Head of Commercial Engineering, UK and ROI

Lightsource bp; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job description

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.

Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What You’ll do (the role)

Summary

Commercial Engineering

Lightsource bp’s Commercial Engineering Team provides technical support across all areas of the global organisation and for projects being developed across the globe.

Contributing to and supporting all areas of Lightsource bp’s Project Delivery capability, focusing on projects in all phases: early development, pre-construction, and construction.

Role Summary

The role involves the autonomous management of a diverse and growing team and providing technical support to a growing pipeline of projects in the EMEA region and internationally. It requires close collaborative working with the development and construction teams using high-level communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills to ensure the success of projects in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The position requires both technical and commercial knowledge, as well as strategic planning skills, the ability to form strong working relationships, and develop and manage teams across different jurisdictions and timezones. A strong network of contacts, and knowledge of the contractors, consultants, and equipment suppliers is essential to success in this role, as is the necessary expertise and drive to contribute to the rapid growth of our development and construction pipeline.

Duties and responsibilities

• Overseeing a pipeline of renewable energy projects in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Leadership & Management

• Management of a team of Senior and Engineering Managers and co-ordination of internal and external input and stakeholders.
• Lead and mentor teams, including recruitment, retention, line management, professional development, and pastoral care.
• Promote country cross-fertilisation of best practice through CE Team, such that best practice on both technical and development items is fed through across regions and functional teams.
• Promote project centricity - engage with the Country/BD heads, to check on the pipeline/projects progress, review with the team the priorities and ensure that technical risks and views are properly recorded and mitigated.
• Undertake site visits to both new greenfield sites and sites under construction.

Commercial Engineering

• Ensure that CE Team is the Single Point of Contact for all technical advice required on the UK development pipeline and bringing in specialist input/support from Engineering Centre of Excellence, Procurement, Construction, and Grid, as needed.
• Ensure CE Team follows all projects from the outset and proactively leads technical effort until FC and then throughout construction until PAC.
• Accountable for all technical aspects of the development process, (including M&A), financial close, and ensuring engineering compliance to contracted standards post-FC during construction.
• Institutionalise and monitor functional (technical) assurance framework.

Technical

• Promote ongoing development and maintenance of the LCOE modelling tool to professionalise design optimisation, ensuring that the integrity of Energy Yield Assessments (EYA), LCOE optimisation, and analysis for projects.
• Ensure 100% of Solar PV and BESS projects in the country reaching FNTP and/or FC, or which are earmarked for potential Sale process, have each undergone an optimisation exercise to maximise value for LSbp.
• Oversee and/or support the assessment of new technologies (modules, inverters, structures), development of Basic Design, including instructing layouts and SLDs, and EPC contract technical appendices.
• Support on engineering analysis of curtailment, performance evaluation of solar, BESS and wind projects in the pipeline.
• Ensure LSbp’s construction Project Management function is supported across all technical aspects during Detailed Design review, the construction period and Works Completion and PAC milestones.

Commercial

• Lead technical Due Diligences (acquisition and/or financing) and supervise the management of internal and external service providers – including technical and commercial negotiations with consultants to drive project value when necessary.
• Review EPC contractor bids, reports, orders, etc. for compliance with Owner’s Requirements and EPC Contract appendices – including negotiating value engineering and other technical aspects with the contractors on behalf of the project.
• Develop and foster strong working relationships with the local development and construction teams and at global level to support business development and project delivery.
• Maintain a strong network of Technical Advisors (LTA, OE, other) and manage the relationships to drive efficient delivery and value for money for LSbp.
• Coordinate and manage Technical Advisors (OE, LTA, etc) locally and benchmark internationally with other Heads of country in the CE team.
• Forge new relationships and maintain networks of internal and external stakeholders, including service providers to stay abreast of market trends and technical industry best practices.

Who we’re looking for

Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of PV generating technologies and constituent components (modules, inverters, structures, trackers, etc).
• Strong experience in the development and delivery of EPC contracts, including Technical Appendices.
• Experienced in the development and delivery of PPAs, Grid Connection Agreements and technical inputs to Financial Models.
• Experienced in simulation software including PVsyst or similar (AutoCAD, ArcGIS or other Solar, Wind or Battery (BESS) modelling software is a plus).
• Good knowledge of the main players in the industry (Technical Advisors, investors, EPCs, TSO/DNOs, OEMs etc).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• Masters in Renewable Energy or related field preferable.

Experience

• At least 8 years of experience in Renewables in the UK, with a strong focus on Solar PV.
• Proven track record of working in a similar role, with 3+ years of experience in leadership role, developing and managing teams.
• Experience in undertaking Energy Yield Assessment (EYA) and good knowledge of pertinent factors affecting PV plant performance.
• Experience with large-scale Solar PV and BESS in the region, working either on the Developer, EPC Contractor, or Technical Advisor side.
• Experience/expertise in wind, LDES and/or hydrogen technologies is a plus.

Why you’ll make a great member of the team

Personal

• Excellent technical skills.
• Proactive, autonomous, flexible, and driven.
• Forward thinking, a problem solver and solution provider.
• Proactive and being able to prioritise workload.

Team/Management

• Strong leadership and management capabilities.
• Able to promote a positive working culture within the wider UK development team.
• Strong organisational and good communication skills both verbal and written.
• Strong experience implementing and maintaining new systems, tools, processes across area of responsibility.

Other

• Fluent English spoken and written, with additional languages being a plus.

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow; a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible

Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.

Be recognized

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.

Be inspired

Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. Initiatives to get involved with including our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project or our sustainability initiatives.

Our Core Values

Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.