Senior Energy Consultant/Building Physicist

Civic group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

26 days holidays

Wellbeing support

Pension

Professional development

Job summary

Civic is a team of system thinkers in the built environment, delivering positive impact across the UK. We seek a Senior Energy Consultant / Building Physicist to lead thermal modelling, daylight analysis and compliance tasks for residential and commercial projects.

You will translate complex results into clear design recommendations for architects and engineers, collaborating across disciplines and presenting to clients.

Qualifications

• Typically 3–5 years of relevant professional experience in building physics, energy and sustainability consultancy.
• Experience delivering building performance analysis for residential and/or commercial buildings across more than one project stage.
• Experience of SAP and/or SBEM assessments, with sufficient understanding to coordinate both residential and commercial project requirements.
• Experience undertaking overheating and comfort assessments using CIBSE TM52 and/or TM59.
• A relevant degree or equivalent experience in building services engineering, environmental engineering, architecture, physics, sustainability or a related discipline.
• Experience using ApacheHVAC to model HVAC systems, controls and operational performance in greater detail.
• Knowledge of NABERS UK and Design for Performance, including target-setting, simulation, independent design review and the performance gap.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver dynamic thermal modelling using IES VE across concept, planning, detailed design and post‑completion stages.
• Undertake whole-building energy, comfort, overheating, natural ventilation and passive-design assessments for residential and commercial developments.
• Use IES VE applications such as ApacheSim, MacroFlo, SunCast and VistaPro to test design options and interpret performance.
• Develop robust models from architectural, structural and MEP information, recording assumptions and inputs.
• Review fabric, glazing, shading, ventilation, heating, cooling, lighting and controls strategies and advise on energy use and occupant comfort.
• Translate modelling results into practical, proportionate recommendations for architects, engineers, developers and contractors.
• Undertake and coordinate Part L assessments for residential and non-domestic buildings, including SAP, SBEM, BRUKL.
• Support the preparation and review of Energy Performance Certificates and related compliance evidence.
• Deliver overheating assessments in accordance with guidance (TM52/TM59) and explain design implications to project teams.
• Undertake or coordinate daylight and sunlight assessments to support design development and planning submissions.
• Prepare high-quality planning-stage Energy Statements, Sustainability Statements and other technical notes.
• Respond to planning conditions, Building Control comments and technical queries with clear audit trails.
• Keep informed of changes to UK building regs, planning policy and energy-assessment methodologies.
• Develop energy and sustainability strategies balancing carbon performance, occupant comfort, policy, buildability, programme and cost.
• Collaborate with engineers, architects and consultants; attend client meetings and present technical information clearly.
• Manage agreed tasks, deliverables, budgets and programmes; identify risks early and coordinate information requirements.

Skills

Building physics

Energy modelling

Overheating assessment

SAP/SBEM coordination

CIBSE TM52/TM59

ApacheHVAC

Daylight modelling

BREEAM energy credits

Stakeholder presentations

Project management

Education

Building services engineering degree

Tools

IES VE

ApacheHVAC

SAP

SBEM

NABERS UK

Job description

Civic is a team of system thinkers in the built environment, creating positive impact for people, places and the planet.

We want our work to have a positive impact on the environment — helping people to live healthier, happier lives while respecting natural limits. We build without destroying, explore without exploiting, and seek to reuse rather than just consume. Above all, we listen, learn, and aim to create a lasting legacy.

Thriving together, today we have a team of over 200 members working across the UK, all united by our creative belief, bringing art and science together to solve problems. Our award-winning practice has studios in Manchester, London, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin

As a Senior Energy Consultant / Building Physicist, you will take responsibility for defined workstreams and smaller projects, while supporting senior colleagues on larger or more complex commissions. You will be expected to understand the wider design context, not simply produce modelling outputs, and to translate technical findings into clear recommendations that influence the architectural and engineering design.

The role will suit someone who enjoys combining analytical work with consultancy, is comfortable presenting findings to clients and design teams, and wants to develop further expertise in operational energy, advanced HVAC modelling and performance-led design.

Day-to-day task and expectations

• Lead and deliver dynamic thermal modelling using IES VE across concept, planning, detailed design and post-completion stages.
• Undertake whole-building energy, comfort, overheating, natural ventilation and passive-design assessments for residential and commercial developments.
• Use relevant IES VE applications such as ApacheSim, MacroFlo, SunCast and VistaPro to test design options and interpret performance.
• Develop robust models from architectural, structural and MEP information, clearly recording assumptions, limitations and inputs.
• Review fabric, glazing, shading, ventilation, heating, cooling, lighting and controls strategies and advise on their effect on energy use and occupant comfort.
• Translate modelling results into practical, proportionate recommendations for architects, engineers, developers and contractors.

• Undertake and coordinate Part L compliance assessments for residential and non-domestic buildings, including SAP, SBEM, BRUKL and associated reporting as appropriate to the project.
• Support the preparation and review of Energy Performance Certificates and related compliance evidence, working within relevant accreditation requirements.
• Deliver overheating assessments in accordance with appropriate guidance, including CIBSE TM52 and TM59, and explain the design implications to project teams.

