Senior Energy & Sustainability Consultant

About DIREK

DIREK is transforming the way buildings are managed through AI. We integrate with existing Building Management Systems (BMS), IoT sensors, energy platforms and operational data to provide building owners and facilities teams with actionable recommendations that reduce energy consumption, optimise space utilisation and improve ESG performance.

Our AI platform doesn’t replace engineering judgement—it augments it. We’re looking for an experienced industry professional who can bridge the gap between data science and real-world building operations.

This is a senior client-facing consultancy role for someone who has spent years solving operational problems in commercial buildings and understands what actually works in practice.

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Energy and Sustainability Consultant with a strong background in Building Management Systems, energy optimisation and operational consultancy.

You will work directly with clients to understand their operational challenges, review AI-generated insights and recommendations, and ensure every recommendation we deliver is technically sound, commercially practical and capable of delivering measurable outcomes.

This role combines technical consultancy, FM engineering expertise, client engagement and AI product development.

You won’t simply analyse data—you’ll help ensure our AI solves real operational problems.

Key ResponsibilitiesClient Consultancy

• Engage with Facilities Managers, Building Owners, Property Managers and Sustainability teams to understand their operational challenges, objectives and priorities.
• Translate client requirements into practical optimisation strategies using the DIREK platform.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior client stakeholders with confidence and credibility.
• Build trusted relationships by acting as a technical advisor throughout the client journey.

Energy & Building Performance

• Review energy performance reports, ESG reports and executive summaries before they are issued to clients.
• Validate AI-generated recommendations using real operational engineering judgement.
• Assess energy performance including:
• Baseload
• Out-of-hours consumption
• HVAC scheduling
• Setpoint optimisation
• Optimum Start/Stop
• Peak demand
• Equipment runtime
• Fault detection
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements and energy savings.
• Ensure recommendations are realistic, technically achievable and commercially viable.

BMS & Controls Expertise

• Review control strategies across HVAC systems including AHUs, boilers, chillers, VAVs, FCUs, heat pumps and pumping systems.
• Interpret trends from BMS data and distinguish genuine operational issues from poor-quality data.
• Identify control issues, sensor faults, overrides and operational behaviours that AI alone cannot detect.
• Recommend practical control improvements that can be implemented through existing BMS platforms.

• Evaluate AI-generated insights against real-world building operations.
• Identify where AI recommendations are incomplete, impractical or operationally unrealistic.
• Work closely with Data Scientists and AI Engineers to improve recommendation models.
• Convert customer feedback and operational experience into new optimisation logic.
• Help shape the future direction of DIREK’s AI platform.

Report Quality Assurance

• Review technical reports for accuracy, clarity and credibility.
• Challenge assumptions and ensure conclusions are evidence-based.
• Verify carbon calculations, ESG metrics and energy savings methodologies.
• Ensure reports are suitable for executive stakeholders as well as technical FM teams.

Essential Experience

We’re looking for someone who has genuinely spent years solving building performance problems—not simply analysing energy data.

You should have:

• 8+ years’ experience within Building Services, Energy Consultancy, Facilities Management or Building Controls.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Building Management Systems including commissioning, optimisation, fault finding and control strategy development.
• Experience working directly with commercial clients and advising senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of HVAC systems and their operational behaviour.
• Experience delivering measurable energy reduction programmes.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to diagnose complex operational issues from multiple data sources.
• Strong report review and technical communication skills.
• Experience producing and presenting client-facing technical reports.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to balance technical excellence with practical implementation.

Technical Knowledge

Experience with several of the following is expected:

• Trend
• Tridium / Niagara
• Siemens Desigo
• Schneider EcoStruxure
• Honeywell
• ABB
• Distech
• Johnson Controls
• BACnet
• Modbus

Knowledge of:

• HVAC optimisation
• Metering & Sub-metering
• Measurement & Verification (IPMVP desirable)
• Demand management
• Building analytics
• Fault Detection & Diagnostics
• Energy Management Systems
• Smart Buildings

ESG & Sustainability

Good understanding of:

• ISO 50001
• ESOS
• SECR
• NABERS UK
• CIBSE TM22
• CIBSE TM44
• Part L
• GHG Protocol
• Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions
• ISO 14064
• ISSB / IFRS S2
• TCFD
• Science Based Targets (SBTi)
• Net Zero strategies

Desirable Qualifications

One or more of the following:

• Chartered Engineer (CEng)
• Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv)
• CIBSE Membership
• Energy Institute Membership
• IEMA Membership
• ESOS Lead Assessor
• Low Carbon Consultant
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services, Energy Engineering or similar.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

The ideal candidate is someone who can confidently answer questions such as:

• Would I recommend this to my client?
• Will this recommendation actually work in a live building?
• What operational reality is the AI missing?
• How could the model provide a better recommendation next time?
• You’ll be equally comfortable in a plant room, a client boardroom, or collaborating with data scientists to improve the next generation of AI-powered building optimisation.