Head of Technical Development

Head of Technical Development

District heating | Dublin | Permanent | Hybrid, at least three days in the office

A growing Irish district heating developer is seeking a Head of Technical Development to lead the engineering work that takes projects from initial concept to the start of construction. This is a senior design leadership role with responsibility for technical quality, project stage gates and the handover to delivery.

The opportunity

The organisation develops low carbon heat networks in Ireland, from feasibility and funding through construction and operation. You will report to the CEO and build a multidisciplinary team covering energy centres, networks, customer connections and energy engineering. The position offers a competitive salary based on experience, 21 days of annual leave and full time hours Monday to Friday.

What you will do

• Lead, mentor and resource the technical team, set design standards and manage the technical development budget and external consultants.

• Direct concept and developed design for energy centres, heat networks and building connections, including demand assessment, energy and hydraulic modelling, technology appraisal, plant selection and network routing.

• Own each project’s Basis of Design, design brief and technical assumptions. Chair design reviews and approve technical evidence for planning, funding, customer agreements and investment decisions.

• Set proportionate technical stage gates so design work and spending match each project’s maturity and risk. Identify when technical risks warrant further work or a change of course.

• Shape procurement and contracting strategies, prepare technical scopes and tender documents, evaluate proposals and allocate design responsibility clearly.

• Manage the formal handover to the construction team, including design intent, assumptions and residual risks. Oversee design stage health and safety duties under applicable Irish regulations.

• Own the technical basis of capital and operating cost estimates and explain assumptions, accuracy and risk to decision makers, funders and technical advisers.

• Oversee technical solutions for customer connections and utility requirements, and contribute to planning, consenting and engagement with customers and public bodies.

• Maintain technical assurance, apply relevant standards including CIBSE CP1, and use lessons from construction and operation to improve future designs.

What you will bring

• A degree in mechanical engineering, building services, energy systems, civil engineering or a related field.

• Substantial experience, typically at least ten years, developing energy or utility infrastructure, including at least three years leading technical teams.

• Evidence of taking projects from concept and feasibility to construction readiness and handing design over to a delivery team.

• Strong knowledge of district heating or comparable thermal systems, including generation plant, thermal storage, distribution networks, hydraulic modelling, substations and building connections.

• Sound judgment on design maturity, construction contracts, procurement, technical risk and the relationship between engineering assumptions and project finances.

• The ability to direct consultants and contractors and communicate technical decisions clearly to senior leaders, customers, investors and public bodies.

Useful additional experience

Experience of Irish planning, energy and utility processes; CIBSE CP1 and heat network regulation; large scale heat pumps, recovered or geothermal heat; publicly supported infrastructure; or Irish Capital Works, NEC, FIDIC or Engineers Ireland contracts would be valuable. National travel may be required.

How the role works

You will work closely with project development colleagues, who lead land, planning, utility agreements and the pipeline programme. Your team defines the technical requirements and supplies the engineering evidence behind project costs and performance. At construction start, detailed design responsibility transfers to delivery, while you remain involved when material changes affect the original design intent