Head of Department Solar & Battery Storage, Service Area Renewables Northern Europe

DNV; Dresden; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global exposure

Leadership scope

International collaboration

Job summary

DNV, a leader in assurance and risk management, seeks a Head of Department for Renewables Northern Europe. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on business development, service innovation and the practical use of AI and digital tools to grow a scalable advisory business.

You will lead a 36-employee Solar & Battery Storage team across Northern Europe, driving growth, profitability and customer value, while shaping services to meet evolving market needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field; engineering background optional.
• Several years of leadership experience, including leading other leaders; experience in an international setting.
• Proven consulting, sales and commercial experience with ability to develop advisory or professional services.
• Practical understanding of AI, data and digital tools to enhance consulting services and client value.
• Professional fluency in English; additional Northern European languages are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute department strategy aligned with Renewables Northern Europe and Energy Systems.
• Own financial and operational performance; monitor, drive targets and improve delivery.
• Lead, coach and develop line managers; foster inclusive leadership and collaboration.
• Develop market-ready advisory services; align portfolio with customer needs and tech advances.
• Drive responsible AI, data and digital tool adoption across consulting and sales.
• Translate decisions into action; remove barriers and improve quality and speed.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deepen customer relationships and opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Consulting

Sales

AI & Digital mindset

English language

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

About Us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

About Us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence. As a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful organizations, we use our knowledge to advance safety and performance, set industry benchmarks, and inspire and invent solutions to tackle global transformations.

About Energy Systems

We help customers navigate the complex transition to a decarbonized and more sustainable energy future. We do this by assuring that energy systems work safely and effectively, using solutions that are increasingly digital. We also help industries and governments to navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry.

About The Role

Are you an inclusive and commercially minded leader who enjoys turning market opportunities into successful consulting services? We are looking for someone who combines strong leadership with a proactive, hands-on approach to business development, service innovation and the practical use of AI and digital tools. To achieve our strategic ambitions and remain future-ready, Energy Systems needs leaders who can build strong teams, develop relevant services and convert strategy into measurable results. Our Renewables Service Area is central to DNV’s ambition to enable a safe, efficient and accelerated energy transition. We support customers across the full project lifecycle, from early development through operations, helping them make decisions grounded in evidence, insight and trust. Our advisory services include feasibility studies, energy production assessments, due diligence, owner’s engineering, measurements and operational support for wind, solar and battery storage projects. The Solar & Battery Storage department is one of three units in Renewables. It delivers technical, analytical and commercial advisory services to developers, owners, investors, utilities and other stakeholders, supporting the development, financing, construction, operation and optimization of solar and battery storage projects throughout their lifecycles. The department serves customers across Northern Europe and is organized across four geographical areas: Benelux, DACH, the Nordics and Poland. We are seeking a Head of Department to lead the performance, growth and strategic development of our Solar & Battery Storage consulting business in Northern Europe. The department comprises three sections and one team, with a total of 36 employees. The ambition is to significantly grow the team in the years to come. The role reports to the Service Area Manager, Renewables Northern Europe. As Head of Department, you will set a clear direction, empower leaders and teams, and translate strategy into measurable priorities and action. You will be accountable for sustainable growth, profitability, operational performance and a strong, inclusive culture. A central part of the role is to anticipate evolving customer needs, challenge established approaches and turn promising ideas into scalable consulting services. Working closely with Service Area Leadership, Key Account Managers, Market Area Managers and Segment Leads, you will strengthen customer relationships, identify new market opportunities and reinforce DNV’s position as a trusted advisor in the energy transition.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership, sales and business growth: Define and execute the department strategy in alignment with the objectives of Renewables Northern Europe and Energy Systems. Translate strategic priorities into clear plans, build and manage a strong sales pipeline, and drive sustainable growth, profitability, order intake and market positioning across Northern Europe. Support strategic bids and key customer engagements to convert opportunities into profitable business.
• Department performance: Own the department’s financial and operational performance, including revenue, profitability, utilization, quality and delivery. Monitor performance, address issues early and implement effective actions to achieve agreed targets.
• Leadership of leaders: Lead, coach and develop the Line Managers within the department. Set clear expectations, enable sound decision-making and build an inclusive leadership culture based on trust, accountability, collaboration and continuous learning.
• Service and market development: Anticipate changing customer needs, market developments and emerging technologies. Constructively challenge the existing portfolio and ways of working, and turn promising ideas into differentiated, scalable consulting services and measurable business results.
• Consulting and customer value: Strengthen a consulting-oriented mindset across the department. Ensure that teams understand customer challenges, combine relevant expertise and deliver clear, actionable value.
• AI and digital leadership: Drive the responsible and practical adoption of AI, data and digital tools across consulting, sales and delivery. Encourage experimentation, identify scalable use cases and ensure that technology improves customer value, quality and efficiency.
• Execution and continuous improvement: Create momentum by translating decisions into action, removing barriers and following through on commitments. Foster proactive problem-solving and continuously improve quality, processes and delivery speed.
• Strategic collaboration: Partner with Key Account Managers, Market Area Managers, Segment Leads and colleagues across DNV to deepen customer relationships, create new business opportunities and mobilize the right expertise across organizational boundaries.

Location

Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Sweden or Finland. The role is expected to combine regular office presence with flexibility, in line with local arrangements and business needs.

Contact Person

Dr. Felix Weise, Service Area Manager, Renewables Northern Europe, [phone]

What we offer

• Meaningful leadership scope: Lead a multidisciplinary department of 36 employees across Northern Europe and directly influence its direction, culture and performance.
• Opportunity to shape the business: Develop consulting services in a growing market and turn emerging customer needs, AI and digital capabilities into practical business opportunities.
• International collaboration: Work across countries, disciplines and market areas, with access to DNV’s broad technical and commercial expertise.
• Purpose and trust: Contribute to the energy transition in an organization that values technical integrity, independent advice and long-term customer relationships.

We believe that diverse experiences and perspectives strengthen our business. If you are excited about this opportunity but do not meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion. Diversity is fundamental to our culture and we invite you to be part of this diversity.

About You

Qualifications and experience

• Education: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field. We welcome applicants from consulting, business, economics, technology, digital, energy or related backgrounds; an engineering degree is not required.
• Leadership experience: Several years of experience leading teams, preferably with experience leading other leaders, and evidence of building an inclusive, engaged and high-performing culture in a complex, international environment.
• Consulting, sales and commercial experience: Demonstrated ability to understand customer challenges, shape compelling value propositions, develop advisory or professional services, build and manage a sales pipeline, convert opportunities into sales and contribute to profitable growth.
• AI and digital mindset: Practical understanding of how AI, data and digital tools can enhance consulting services, customer value and internal ways of working. Deep technical AI expertise is not required.
• Language skills: Professional fluency in English. Additional Northern European languages are an advantage.

Personal Qualities

• Inclusive, empowering and credible leadership style
• Strong consulting, commercial and customer-oriented mindset
• Proactive and hands-on approach, with the ability to convert ideas into action
• Curious and critical thinker who constructively challenges existing services and ways of working
• Ability to lead and develop leaders across locations and disciplines
• Confidence to make decisions and take accountability for results
• Strong communication, collaboration and stakeholder-management skills
• Commitment to building diverse, engaged and high-performing teams

Security and compliance with statutory requirements in the countries in which we operate is essential for DNV. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as part of the offer process, in accordance with applicable country-specific laws and practices.