Senior Connection Development Manager

Hemiko is recruiting for a Senior Connections Development Manager reporting to the Head of Connections Development

The Role

As a Senior Connections Development Manager, you'll play a leading role in delivering the next generation of heat infrastructure and help to decarbonise towns and cities across the UK.

You’ll identify, develop and secure major building connections to Hemiko’s growing heat networks, working across a range of residential, commercial and public-sector estates. You’ll help shape some of the country’s most significant decarbonisation projects, influencing decisions that determine how entire communities are heated for decades to come.

This is a highly strategic role that combines business development, project management, and commercial deal-making.  Success isn’t measured by short sales cycles, but your ability to build long-term relationships, influence key decision makers and guide customers from early concept through to a contracted connection.

You'll work alongside technical, commercial and delivery specialists to develop compelling investment opportunities and bring new heat network projects to life. Every connection you secure strengthens the business case for new infrastructure investment, helping unlock Hemiko's ambition to deliver £1 billion of heat network investment by 2030.

If you enjoy operating at the intersection of infrastructure delivery, energy strategy, commercial negotiation, and relationship-building, this role offers you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact at scale.

What You’ll be Doing

Originate and Develop Opportunities

• Identify and prioritise target buildings, estates and regeneration areas within network zones or expansion areas, across both new developments and existing buildings.
• Develop strong relationships with senior stakeholders including developers, building owners, local authorities, and public sector organisations.
• Build an in-depth understanding of customer needs, investment drivers, and decarbonisation challenges
• Position heat networks as the preferred long-term heating solution against competing technologies.
• Act as a trusted and credible representative of Hemiko, confidently navigating technical, commercial and strategic discussions with customers and partners.

Lead Commercial Structuring & Negotiation

• Develop and agree heads of terms that progress to long-form Connection and Supply Agreement development.
• Support negotiations for Connection and Supply Agreements before handing over to delivery teams at contract close.
• Collaborate with technical, financial, and commercial teams to create compelling customer propositions.
• Structure deals that balance customer affordability, project viability, programme requirements, and long-term network growth.
• Develop a strong understanding of connection viability drivers and actively input into commercial assumptions, risk allocation and structuring.
• Present commercial opportunities and risks to internal governance and investment forums.

Act as a Local Market Leader

• Drive projects forward by developing influential relationships with councils, combined authorities, and key regional stakeholders.
• Maintain a presence in the local business community, creating champions for our heat networks.
• Become a recognised and trusted voice in the community, holding events and roundtables to keep stakeholder updated throughout the project development

Drive Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across project development, investment, delivery, legal, external affairs, and operations teams.
• Leverage the wider business to ensure opportunities are technically deliverable, commercially robust, and aligned to Hemiko’s strategy.
• Provide market intelligence and customer feedback that shapes network growth strategy and connection offer positioning.

Manage Pipeline Growth and Strategy

• Utilise our CRM platform to maintain a live, probability weighted connections pipeline with clear value and timing assessment
• Provide strategic intelligence on customer behaviour and market trends.
• Contribute to city-scale connection strategy and long-term network expansion planning.

What We’re Looking For

We know exceptional talent doesn't follow a single path. We're keen to hear from high-performing candidates from all backgrounds with a track record of delivering results in a fast-moving, high-growth environment.

While experience in STEM, consulting, technology, law, finance or other commercial and analytical sectors is particularly relevant, we welcome applications from anyone who can demonstrate their impact, drive and potential.

Essential

• A proven track record of building relationships and influencing senior stakeholders
• Strong business acumen and commercial literacy
• Experience working within project-based, start-up, or fast-growth environments
• Excellent problem solver comfortable operating in complex, ambiguous and evolving environments
• Ability to quickly grasp technical, commercial, legal, and financial concepts
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong personal drive to deliver results
• High emotional intelligence and natural relationship building skills
• A collaborative, low-ego approach with the willingness to get stuck in.

Highly Desirable

• Experience in infrastructure, energy, utilities, property, asset management or major projects.
• Experience developing complex commercial propositions or long-term customer agreements.
• Able to operate confidently across technical, commercial, legal and financial workstreams, connecting the dots to solve complex problems.
• Knowledge of district heating, energy systems or regulated infrastructure.
• Understanding of UK planning policy and low-carbon energy compliance.
• Experience working with developers, local authorities, public sector organisations or large estate owners

Why Join Hemiko

• Play a direct role in decarbonising UK towns and cities.
• Work on projects with genuine long-term social, environmental and economic impact.
• Join a fast-growing business with ambitious growth plans and significant investment backing.
• Collaborate with experts across energy, infrastructure, finance, engineering and project development.
• Help shape an industry critical to achieving the UK's net zero ambitions.
• Take ownership of high-value, strategically important opportunities from day one.

Remuneration and Info 

• Remuneration: Base £60,000+(depending on experience).
• Discretionary bonus based on individual and business performance.
• An inclusive culture that promotes diversity.
• Holidays 25 days a year plus statutory holidays - with an option to purchase, or sell, up to an additional 5 days per annual leave year.
• Pension plan provision.
• Private health care scheme available.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Electric Car lease scheme.
• Health and well-being support.
• Continuing learning and development opportunities.
• Company PC/laptop, etc.

At Hemiko, we recognise that flexibility is important and are open to discussing working arrangements that support both individual circumstances and business needs.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of ethnicity, gender or gender expression, disability, age, marital status, trade union activity, religious belief, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background. We are also an Armed Forces-friendly organisation and encourage applications from ex-service personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors, and military spouses/partners

We value openness and collaboration, avoiding unnecessary complexity and silos. We are a young, growing business in the rapidly expanding low-carbon energy sector, offering significant opportunities for career development and flexibility while delivering meaningful outcomes for the communities we serve.

Application

To apply, please complete the online application form on BambooHR. However, for an informal chat please contact Tim Ellis / Senior Connections Development Manager: tim.ellis@hemiko.com