Head of Design - Decarbonisation

Alternative Heat; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 94,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Alternative Heat is seeking a Head of Design – Decarbonisation to lead an in‑house, multidisciplinary team in delivering compliant, commercially viable decarbonisation solutions for large commercial and public sector buildings across the UK and Ireland.

You will provide technical and strategic leadership on net zero building services design, ensuring robustness, buildability and alignment with client, regulatory and funding requirements. The role reports to the Associate Director.

Qualifications

• Lead an in-house, multidisciplinary design team on decarbonisation projects.
• Develop compliant, commercially viable decarbonisation solutions for large buildings.
• Ensure designs meet UK and Irish regulations and funding requirements.
• Translate sustainability objectives into performance targets and roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full project lifecycle from opportunity assessment to detailed design.
• Mentor MEP engineers and drive whole-building net zero solutions (heat pumps, electrification, district energy).
• Establish and monitor design KPIs to drive quality, efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with commercial, delivery and operations teams to align design with business goals.

Skills

Leadership

MEP design

Decarbonisation

Regulatory compliance

Project governance

Job description

As part of our mission to drive the transition to renewable and low‑carbon energy solutions, we are excited to announce an opportunity for a Head of Design to join our team. This pivotal role will shape the future of sustainable energy delivery across a diverse portfolio of public and commercial sectors.

What We Do

We provide fully integrated design, build, and operational solutions for commercial energy centres and large-scale district heating schemes, drawing on extensive experience delivering similar projects for public sector clients across the UK and Ireland. We take genuine pride in the long‑standing relationships we have built, working closely with our clients as trusted partners and continuing to support them on their journey toward net zero.

Role Overview

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 the UK and Ireland. 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.

Job Title: Head of Design – Decarbonisation
Location: Birmingham
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am‑5pm and Friday 8am‑3pm
Salary: Competitive Depending on Experience
Responsible to: Associate Director

What You'll be Doing

This role leads the development and delivery of MEP design strategies for large‑scale commercial estate decarbonisation projects, overseeing the full project lifecycle from opportunity assessment and options appraisal through to concept and detailed design. It involves managing and mentoring a multidisciplinary team of MEP engineers while driving the creation of whole‑building net zero solutions, including heat pumps, electrification, district energy systems, renewable integration, controls optimisation, and demand management. The position ensures compliance with UK and Irish regulations and industry standards, provides robust design governance and technical assurance, and continuously improves design tools, methodologies, and digital workflows. Working closely with commercial, delivery, and operational teams, the role translates sustainability objectives into practical performance targets, supports the development of net zero roadmaps and business cases, and maintains expertise in emerging technologies, policy developments, and carbon reporting frameworks. It also establishes and monitors design performance KPIs to drive quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement across the design function.