Group Project Development and Delivery Director in Newcastle upon Tyne
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Job Description
Group Project Development and Delivery Director \nLocation: UK flexible \n\n \n\n Who we are \n\nWe’re not just talking about making a difference, we’re making it happen. We generate dispatchable, renewable power and create stable energy in an uncertain world. Building on our proud heritage, we have ambition to become the global leader in sustainable biomass and carbon removals.\n\n \n\nYou’ll be joining our teams of practical doers, future thinkers and business champions.
We’re enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future for all, and working hard to decarbonise the planet for to come.\n\n \n\nAbout the role\nThe Group Project Development and Delivery Director will oversee a multidisciplinary team responsible for developing and delivering projects that support the future growth of the Drax Group. This encompasses both greenfield and brownfield developments on existing operational assets as well as potential acquisition opportunities. Current projects include, but are not limited to, OCGT, BESS, CCS, and data centres.\n\n \n\nThis role will work in close collaboration with Business Development teams across the organization to help shape the future of sustainable biomass, carbon removals, and flexible businesses.
The Director will share accountability for advancing strategic projects to final investment decision, ensuring comprehensive commercial, cost, and technical due diligence, as well as effective risk management processes.\n\n \n\nIn addition, the Director will be responsible for the overall delivery of capital projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. The role involves leading a dedicated team consisting of innovation specialists, project engineers, and project managers, as well as coordinating with third-party owners’ engineers and principal contractors. The Director will also lead an innovation team focused on horizon scanning and evaluating emerging technologies aligned with Drax’s strategic objectives.\n\nKey Accountabilities\n\nAs the Group Project Development and Delivery Director, you’ll: \n\nWork closely with Business Development teams to ensure alignment with technical and budgetary requirements.\n\nCollaborate with Finance and M&A teams to structure projects that optimise returns against capital constraints.\n\nDirect diverse, multi-disciplined engineering and contracts resources, evaluating and valorising technology options.\n\nEnsure projects under consideration contribute effectively to Drax’s overall purpose and objectives.\n\nAct as Technical Authority, assessing innovative solutions and selecting those with the highest probability of success.\n\nBe accountable for engineering solutions and compliance to external standards through managed risk and system development.\n\nOversee controls and statutory compliance (engineering and financial), including setting, monitoring, and managing budgets.\n\nDeliver complex, large-scale projects to time, schedule, quality, and cost targets.\n\nInfluence and support key decisions made by Business Development, ensuring future-proofed options and alignment with business planning cycles.\n\nProvide technical expertise for contract negotiations (e.g., EPC, full contract/split scope contracting).\n\nSupport project delivery with compliance across quality, timeliness, budget, permitting, and regulations (H&S/CDM/DEQ), including company standards (e.g., DMIs).\n\nDrive establishment of project risk registers and decision logs, ensuring regular review and challenge.\n\nCommunicate and allocate project risks across the organisation in a timely and transparent manner.\n\nManage relationships with third-party developers to ensure successful outcomes and protect Drax’s interests.\n\nAbout you\n\nIn this Senior Leadership role, you’ll play a pivotal part in ensuring our engineering and project delivery functions are robust, effective and future-ready. \n\nExtensive experience in developing greenfield and brownfield capital projects across the full development cycle.\n\nProven experience managing multi-disciplinary, multi-site teams, including external joint venture partners.\n\nDemonstrated ability to lead teams structuring projects to meet investment objectives.\n\nStrong understanding of the HR and organisational implications of project structures.\n\nExceptional leadership, communication, and team management capabilities.\n\nSkilled in influencing at senior levels and communicating complex technical and financial information to Executive and Board audiences.\n\nExperience in project engineering development from concept to handover.\n\nAbility to establish and communicate risk management strategies for major engineering projects.\n\nDegree-level qualification in a technical subject or equivalent professional experience within the energy sector.\n\nProven track record of delivering capital projects, demonstrating autonomy and confidence in decision-making.\n\nExperience establishing and developing effective teams with a strong performance culture.\n\nStrong ability to work cross-functionally and support the establishment of effective project development and engineering teams.\n\nWhy Join Us\n\nJoin us and lead projects that genuinely make an impact.
If you are a highly skilled, proactive professional who thrives in dynamic, fast-paced environments and wants to make a difference at a strategic level—we’d love to hear from you
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