The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
The British Consulate in Düsseldorf is part of a world-wide network, representing British political, economic and consular interests overseas. It is also part of the UK’s Germany Network. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is a UK Government department which helps build an appetite for British goods and services globally, promotes and finances international trade and investment, and champions global free trade. DBT at the British Consulate in Düsseldorf is currently looking for a Head of Power Grid and Heat Infrastructure.
This is a strategically important role at the centre of the UK’s clean growth infrastructure agenda in Germany. With clean energy infrastructure recognised as a priority sector within the UK’s Industrial Strategy, and the North Seas Summit in Germany approaching in January 2026, the new hire will lead targeted work to advance UK trade, investment, and policy interests in this critical area.
Why you should apply:
Are you passionate about energy transition and sustainable infrastructure?
Would you like to influence high-profile trade and investment priorities between the UK and Germany?
Are you motivated by the chance to develop a new areas of focus and deliver real-world impact in support of net zero?
We are looking for a commercially minded, policy-aware team member with experience in clean growth infrastructure or a related area to join the UK’s Department for Business and Trade team at the British Consulate in Düsseldorf.
Our setting:
The DBT Germany team is made up of approximately 40 staff, based in the Embassy in Berlin and Consulates-General in Düsseldorf and Munich. It is the largest team in the DBT Europe Region (around 300 staff in 34 countries in total) and works closely with colleagues in London and across the UK to improve market access for business and boost exports and investment.
In Germany, DBT is made up of sector-focussed teams, with cross-cutting support on Operations, the Strategic Communications Team and the Trade Policy and Market Access Team. DBT Germany’s work is crucial to supporting the UK economy: Germany is the UK’s second largest trading partner, with bilateral trade accounting for more than £132bn in 2022 – 8% of total UK trade. The UK and Germany are long-standing partners with shared interests in free and fair trade, WTO and rulebook reform and supporting multilateralism.
Commercial context:
Clean energy infrastructure — such as offshore wind connections, smart grids, hydrogen transport systems, energy storage, and carbon capture — is central to the UK’s net zero and clean energy ambitions. These systems form the backbone of a low-carbon economy and are essential to achieving the UK’s long-term industrial and regional development goals.
As part of its 2030 Net-Zero targets, the UK is investing heavily in offshore wind, industrial decarbonisation, and national grid upgrades. Realising these ambitions depends on strengthening supply chains, attracting targeted inward investment, and promoting UK capabilities in the delivery of complex low-carbon systems.
This role will identify high-value commercial opportunities in the power grid infrastructure, including transmission and distribution and grid networks, grid interconnectors and grid storage, as well as for heat infrastructure (home, industrial and district heating) for UK exporters, facilitate German investment into UK-based developments, and ensure that UK business perspectives inform key policy discussions, including in the lead-up to the North Seas Summit. The postholder will help position the UK as a global leader in this space and connect British firms to international opportunities aligned with clean infrastructure delivery.
Role Overview:
The Head of Power Grid and Heat Infrastructure will advance the UK’s commercial and policy interests in the clean energy sector, working across DBT’s four pillars (Trade, Investment, Market Access, and Policy). This is a proactive, outward-facing role that will identify and deliver opportunities for UK businesses, attract inward investment, and support UK-Germany collaboration on the physical and digital infrastructure needed for clean growth.
Working as part of the DBT Germany Clean Growth Team (alongside two other teams), the postholder will also help establish a dedicated clean tech function in Germany and act as a point of connection with the DBT Tech and Innovation team. They will provide specialist insight to inform the team’s work leading up to the North Seas Summit and play a key role in coordinating business and policy engagement across UK and German stakeholders.
To deliver on these goals, your key responsibilities:
- Develop and implement strategic plans to boost UK trade and investment in power grid infrastructure, including transmission and distribution and grid network, grid interconnectors and storage, as well as for heat infrastructure (home, industrial and district heating).
- Scope and support the development of a new clean tech function within DBT Germany.
- Identify high-value export opportunities and facilitate connections between UK businesses and German buyers or partners.
- Promote UK capabilities across clean energy infrastructure sectors, including (smart) electricity grids and electricity storage.
- Support efforts to attract German investment into UK-based electricity grid, storage and heat infrastructure projects.
Monitor and analyse sector trends, procurement pipelines, and regulatory developments relevant to UK commercial interests. - Address market access challenges including identifying regulatory barriers to British exports and influencing German stakeholders to remove or reduce barriers.
Ensure business insights inform UK-Germany policy discussions and DBT strategy. - Represent DBT and the UK Government at sector events, industry forums, and bilateral engagements.
- Lead input into preparations for the North Seas Summit and help shape DBT Germany’s power grid infrastructure and European (north seas) grid interconnectors narrative.
- Collaborate with colleagues across DBT’s trade, investment, market access, and policy teams to ensure coherent delivery.
- Contribute to performance reporting, briefings, and provide strategic advice to colleagues on clean growth infrastructure engagement.
Our ideal candidate has:
- Fluency at C1 level in German and English, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- Strong experience in clean energy infrastructure or a closely related field (e.g. smart grids, offshore energy networks and interconnectors, grid storage and heating), with a track record of commercial, technical or policy delivery.
- Strong leadership skills and the ability to manage and develop teams.
- Demonstrated ability to build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders across business, government and/or the wider public sector.
- Strong analytical and strategic skills, with experience using market and policy insights to shape delivery plans or business engagement.
- Experience working across multiple teams or organisations to align objectives and coordinate work.
Good to have:
- Prior experience working in international environments, with government, business or trade promotion organizations.
- Understanding of how infrastructure projects are developed and financed, ideally with knowledge of both UK and German market contexts.
Knowledge of German policy frameworks and procurement systems related to energy, climate, or infrastructure development. - Demonstrated experience in delivering measurable results against commercial targets and KPIs.
Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture