Project Development Manager (Densification) - #2182445

Role: Densification Manager (Project Development)

Location: East London or Midlands

Salary: Competitive + Car Allowance, Pension & Healthcare

The Client:

My client is a prominent and forward-thinking energy infrastructure provider in the United Kingdom, specializing in the design, delivery, and long-term operation of large-scale decentralized low-carbon utility networks.

The company focuses heavily on urban district heating, cooling, and power solutions, managing critical assets that supply sustainable energy to thousands of residential and commercial properties. Renowned for its engineering excellence and commitment to the green transition, the business integrates cutting-edge technologies like industrial heat pumps and waste-heat recovery systems to drive urban centres toward a zero-carbon future.

The Role

The Densification Manager is responsible for identifying, developing and securing new customer connections to my clients existing heat networks, supporting regional growth and decarbonisation objectives.

The role owns a portfolio of connection opportunities from initial identification and feasibility through technical and commercial development, internal governance, customer negotiations and financial close. The Densification Manager coordinates multidisciplinary internal and external teams to develop technically feasible, commercially viable and deliverable connection solutions that meet customer and business requirements.

The role requires strong project and stakeholder management capability, commercial awareness and sufficient technical understanding to assess opportunities, challenge assumptions, manage risk and drive projects through the development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Business Growth & Opportunity Development

• Identify, develop, and convert new customer connections to existing heat networks in line with business plan targets
• Manage opportunities from initial engagement and feasibility through to financial close and handover.
• Coordinate internal teams to develop technically feasible, commercially viable and deliverable solutions.
• Develop customer proposals and lead opportunities through internal governance.
• Support the expansion of heat networks through decarbonisation projects.

Financial & Commercial Strategy

• Manage grant funding applications to secure financial support for network expansion.
• Identify key commercial risks and ensure they are managed effectively through to financial close.
• Understand key project costs, revenues and commercial assumptions and their impact on project viability.
• Work with commercial teams to develop competitive and commercially sound proposals.

Stakeholder & Customer Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, external stakeholders, local authorities, and industry bodies.
• Tailor solutions and product offers to meet customer needs while aligning with business objectives.
• Lead contract negotiations with customers within the parameters set by the governance process.
• Act as a key point of contact for customers throughout the development of connection opportunities, coordinating internal responses and maintaining progress.

Market knowledge

• Stay informed on industry trends, policy changes, and technological advancements to support strategic decision-making.
• Maintain awareness of the regional development pipeline and identify potential opportunities for new heat-network connections.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• New connections secured against business plan targets.
• Grant funding successfully secured for projects.
• Conversion rate of identified opportunities to financial close.
• Stakeholder and customer satisfaction ratings.
• Time taken to close commercial deals within governance framework.
• Successful delivery of decarbonisation projects within budget and timeframe.

Skills & Competencies: Essential:

• Proven experience in project development, project management, business development, commercial sales or contract negotiation within the energy, utilities, infrastructure or property development sector.
• Strong understanding of heat networks, decarbonisation projects, and energy solutions.
• Experience managing grant funding applications and securing financial incentives.
• Ability to identify and mitigate commercial risks throughout project lifecycles.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience in contract structuring and closing deals.

Technical Skills Required

• Understanding of heat networks, energy infrastructure or building services
• Project and programme management
• Commercial and financial literacy
• Strong Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills.
• Applicable internal software packages