Head of Design, Decarbonisation

Head of Design, Decarbonisation

Location: Birmingham / Solihull
Job Type: Permanent
Sector: Offsite MEP, Building Services, Decarbonisation, Low-Carbon Heat

We are working with a specialist offsite MEP and low-carbon building services business that is growing its Birmingham design function and looking for a Head of Design, Decarbonisation.

This is a senior technical leadership role for someone who can combine strong MEP design credibility with team leadership, design governance and practical buildability.

The role will suit an experienced Head of Design, Technical Director, Associate Director, Design Manager or Building Services Lead from a building services consultancy or design-led MEP contractor background.

The business delivers complex public and private sector projects across decarbonisation, heat pumps, energy centres, district heating, modular plantrooms, prefabricated MEP and technical building services.

What you will be doing:

Leading and building the Birmingham design function for decarbonisation and low-carbon building services projects.

Owning multidisciplinary MEP design strategy from RIBA Stage 2 onward.

Setting design standards, governance, quality review processes and technical assurance across the team.

Leading design delivery across heat pumps, energy centres, district heating, packaged plantrooms, thermal stores, pump sets, LTHW/DHW networks, BMS/control strategies and electrical interfaces.

Managing, mentoring and supporting mechanical, electrical, BIM/CAD and design support resources.

Coordinating with internal design, commercial, manufacturing, project delivery and site teams to ensure designs are compliant, buildable, commercially robust and suitable for offsite fabrication.

Reviewing specifications, employer requirements, consultant designs, technical submissions, calculations, schematics, equipment selections and design risk information.

Representing the business in client, consultant and stakeholder meetings as a senior technical design authority.

What we are looking for:

Senior MEP design leadership experience, ideally as Head of Design, Associate Director, Technical Director, Design Manager, Building Services Lead or a strong Principal ready to step up.

A building services consultancy or consultancy-style design background would be highly beneficial.

Strong mechanical or low-carbon heat credibility across heat pumps, district heating, energy centres, plantrooms, LTHW/DHW, heat networks, BMS/control philosophy and decarbonisation strategies.

Electrical awareness strong enough to lead multidisciplinary MEP design delivery.

Experience leading teams, mentoring engineers, reviewing design work and setting technical standards.

Strong understanding of design quality, compliance, buildability, design risk and project delivery.

Experience across public/private sector projects, ideally within commercial estates, healthcare, education, district heating, data centres or wider technical building services.

A practical approach to Birmingham office working while building and leading the team.

Why this role stands out:

This is not a standard MEP design role.

You will be joining a business that combines design, manufacture and delivery, meaning your team’s work will directly influence real plantrooms, real energy centres and real low-carbon infrastructure.

It is a strong opportunity for someone who wants technical ownership, leadership visibility and the chance to shape a growing Birmingham design function.

Apply now 👇