Partner (Energy & Heat Systems)

An opportunity has arisen for a Partner with a strong technical and strategic understanding of district heat networks to work with our Energy and Heat Systems team. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer with some experience of the large infrastructure business development process and relevant government policy background to become involved in Scotland’s ambitious heat decarbonisation programme which is currently attracting major investment and deploying ground-breaking technical innovation.

Heat networks are a key strategic technology for reducing emissions from heating our homes and buildings. The Partner role involves working closely with the Scottish Government’s Heat Network Support Unit (HNSU). The HNSU is a partnership between Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland and Scottish Futures Trust and aims to support the growth of heat networks by working with the public sector to address key challenges and build capacity through advice, expertise and financial support.

The ideal candidate will be educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant technical discipline and/or hold a relevant professional qualification. If no relevant degree/professional qualification, then you must be able to demonstrate relevant specialist experience.

You should have 3+ years working in a development engineering role within the sector or relevant specialist area and/or its supply chain with demonstrable experience of establishing and maintaining good stakeholder/customer/partner relationships in the sector.

We are looking for someone with

• strong market and technical understanding of low carbon heat and district heating systems;
• a good understanding of the Scottish Government’s Energy Strategy and related Heat in Buildings policy areas including awareness of the range of relevant funding programmes;
• excellent verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrable experience of influencing decision makers and, presenting to relevant sectors to deliver outcome-based targets;
• a team player willing to support less experienced colleagues;
• experience of managing contracts and external contractors to deliver services;
• good computer literacy including the full suite of MS Office;
• an appreciation of the tender and procurement process within the public sector.

In this role you will be providing technical advice and support on decentralised energy and district heating in support of the delivery of the Energy and Heat Systems programme, undertaking high-level technical design of feasibilities and other technical studies and establishing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders (these may include Scottish Government, local authorities, universities, colleges and NHS boards). 

You will also be responsible for overseeing the management of our framework contracts, ensuring technical studies are delivered on time and within budget and reviewing contractor’s and delivery partner’s output for quality, commercial soundness and consistency with Zero Waste Scotland’s expectations.

Engaging with clients to support the progress of projects through the project development process is also required in this role as is, maintaining an up-to-date understanding of relevant EU, UK and Scottish policy relating to district heating and renewable energy. Helping to ensure that programme activities are securely based in these policies, including through interaction with key government committees and departments and maintaining an up-to-date technical understanding of low carbon heating innovations and their practical application.

You will also be required to carry out assessments of funding applications for the HNSU and other Scottish Government heat related funding programmes.