging the adoption of new technologies and innovative ways of working across the business.

What skills & qualifications you will need

• Proven experience (3+ years) in renewable energy, heat or related areas, ideally within a regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of contracting and project development methodologies.
• Knowledge of electrical and heat infrastructure.
• Financial and commercial model development.
• The ability to translate commercial theory into understandable asset and commercial structures.
• Ideally knowledge of the UK water industry and its regulatory/engineering standards.
• Experience supporting the delivery of energy related projects that are delivered safely on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.
• Familiar with relevant health, safety and environmental standards and regulations.
• The ability to read and interpret technical drawings, specifications and contracts.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office.
• Relevant qualifications in construction management, engineering or related fields preferred.

We operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but we support flexible working patterns and job‑share options where possible to help you balance work and home life.

Closing date for this role is the 14th of July 2026. Successful candidates will be required to undergo pre‑employment checks including a Basic Disclosure Check and may need a security vetting process. All roles are subject to a medical questionnaire and further medicals when required. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer adjustments to make the application experience comfortable and straightforward. If you have an accessibility need, disability or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. Kelda Group reserves the right to close this position before the published closing date.