Senior Development Manager - Heat Networks

EQ Search; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

EQ Search is seeking a senior business development leader to originate and secure major heat network connections across the UK. You will lead relationships with developers, local authorities, and estates, guiding opportunities from concept to contracted connection, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to scale deployment.

The role combines business development, project management, and deal-making within a fast-growing energy transition business backed by investors.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of building relationships and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience in project-based, start-up or fast-growth environments.
• Knowledge of district heating or regulated infrastructure is advantageous.
• Consulting, law, finance, technology or STEM backgrounds welcome.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritise target buildings and estates for heat network opportunities.
• Build relationships with senior stakeholders including developers and local authorities.
• Position heat networks as the preferred long-term heating solution.
• Agree terms and support negotiation of long-form connection and supply agreements.
• Present opportunities and risks to internal governance forums.
• Act as a trusted local market leader and create champions through events.
• Collaborate with project development, investment, legal, delivery and operations teams.
• Maintain a probability-weighted pipeline and feed market intelligence into expansion strategy.

Skills

Stakeholder relationship management

Commercial acumen

Project management

Entrepreneurial problem solving

Team collaboration

Job description

Lead the origination and securing of major building connections to a fast-growing UK heat network platform, helping decarbonise towns and cities across residential, commercial and public-sector estates. Reporting to the Head of Development, you will influence decisions that determine how whole communities are heated for decades.

A highly strategic role combining business development, project management and commercial deal-making. Success is measured not by short sales cycles but by building long-term relationships, influencing senior decision makers and guiding customers from early concept to contracted connection, working alongside technical, commercial and delivery specialists.

Role responsibilities and requirements

• Identify and prioritise target buildings, estates and regeneration areas, across new developments and existing buildings
• Build relationships with senior stakeholders including developers, building owners, local authorities and public sector bodies
• Position heat networks as the preferred long-term heating solution
• Agree heads of terms and support negotiation of long-form Connection and Supply Agreements, structuring deals that balance affordability, viability and network growth
• Present opportunities and risks to internal governance and investment forums
• Act as a trusted local market leader, creating champions through events and roundtables
• Work closely with project development, investment, legal, delivery and operations teams
• Maintain a probability weighted pipeline and feed market intelligence into expansion strategy

Key skills and qualities needed

• Proven track record of building relationships and influencing senior stakeholders
• Strong commercial acumen, able to quickly grasp technical, legal and financial concepts
• Experience in project-based, start-up or fast-growth environments
• Entrepreneurial problem solver, comfortable with complexity and ambiguity
• High emotional intelligence, collaborative and low ego
• Ideally from infrastructure, energy, utilities, property or major projects, with knowledge of district heating or regulated infrastructure
• Experience developing complex commercial propositions or long-term agreements, ideally with developers, local authorities or estate owners
• Consulting, law, finance, technology or STEM backgrounds particularly welcome

Further information

A rare chance to join a young, fast-growing energy transition business with significant investment backing and ambitious plans to scale heat network investment by 2030. You will own high-value, strategic opportunities from day one and help shape some of the UK's most significant decarbonisation projects.