Deputy Director, Heat Networks Policy; Share

Job summary

This is a part‑time role, of c.0.6 FTE. You’ll share leadership of the Heat Networks Policy team with the existing Deputy Director, in a job‑share arrangement. Together, you’ll co‑lead the wider heat networks unit with the Deputy Director for Heat Networks Delivery.

Heat networks are place‑based solutions which can provide the lowest cost, low‑carbon heat for consumers in the right settings. By linking densely populated areas to shared sources of heat, they can save significant costs for those in larger buildings, compared to an individual option. Many buildings such as apartment blocks, hospitals, and university campuses already share heat in this way, and they are a proven scalable technology, capable of supplying whole streets or – as demonstrated in Europe – even entire cities.

They are well suited for multi‑occupancy buildings which tend to be lower‑income on average, and our support now ensures that these households will have a cheaper clean heat option in the future.

The Warm Homes Plan will set an ambitious trajectory of growth for low carbon heat networks. To achieve this the public and private sector will need to work together to overcome barriers to building more heat networks, faster and at greater scale. This requires building high public trust in heat networks, ensuring there is competitive pricing, growing the supply chain, ensuring heat networks have access to clean and flexible sources of heat, and building local certainty of demand through heat network zoning policy.

Lead a team of just over 30 staff, building and diversifying its capabilities, creating a positive culture, maintaining morale, and driving performance as we deliver an ambitious programme of work.

Oversee a programme to implement the market framework for heat networks, so that low‑carbon heat networks can achieve their potential, and so domestic consumers on heat networks are protected. An optimal allocation of heat networks will contribute to lowering both the overall emissions and costs of the energy system, contributing to net zero, lower bills and energy security.

This will involve:

• Communicate and implement the Department’s heat networks growth strategy, which is articulated in the Warm Homes Plan, giving confidence to the market to invest and ensuring the range of Government support is clear, compelling and sufficient to unlock growth.
• Responsibility for zoning policy implementation, particularly delivering the required legislation and guidance, to support heat network growth, working closely with other government departments.
• Assessing further interventions to lower the cost of low carbon heat networks, so that they are the go‑to solution in dense urban areas.
• Overall responsibility for policy implementation of the heat networks market framework, working closely with Ofgem as it starts to regulate the heat networks sector. You’ll proactively deal with emerging issues in early days of regulation, and work with MHCLG to ensure alignment across heat network and housing regulation.
• Extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation on heat network technical standards, as we design a mandatory regime for these. This includes overseeing the overall technical standards programme which includes a range of contracts, and engaging with HMT, DBT, and MHCLG to design the best regime.
• Oversee a skills programme which addresses the future demand for a range of specialist skills in the low carbon economy and supports growth and diversity of the sector. This will form part of work to review and oversee work with supply chains, understanding and addressing barriers to entry to increase the capacity and capability of the UK market to deliver at pace.

Establish and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including major trade and members organisations, investors, industry, Ofgem, and across Government.

Take pride in ensuring excellence in the core work of Government, leading the team in response to correspondence, submissions to Ministers, responding to Parliamentary Questions and other aspects which serve as the backbone of the Department’s day to day activity.

Make a full contribution as a member of the…