Heat Network Lead

Southern Housing; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Housing is seeking a Heat Network Lead to manage and enhance the organisation's heat network portfolio. The role involves analysing technical, operational and financial data, delivering metering/billing programmes and handling resident inquiries with strong Excel and reporting skills.

The position supports hybrid working with on-site presence at two offices and requires experience in district heating, metering, and energy sector engagement with residents and internal teams.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering utilities services.
• Proven ability to analyse data and produce insights.
• Experience with procurement and financial management in a utility context.

Responsibilities

• Respond to day to day enquiries on the heat networks.
• Complete regulatory returns and data collection for heat metering/billing regulations.
• Maintain the heat metering working group.
• Develop and monitor performance metrics for energy use, affordability and KPIs.
• Analyse data to assess retrofit viability and support retrofit programmes.
• Assist in metering and billing strategy development.
• Diagnose performance issues using asset data.

Skills

Utilities delivery

Data analysis

Procurement

Financial management

Stakeholder management

Customer service

IT skills

Job description

About The Role

We’re looking for a motivated and capable individual to join our team as a Heat Network Lead.

Reporting to the Heat Network & Energy Manager, you will play a key role in managing and enhancing Southern Housing's heat network portfolio. You'll analyse technical, operational and financial data to assess network performance and help deliver our heat metering and billing programme. You'll also act as a key point of contact for resident enquiries relating to heat networks and billing.

We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, bringing previous experience and a genuine passion for heat networks, district heating, metering and billing, and the wider energy sector. You will have strong Excel and data analysis skills, be confident producing management reports and insights, and possess excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with both residents and internal stakeholders.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Respond to day to day enquiries on Southern Housing’s heat networks.
• Complete regulatory returns and data collection to maintain the organisation’s compliance with the heat metering and billing regulations.
• Maintain the organisation’s heat metering working group.
• Develop and implement performance monitoring of energy use, affordability and KPIs around heat networks.
• Collect and analyse data to assess the viability of heat network retrofits, using this data to support the development of the retrofit programme.
• Support development of the metering and billing strategy.
• Utilise a programme of asset identification to diagnose performance and affordability issues.

This role can be based in either our Farringdon or Sittingbourne office. We offer flexible hybrid working, with an expectation of around two days per week in the office, depending on business needs and as agreed with your manager.

You’ll bring:

• Relevant experience in delivery of utilities services.
• A proven track record working on the key tasks within the role – procurement, financial management, data analysis, stakeholder management, preferably within the social housing sector.
• Experience of working in a customer focussed environment and engaging with residents and staff; providing advice and support regarding the technicalities of heat networks and financial models to deliver these works.
• An excellent knowledge and understanding of heat networks services and products, renewable energy and low carbon energy generation.
• A commitment to high quality customer service.
• Good level of IT skills including databases and spreadsheets.

Closing date: 4th of October 2026, Sunday, at 23:59pm

Shortlisting: from 5th of October 2026

Interviews: week commencing 12th of October 2026 via MS Teams

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application and supporting statement as soon as possible so your application can be reviewed and considered.

About Us

At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own! We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people’s lives.

A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.

Internal mobility

In line with our Recruitment Policy, colleagues are able to apply for internal roles once they've passed their probation. Interviews will only be arranged once this has been confirmed.

Colleagues who have recently started a new internal role won't be able to apply for another internal move for at least 12 months. Please refer to the Recruitment Policy for more detail.