Head of Design

Anderson McQue Inc; Dublin; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Income protection scheme

Enhanced annual leave

Health cash plan

Free onsite parking

Free health check

Job summary

Anderson McQue in Dublin is seeking a Head of Design – Decarbonisation to lead an in-house MEP design team delivering net-zero building services across Ireland, the UK and Germany. You will provide technical and strategic leadership, ensure compliance with Building Regulations and CIBSE guidelines, and align solutions with client and funding requirements.

This role demands a proven track record in decarbonisation, building services and team leadership within a consultancy or ESCO.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in building services / MEP design with decarbonisation experience.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams in a consultancy, ESCO or design-build environment.
• Degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical or Building Services Engineering; chartered status preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Ireland/UK net zero policies and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the MEP design strategy for decarbonisation projects.
• Mentor and manage a high-performing design team across mechanical, electrical, controls and energy modelling.
• Develop whole-building decarbonisation solutions (heat pumps, district heating, electrification).
• Ensure design compliance with Building Regulations, CIBSE, TM54/TM65, Part L and local requirements.
• Lead design governance, reviews, sign-off and change control across projects.

Skills

MEP design

decarbonisation

team leadership

energy modelling

Education

Degree in Mechanical/Electrical or Building Services Engineering

Chartered status (CEng)

Tools

IES

TAS

eQuest

Job description

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm and Friday 8am-3pm

Reporting to Associate Director

Anderson McQue is recruiting for a very successful provider of fully integrated design, build, and operational solutions for energy centres and large-scale district heating schemes for commercial and public sector clients in Ireland, the UK and Germany. Our client is experiencing significant growth and demand in their technology, hence they are now looking to appoint a Head of Design located in the Dublin office.

Your Main Focus:

The Head of Design – Decarbonisation is responsible for leading an in‑house, multi‑disciplinary design team to develop compliant, commercially viable decarbonisation solutions for large commercial and public sector buildings across Ireland, the UK and Germany. The role provides technical and strategic leadership on net zero building services design, ensuring solutions are robust, buildable, and aligned with client, regulatory and funding requirements.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Define and lead the MEP design strategy for decarbonisation projects, covering opportunity assessment, options appraisal, concept and detailed design for large commercial estates.
• Build, manage and mentor a high‑performing team of multi‑skilled MEP design engineers (mechanical, electrical, controls, energy modelling), including recruitment, onboarding, performance management and succession planning.
• Oversee the development of whole‑building decarbonisation solutions, including heat pumps, district heating/cooling, electrification of heat, fabric and controls upgrades, ventilation optimisation, PV and storage integration, and demand management strategies.
• Ensure all designs are fully compliant with applicable UK and Irish regulations, standards and guidance, e.g. Building Regulations, CIBSE guides, TM54/TM65, TM46, Part L, local planning requirements, and relevant Irish equivalents.
• Provide clear design governance, including design briefs, design reviews, technical sign‑off, and change control processes across all projects.
• Own and continuously improve standard design tools, templates and workflows, including calculation methodologies, model/report formats, and digital design environments, e.g. BIM, dynamic simulation, energy modelling.
• Lead the translation of net zero strategies and corporate sustainability goals into practical MEP design standards and project‑specific performance targets (energy, carbon, comfort, resilience).
• Support the development of building‑and portfolio‑level net zero roadmaps, including baselining, carbon/energy modelling, scenario testing and investment/phase‑plan recommendations.
• Work closely with delivery, commercial and operations teams to ensure designs are buildable, maintainable and optimised for whole‑life performance and cost.
• Provide senior technical input to bids, business cases and funding applications including solution narratives, assumptions, risks and pricing support.
• Maintain expert understanding of Ireland and UK net zero policies, carbon reporting frameworks, grid decarbonisation trajectories and emerging technologies, and ensure these are reflected in design methodologies.
• Establish and monitor KPIs for the design function (accuracy of models, design programme adherence, RFIs, variations, performance gap, post‑occupancy outcomes) and drive continuous improvement.
• Act as technical point of escalation for complex engineering challenges, client queries and design‑related disputes or value‑engineering exercises.

Your key attributes:

• Extensive experience in building services / MEP design, with a strong track record delivering decarbonisation, low‑carbon or net zero projects for large commercial or public sector buildings.
• Proven experience in establishing, growing and leading multi‑disciplinary design teams, ideally within a consultancy, ESCO or design‑and‑build environment.
• Degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical, Electrical or Building Services Engineering; chartered status (CEng) with a relevant institution, e.g. CIBSE, IMechE, IET, strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of net zero targets, policies and trajectories across Ireland and the UK, including how these translate into project‑level requirements and client obligations.
• Demonstrable experience with energy modelling, dynamic simulation and performance assessment tools, e.g. IES, TAS, eQuest or similar, and their integration into design decisions.
• Experience working across the full project lifecycle from feasibility and business case development through detailed design, installation support, commissioning and post‑occupancy evaluation.

Your Skills and Behaviours:

• Strategic, systems‑thinking mindset with the ability to connect policy, business objectives and technical solutions into coherent decarbonisation programmes.
• Strong leadership and people‑management skills, with a track record of developing engineers and building collaborative, high‑performance teams.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex technical issues in clear, commercially relevant terms to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Robust commercial awareness, comfortable working with capex/opex trade‑offs, funding constraints and whole‑life value assessments.
• Highly organised, able to prioritise and manage multiple design programmes and deadlines in a fast‑growing environment.

Your Rewards:

• Auto enrolment into income protection scheme: 75% salary for 3 years if unable to work.
• Enhanced annual leave increasing with length of service.
• Health cash plan.
• Free annual health check during working hours.
• Social events organised for all employees throughout the year via Health and Wellbeing committee.
• Secure, free onsite parking.
• Free Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Tea, and Fruit provided daily.
• Friendly and supportive working environment in state‑of‑the‑art facilities.