Executive Director Heat Networks

Chronos Energy; Hull and East Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Chronos Energy in Hull seeks an Executive Director to lead a growing heat network business through its next phase of development, commercial growth and transition into operation.

This senior role demands a strong commercial mindset, P&L ownership and the ability to shape long-term strategy, manage financial performance and build a robust operating business for the future.

Qualifications

• Executive-level leadership with board exposure.
• Experience in heat networks and energy/utility sectors.
• Proven P&L ownership, budgeting and governance experience.
• Track record in growing commercial value and long-term contracts.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and commercial leadership with overall financial accountability and sustainability.
• Develop and deliver growth strategies focusing on new connections, expansion and investment.
• Lead major commercial negotiations including customer agreements and energy supply contracts.
• Oversee capital delivery, contractor performance, costs, risks and milestones.
• Lead energy procurement to ensure reliable, sustainable heat supplies.
• Build and develop a high-performing team and scalable structure for growth.
• Oversee transition from project delivery to full network operation with compliant systems and service levels.

Skills

Executive leadership

Heat networks experience

P&L responsibility

Budgeting

Financial governance

People leadership

Vendor management

Heat network operations

Metering and billing

Ofgem regulations

HNTAS knowledge

Stakeholder management

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Executive Director to lead a growing heat network business through its next phase of development, commercial growth and transition into operation.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone with a strong commercial background, capable of driving business growth, managing financial performance and building the foundations of a successful long-term operating business.

Skills & Experience:

• Proven Executive or Board-level leadership experience, ideally within the energy, utilities or infrastructure sectors.
• Senior-level experience within the Heat Networks sector
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including P&L responsibility, budgeting and financial governance.
• A track record of delivering commercial growth and negotiating complex, long-term contracts and energy supply agreements.
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams and managing external delivery partners.
• Understanding of heat network operations, including energy procurement, metering and billing, customer service and asset management.
• Knowledge of Ofgem regulations and HNTAS would be advantageous.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior local authority representatives, customers, suppliers and industry partners.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and commercial leadership, taking overall responsibility for the business's financial performance and long-term sustainability.
• Develop and deliver the commercial growth strategy, identifying opportunities for new connections, network expansion and investment.
• Lead major commercial negotiations, including customer agreements and energy supply contracts.
• Oversee the capital delivery programme, managing contractor performance, costs, risks and key milestones.
• Lead energy procurement and ensure competitive, reliable and sustainable heat supplies.
• Build and develop a high-performing team, establishing the organisational structure required for future growth.
• Oversee the transition from project delivery into full network operation, ensuring operational systems, customer services and regulatory requirements are in place.