Lead Consultant - Smart Buildings / Digital buildings
Why Join This Opportunity?
- Lead the smart building strategy on flagship new build and major refurbishment projects, working directly with developers, asset owners and project teams.
- Take a genuinely advisory role, shaping specifications and Employer’s Requirements rather than just delivering to someone else’s brief.
- Join a growing specialist smart buildings practice with a strong project pipeline and the backing of a proven software platform.
- Competitive salary up to £110,000 plus performance-related bonus and clear progression into practice leadership or subject matter expert routes.
- Work with experienced, collaborative senior consultants who value pragmatic, buildable solutions over buzzwords.
The Role
This senior, client-facing role sits within a specialist smart buildings advisory team, focused on defining clear, contractual smart building requirements that can be built, commissioned and operated in the real world. You’ll lead relationships with sophisticated clients and turn strategic intent into precise technical specifications that contractors and specialists can confidently deliver against. It’s ideal for someone who enjoys combining deep technical credibility with hands-on client advisory work.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as the day-to-day senior lead for client relationships, representing the advisory practice with developers, asset owners, consultants and main contractors.
- Lead discovery and briefing sessions to understand client objectives, operational intent, commercial drivers and project constraints.
- Author clear, buildable Smart Building Specifications that define responsibilities, interfaces and technical requirements for all parties.
- Develop smart enablement requirements across BMS, metering, IoT, networks, data architecture, integration, commissioning and handover.
- Translate performance and operational objectives into measurable technical and data requirements suitable for Employer’s Requirements and tender documents.
- Review and challenge design and contractor proposals to ensure alignment with the agreed smart building strategy and specifications.
- Support projects through design, construction and handover (aligned to RIBA stages), helping to de-risk delivery and protect long-term operational outcomes.
- Promote good practice and alignment with relevant standards and guidance (e.g. smart building, energy performance, Soft Landings, data protection).
Essential Experience
- Significant experience in smart buildings, building services, building technologies or digital engineering within a consultancy, contractor or specialist advisory environment.
- Proven track record leading client relationships and acting as a trusted technical advisor on complex projects.
- Strong experience producing technical specifications, Employer’s Requirements or similar contractual documentation.
- Exposure to new build and/or major refurbishment projects, working with developers, consultants and main contractors.
- Solid understanding of building systems (e.g. BMS, metering, HVAC controls, networks) and how they enable smart outcomes.
- Ability to convert complex technical and operational concepts into clear, unambiguous requirements that can be priced, delivered and tested.
Nice to Have / Advantageous
- Degree in Engineering, Building Services, Controls, or a related built environment discipline.
- Chartered Engineer (or equivalent professional status) or working towards it.
- Familiarity with standards and guidance such as ISO 52120, BS EN 15232, Soft Landings and UK data protection requirements.
- Experience with building performance data, analytics platforms or smart building software tools.
- Previous involvement in value engineering, technical assurance and handover reviews.
If you’re a technically credible consultant who enjoys shaping smart building outcomes, not just delivering to a spec, we’d love to hear from you. Apply with your CV or get in touch for a confidential conversation about this opportunity.