Development Manager - Oxford

Development Manager- Oxford

Salary: Dependent on experience + up to 20% performance bonus
Benefits: Up to 7% matched pension, private medical insurance and travel insurance
Working arrangement: Hybrid, with regular office, customer and project-site attendance

About the Organisation

Our client is a rapidly growing developer and investor in low-carbon energy infrastructure, focused on accelerating the transition away from fossil fuel heating.

The organisation develops large-scale low-carbon heat networks and associated energy infrastructure, working in partnership with local authorities, property owners, businesses, communities and other public- and private-sector stakeholders.

The business has a substantial pipeline of projects at different stages of development and is backed by institutional investment. It has grown significantly since its establishment and is entering an important phase of expansion, with ambitious plans to develop and deliver further low-carbon energy infrastructure across the UK.

The organisation brings together experienced professionals from the energy, infrastructure, engineering, commercial and property sectors and has a strong track record of delivering complex energy projects.

The Opportunity

The organisation is looking to appoint Development Managers to join its growing development function.

This is an opportunity for an experienced development professional to take responsibility for progressing complex low-carbon infrastructure projects from early-stage opportunity assessment through development, commercialisation and towards financial close.

The successful individual will act as the day-to-day development lead for a portfolio of projects, coordinating technical, commercial, planning, land, stakeholder and funding activities.

You will work closely with senior leadership and multidisciplinary internal and external teams to turn development opportunities into commercially viable, investable and deliverable projects.

The role would suit someone who enjoys working across multiple disciplines and stakeholders and who is comfortable taking ownership of projects in an evolving and entrepreneurial environment.

The organisation is recruiting a team of Development Managers and is open to candidates from a range of backgrounds. Different individuals may bring different combinations of technical, commercial, planning, property, infrastructure or energy-development experience.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development

• Lead the development of multiple low-carbon energy and infrastructure projects from early-stage assessment through commercialisation and towards financial close.
• Take ownership of allocated projects and act as the primary development lead.
• Progress projects through defined development stages and formal stage-gate processes.
• Coordinate the preparation of business cases, development strategies, project plans and investment documentation.
• Develop and maintain project programmes, budgets, resource plans and risk registers.
• Identify and manage risks, assumptions, interfaces and dependencies across multiple workstreams.
• Work with technical and commercial colleagues to assess project viability, costs, returns and investment requirements.
• Ensure projects remain aligned with agreed strategic, commercial and investment objectives.
• Provide clear and timely reporting to senior management on progress, risks, programme, budget and key decisions.

Land, Planning & Consents

• Identify and secure land required for energy infrastructure and associated assets.
• Assess land options and support negotiations relating to acquisitions, leases, easements and wayleaves.
• Coordinate planning applications and associated pre-application activities.
• Manage relationships with planning authorities, consultants, landowners and other relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate environmental assessments, permits and other statutory consents.
• Lead public consultation and community engagement where required.
• Maintain accurate project and land records.

Utilities & Supply Chain

• Lead engagement with utility providers to secure infrastructure and capacity requirements.
• Manage utility connection processes from initial enquiries through to agreed connection arrangements.
• Coordinate external consultants, contractors and other professional advisers.
• Prepare scopes of work, obtain quotations and manage external resources.
• Support procurement, tendering and contracting strategies alongside technical and commercial colleagues.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and implement effective stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, customers, landowners, communities, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders.
• Represent the organisation at meetings, workshops, public events and stakeholder forums.
• Manage internal stakeholders and ensure project teams and senior leadership remain aligned.
• Identify issues requiring escalation and provide clear recommendations to senior management.

Funding, Governance & Compliance

• Support and manage applicable government grant-funding requirements and reporting obligations.
• Ensure projects meet relevant regulatory, contractual and funding requirements.
• Support compliance with applicable industry standards and UK heat-network regulation.
• Maintain appropriate project governance and documentation.
• Ensure Health & Safety and project compliance documentation is complete, accurate and maintained.
• Work within established project governance and stage-gate frameworks.
• Apply appropriate risk management, assurance and project-control principles.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a commercially minded and proactive development professional who is comfortable taking ownership of complex projects.

You may come from a background in:

• Energy or utilities
• Heat networks or district energy
• Infrastructure development
• Property development
• Renewable energy
• Major projects
• Planning and development
• Engineering or technical project development
• Public-sector infrastructure
• A related development environment

Essential Experience

• Experience working on complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and workstreams.
• Strong project management and organisational capability.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain momentum against challenging programmes.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of project financials and business cases.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Confident communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to coordinate technical, commercial and external specialist teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage project documentation and governance.
• A proactive approach, with the confidence to take ownership and make decisions.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Willingness to travel within the UK as required.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

Desirable Experience

Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:

• Development of energy, infrastructure, property or major capital projects.
• District heating or heat-network development.
• Low-carbon energy or decarbonisation projects.
• Taking projects from origination through to investment approval or financial close.
• Land acquisition, leasing, easements or wayleaves.
• Planning applications and statutory consenting.
• Utility connection processes.
• Development of commercial or investment business cases.
• Working with local authorities and public-sector stakeholders.
• Government-funded infrastructure programmes.
• Formal stage-gate project development and governance.
• Heat-network regulation and relevant industry standards.
• Managing multidisciplinary consultants and contractors.

A relevant degree or professional qualification in engineering, energy, planning, surveying, geography, business, property or a related discipline would be beneficial, although equivalent professional experience will be considered.

The Role

This is a high-profile development position within a growing low-carbon infrastructure business.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to take ownership of significant projects, work closely with senior leadership and influence the development of infrastructure that will contribute to the UK's transition to a lower-carbon energy system.

The role offers significant exposure across commercial development, technical delivery, planning, land, stakeholder management, funding and investment, making it particularly suited to someone looking to broaden or deepen their experience within the energy and infrastructure sector.

The organisation is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcomes applications from candidates with different professional backgrounds and career paths.

Location: UK-based, with hybrid working and regular travel to offices, customer locations and project sites.

Employment: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.