• Undertake or coordinate daylight and sunlight assessments where required, using the results to support design development and planning submissions.
• Prepare high-quality planning-stage Energy Statements, Sustainability Statements, Overheating Assessments, Daylight Reports and other technical notes.
• Respond to planning conditions, Building Control comments and technical queries, maintaining a clear audit trail of assumptions and design changes.
• Keep informed of changes to UK building regulations, planning policy, industry guidance and energy-assessment methodologies.
• Develop energy and sustainability strategies that balance carbon performance, occupant comfort, planning policy, buildability, programme and cost.

• Work collaboratively with mechanical, electrical, public health, structural and civil engineers, architects and specialist consultants.

• Attend client, design team and coordination meetings, presenting technical information clearly and confidently.
• Manage agreed tasks, deliverables, budgets and programmes, identifying risks or information gaps at an early stage.
• Review project information and modelling inputs for completeness and coordinate the information required from other disciplines.
• Support construction-stage queries, review contractor proposals where relevant and assist with post-completion performance evaluation.

• Build trusted relationships with clients and project teams by providing responsive, practical and evidence-based advice.
• Contribute to fee proposals, scopes of service, bids and work-winning material, including estimating the effort required for modelling and reporting tasks.
• Apply internal quality assurance procedures and take ownership of the technical accuracy, clarity and presentation of deliverables.
• Mentor graduate and junior consultants, including reviewing models, calculations and reports and providing constructive feedback.
• Contribute to internal knowledge sharing, templates, guidance and the continuous improvement of modelling and reporting workflows.
• Support innovation in analysis tools, automation and data-led design methods that improve efficiency and technical quality.

Behaviour and Professional Commitment

• Proactive and solutions-focused, with the judgement to identify what matters most to a project.
• Able to turn complex modelling results into clear design actions rather than presenting data without interpretation.
• Commercially aware and mindful of scope, programme, budget and the level of detail appropriate to each project stage.
• Collaborative and approachable, with the confidence to challenge assumptions constructively when evidence supports it.
• Committed to high technical standards, continuous learning and the professional development of colleagues.
• Practical in outlook, recommending solutions that are deliverable, proportionate and aligned with the client brief.

Experience/Qualifications Required

• Typically 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in building physics, energy and sustainability consultancy, environmental design or building services engineering.
• Experience delivering building performance analysis for residential and/or commercial buildings across more than one project stage.
• Experience of SAP and/or SBEM assessments, with sufficient understanding to coordinate both residential and commercial project requirements.
• Experience undertaking overheating and comfort assessments using CIBSE TM52 and/or TM59.
• A relevant degree or equivalent experience in building services engineering, environmental engineering, architecture, physics, sustainability or a related discipline.
• Experience using ApacheHVAC to model HVAC systems, controls and operational performance in greater detail.
• Knowledge of NABERS UK and Design for Performance, including target-setting, simulation, independent design review and the performance gap.
• Experience applying CIBSE TM54 for operational energy prediction and understanding the use of TM46 benchmarks or other performance data.
• Experience with both residential and commercial compliance, including relevant assessor accreditation such as OCDEA and/or NDEA.
• Experience of daylight modelling, natural ventilation analysis, passive design studies or climate-based design assessment.
• Familiarity with BREEAM energy credits, embodied and whole-life carbon considerations, low and zero carbon technology studies, or planning policy carbon targets.

A fair and competitive salary, taking into consideration market rates and your experience level

Flexibility. Our core hours are between 10:30am-4:30pm, with an early Friday finish!

Hybrid working. Most of our full-time employees come into the studio 3 days a week

Generous holidays! 26 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time employees). An extra day when you reach 3 years’ service, and another at 5 years!

Holiday options. Buy or sell a week of holiday each year, or create a sabbatical pot by banking a week’s holiday for 3 years to take a month off on year 4!

Enhanced Family Leave. Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and neonatal care leave pay, plus 2 days paid dependency leave and 1 weeks paid carers leave

Wellbeing support. Mental health first aider support, mindfulness sessions and access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Health benefits. Life Assurance, Health Care Cash Plan, Gym discounts and free Eye tests

Sick Pay. 4 weeks enhanced sick leave, plus 2 mental wellness days

DEI network. An established Equity, Diversity and Inclusion network with regular team activities, plus 2 days of paid volunteering leave each year to support causes close to your heart

Professional Development. Paid professional memberships, 2 days paid study leave (+ extra for exams), Chartership Preparation Courses, Chartership completion bonus, in-house ‘Civic Academy’ training, Management Development Programmes and a Mentorship programme for all employees

Financial benefits. Access to our HMRC friendly Workplace Nursery scheme, plus enrolment to our workplace pension scheme

Sustainable travel. Season Ticket Loans & National Rail Cards, plus two salary sacrifice cycle to work schemes and cycling facilities at all our studios (showers, bike racks etc).